Defining D-irAEs: consensus-based disease definitions for the diagnosis of dermatologic adverse events from immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy.

With an increasing number of patients eligible for immune checkpoint inhibitors, the incidence of immune-related adverse events (irAEs) is on the rise. Dermatologic immune-related adverse events (D-irAEs) are the most common and earliest to manifest, often with important downstream consequences for the patient. Current guidelines lack clarity in terms of diagnostic criteria for D-irAEs. The goal of this project is to better define D-irAE for the purposes of identification, diagnosis, and future study of this important group of diseases.The objectives of this project were to develop consensus guidance for an approach to D-irAEs including disease definitions and severity grading. Knowing that consensus among oncologists, dermatologists, and irAE subspecialists would be critical for usability, we formed a Dermatologic irAE Disease Definition Panel. The panel was composed of 34 experts, including oncologists, dermatologists, a rheumatologist, and an allergist/immunologist from 22 institutions across the USA and internationally. A modified Delphi consensus process was used, with two rounds of anonymous ratings by panelists and two virtual meetings to discuss areas of controversy. Panelists rated content for usability, appropriateness, and accuracy on 9-point scales in electronic surveys and provided free text comments. A working group aggregated survey responses and incorporated them into revised definitions. Consensus was based on numeric ratings using the RAND/UCLA Appropriateness Method with prespecified definitions.Following revisions based on panelist feedback, all items received consensus in the second round of ratings. Consensus definitions were achieved for 10 core D-irAE diagnoses: ICI-vitiligo, ICI-lichen planus, ICI-psoriasis, ICI-exanthem, ICI-bullous pemphigoid, ICI-Grover's, ICI-eczematous, ICI-eruptive atypical squamous proliferation, ICI-pruritus without rash, and ICI-erosive mucocutaneous. A standard evaluation for D-irAE was also found to reach consensus, with disease-specific exceptions detailed when necessary. Each disorder's description includes further details on disease subtypes, symptoms, supportive exam findings, and three levels of diagnostic certainty (definite, probable, and possible).These consensus-driven disease definitions standardize D-irAE classification in a useable framework for multiple disciplines and will be the foundation for future work. Given consensus on their accuracy and usability from a representative panel group, we anticipate that they can be used broadly across clinical and research settings.

Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) clinical practice guideline on immunotherapy for the treatment of melanoma, version 3.0.

Since the first approval for immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) for the treatment of cutaneous melanoma more than a decade ago, immunotherapy has completely transformed the treatment landscape of this chemotherapy-resistant disease. Combination regimens including ICIs directed against programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) with anti-cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen-4 (CTLA-4) agents or, more recently, anti-lymphocyte-activation gene 3 (LAG-3) agents, have gained regulatory approvals for the treatment of metastatic cutaneous melanoma, with long-term follow-up data suggesting the possibility of cure for some patients with advanced disease. In the resectable setting, adjuvant ICIs prolong recurrence-free survival, and neoadjuvant strategies are an active area of investigation. Other immunotherapy strategies, such as oncolytic virotherapy for injectable cutaneous melanoma and bispecific T-cell engager therapy for HLA-A*02:01 genotype-positive uveal melanoma, are also available to patients. Despite the remarkable efficacy of these regimens for many patients with cutaneous melanoma, traditional immunotherapy biomarkers (ie, programmed death-ligand 1 expression, tumor mutational burden, T-cell infiltrate and/or microsatellite stability) have failed to reliably predict response. Furthermore, ICIs are associated with unique toxicity profiles, particularly for the highly active combination of anti-PD-1 plus anti-CTLA-4 agents. The Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) convened a panel of experts to develop this clinical practice guideline on immunotherapy for the treatment of melanoma, including rare subtypes of the disease (eg, uveal, mucosal), with the goal of improving patient care by providing guidance to the oncology community. Drawing from published data and clinical experience, the Expert Panel developed evidence- and consensus-based recommendations for healthcare professionals using immunotherapy to treat melanoma, with topics including therapy selection in the advanced and perioperative settings, intratumoral immunotherapy, when to use immunotherapy for patients with BRAFV600-mutated disease, management of patients with brain metastases, evaluation of treatment response, special patient populations, patient education, quality of life, and survivorship, among others.

Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) clinical practice guideline on immunotherapy for the treatment of melanoma, version 3.0

Since the first approval for immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) for the treatment of cutaneous melanoma more than a decade ago, immunotherapy has completely transformed the treatment landscape of this chemotherapy-resistant disease. Combination regimens including ICIs directed against programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) with anti-cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen-4 (CTLA-4) agents or, more recently, anti-lymphocyte-activation gene 3 (LAG-3) agents, have gained regulatory approvals for the treatment of metastatic cutaneous melanoma, with long-term follow-up data suggesting the possibility of cure for some patients with advanced disease. In the resectable setting, adjuvant ICIs prolong recurrence-free survival, and neoadjuvant strategies are an active area of investigation. Other immunotherapy strategies, such as oncolytic virotherapy for injectable cutaneous melanoma and bispecific T-cell engager therapy for HLA-A*02:01 genotype-positive uveal melanoma, are also available to patients. Despite the remarkable efficacy of these regimens for many patients with cutaneous melanoma, traditional immunotherapy biomarkers (ie, programmed death-ligand 1 expression, tumor mutational burden, T-cell infiltrate and/or microsatellite stability) have failed to reliably predict response. Furthermore, ICIs are associated with unique toxicity profiles, particularly for the highly active combination of anti-PD-1 plus anti-CTLA-4 agents. The Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) convened a panel of experts to develop this clinical practice guideline on immunotherapy for the treatment of melanoma, including rare subtypes of the disease (eg, uveal, mucosal), with the goal of improving patient care by providing guidance to the oncology community. Drawing from published data and clinical experience, the Expert Panel developed evidence- and consensus-based recommendations for healthcare professionals using immunotherapy to treat melanoma, with topics including therapy selection in the advanced and perioperative settings, intratumoral immunotherapy, when to use immunotherapy for patients with BRAFV600- mutated disease, management of patients with brain metastases, evaluation of treatment response, special patient populations, patient education, quality of life, and survivorship, among others.

Benefit and toxicity of programmed death-1 blockade vary by ethnicity in patients with advanced melanoma: an international multicentre observational study.

BACKGROUND: Programmed cell death receptor-1 (PD-1) monotherapy is a standard treatment for advanced cutaneous melanoma, but its efficacy and toxicity are defined in white populations and remain poorly characterized in other ethnic groups, such as East Asian, Hispanic and African. OBJECTIVES: To determine the efficacy and toxicity of PD-1 monotherapy in different ethnic groups. METHODS: Clinical data for patients with unresectable or advanced melanoma treated with anti-PD-1 monotherapy between 2009 and 2019 were collected retrospectively from five independent institutions in the USA, Australia and China. Tumour response, survival and immune-related adverse events (irAEs) were compared by ethnicity (white vs. East Asian/Hispanic/African) across different melanoma subtypes: nonacral cutaneous (NAC)/unknown primary (UP) and acral/mucosal/uveal. RESULTS: In total, 1135 patients were included. White patients had significantly higher objective response rate (ORR) [54%, 95% confidence interval (CI) 50-57% vs. 20%, 95% CI 13-28%; adjusted P < 0·001] and longer progression-free survival (14·2 months, 95% CI 10·7-20·3 vs. 5·4 months, 95% CI 4·5-7·0; adjusted P < 0·001) than East Asian, Hispanic and African patients in the NAC and UP subtypes. White ethnicity remained independently associated with a higher ORR (odds ratio 4·10, 95% CI 2·48-6·81; adjusted P < 0·001) and longer PFS (hazard ratio 0·58, 95% CI 0·46-0·74; adjusted P < 0·001) in multivariate analyses after adjustment for age, sex, primary anatomical location, metastasis stage, baseline lactate dehydrogenase level, mutational status and prior systemic treatment. White and East Asian/Hispanic/African patients shared similar ORR and progression-free survival in acral/mucosal/uveal melanomas. Similar melanoma-subtype-specific ethnic discrepancies were observed in complete response rate and overall survival. White patients had higher rates of gastrointestinal irAEs but lower rates of endocrine, liver and other rare types of irAEs. These differences in irAEs by ethnicity were not attributable to varying melanoma subtypes. CONCLUSIONS: Ethnic discrepancy in clinical benefit is specific to melanoma subtype, and East Asian, Hispanic and African patients with NAC and UP melanomas have poorer clinical benefits than previously recognized. The ethnic discrepancy in toxicity observed across different melanoma subtypes warrants an ethnicity-based irAE surveillance strategy. More research is needed to elucidate the molecular and immunological determinants of these differences. What is already known about this topic? There is a great difference in response to immunotherapy between different subtypes of melanoma (cutaneous, mucosal, acral and uveal) in patients with advanced disease. What does this study add? Our data show for the first time that there are differences between different ethnic groups in terms of both response and toxicity to immunotherapy beyond the well-appreciated discrepancies due to melanoma subtype.

