Association of Immune-Related Adverse Events With Nivolumab Efficacy in Non–Small-Cell Lung Cancer

Abstract

The development of immunotherapy has improved treatment outcome for various types of cancer including non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Nivolumab and pembrolizumab, monoclonal antibodies that target PD-1 (programmed cell death protein 1), have been approved for the treatment of metastatic NSCLC on the basis of recent clinical trials demonstrating that these agents prolong survival compared with cytotoxic chemotherapy.^1-4 On the other hand, treatment with such immune-checkpoint inhibitors is accompanied by immune-related adverse events (irAEs).^5,6 The development of irAEs has been found to be associated with survival benefit in melanoma,^7-11 suggesting that an early onset of irAEs might be predictive of a better outcome of treatment with immune-checkpoint inhibitors and that the proper management of such events might be required to maximize the therapeutic effect of these drugs. The relation between irAEs and outcome of such treatment for patients with NSCLC has remained unknown, however.