Adjuvant immunotherapy in older patients with stage III and resected stage IV melanoma: Toxicity and recurrence-free survival outcomes from the Dutch melanoma treatment registry

A. Özkan, E. Kapiteijn, F. van den Bos, M. J.B. Aarts, F. W.P.J. van den Berkmortel, C. U. Blank, M. Bloem, W. A.M. Blokx, M. J. Boers-Sonderen, J. J. Bonenkamp, A. J.M. van den Eertwegh, J. W.B. de Groot, J. B. Haanen, C. E. Holtslag, G. A.P. Hospers, D. Piersma, R. S. van Rijn, A. M. Stevense-den Boer, K. P.M. Suijkerbuijk, A. A.M. van der VeldtG. Vreugdenhil, M. W.J.M. Wouters, J. E.A. Portielje, N. A. de Glas*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Background: Adjuvant anti-PD-1 therapy improves relapse free survival in stage III melanoma, but also leads to immune-related adverse events (irAEs). Older patients are of particular interest due to comorbidities and frailty, which may impact their ability to tolerate irAEs and benefit from anti-PD-1 therapy. This study aimed to explore associations between clinical parameters and the occurrence of grade = 3 irAEs and recurrence-free survival (RFS) in older patients with radically resected stage III/IV cutaneous melanoma treated with adjuvant anti-PD-1 therapy. Methods: Patients aged = 65 with resected stage III/IV cutaneous melanoma treated with adjuvant anti-PD-1 therapy between 2018 and 2022 were selected using real-world data from the nationwide Dutch Melanoma Treatment Registry (DMTR). A univariate and multivariable logistic regression was used to compare determinants of grade = 3 irAEs, and univariate and multivariable Cox-proportional hazard models were fitted to identify factors influencing RFS. Results: The study included 885 patients, with 280 aged 75 and older. The incidence of grade = 3 irAEs was 15.5 % in the 65–74 age group and 13.9 % in the = 75 age group. No significant correlation was found between age and grade = 3 irAEs. However, an increasing number of comorbidities was associated with a higher risk of grade = 3 irAEs (multivariable analyses: OR 1.83, 95 % C.I. 0.99–3.40). The 1-year RFS rate of 80.0 % of this study was comparable to those reported in previous registration trials and real-world data. Having = 3 comorbidities was significantly associated with a decrease in RFS (HR: 1.68, 95 % C.I. 1.15–2.44). Conclusion: Older patients had similar benefit of adjuvant immunotherapy compared to older subgroups in previous trials. However, patients with multiple comorbidities were at increased risk of grade = 3 irAEs and had a lower RFS. This should be considered when deciding upon adjuvant treatment.
Original languageEnglish
Article number115056
Number of pages8
JournalEuropean Journal of Cancer
Volume212
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Nov 2024

Keywords

  • Immune checkpoint inhibitors
  • Immune-related adverse events
  • Melanoma
  • Oncology
  • Recurrence-free survival

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