Early Use of High-Dose Glucocorticoid for the Management of irAE Is Associated with Poorer Survival in Patients with Advanced Melanoma Treated with Anti-PD-1 Monotherapy.

PURPOSE: Programmed cell death receptor-1 (PD-1) inhibitors are frontline therapy in advanced melanoma. Severe immune-related adverse effects (irAEs) often require immunosuppressive treatment with glucocorticoids (GCCs), but GCC use and its correlation with patient survival outcomes during anti-PD-1 monotherapy remains unclear. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: In this multicenter retrospective analysis, patients treated with anti-PD-1 monotherapy between 2009 and 2019 and detailed GCC use, data were identified from five independent cohorts, with median follow-up time of 206 weeks. IrAEs were tracked from the initiation of anti-PD-1 until disease progression, initiation of a new therapy, or last follow-up. Correlations between irAEs, GCC use, and survival outcomes were analyzed. RESULTS: Of the entire cohort of 947 patients, 509 (54%) developed irAEs. In the MGH cohort [irAE(+) n = 90], early-onset irAE (within 8 weeks of anti-PD-1 initiation) with high-dose GCC use (≥60-mg prednisone equivalent once a day) was independently associated with poorer post-irAE PFS/OS (progression-free survival/overall survival) [post-irAE PFS: HR, 5.37; 95% confidence interval (CI), 2.10-13.70; P < 0.001; post-irAE OS: HR, 5.95; 95% CI, 2.20-16.09; P < 0.001] compared with irAEs without early high-dose GCC use. These findings were validated in the combined validation cohort [irAE(+) n = 419, post-irAE PFS: HR, 1.69; 95% CI, 1.04-2.76; P = 0.04; post-irAE OS: HR, 1.97; 95% CI, 1.15-3.39; P = 0.01]. Similar findings were also observed in the 26-week landmark analysis for post-irAE-PFS but not for post-irAE-OS. A sensitivity analysis using accumulated GCC exposure as the measurement achieved similar results. CONCLUSIONS: Early high-dose GCC use was associated with poorer PFS and OS after irAE onset. Judicious use of GCC early during anti-PD-1 monotherapy should be considered. Further prospective randomized control clinical trials designed to explore alternative irAE management options are warranted.

Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) clinical practice guideline on immunotherapy for the treatment of breast cancer.

Breast cancer has historically been a disease for which immunotherapy was largely unavailable. Recently, the use of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in combination with chemotherapy for the treatment of advanced/metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) has demonstrated efficacy, including longer progression-free survival and increased overall survival in subsets of patients. Based on clinical benefit in randomized trials, ICIs in combination with chemotherapy for the treatment of some patients with advanced/metastatic TNBC have been approved by the United States (US) Food and Drug Administration (FDA), expanding options for patients. Ongoing questions remain, however, about the optimal chemotherapy backbone for immunotherapy, appropriate biomarker-based selection of patients for treatment, the optimal strategy for immunotherapy treatment in earlier stage disease, and potential use in histological subtypes other than TNBC. To provide guidance to the oncology community on these and other important concerns, the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) convened a multidisciplinary panel of experts to develop a clinical practice guideline (CPG). The expert panel drew upon the published literature as well as their clinical experience to develop recommendations for healthcare professionals on these important aspects of immunotherapeutic treatment for breast cancer, including diagnostic testing, treatment planning, immune-related adverse events (irAEs), and patient quality of life (QOL) considerations. The evidence-based and consensus-based recommendations in this CPG are intended to give guidance to cancer care providers treating patients with breast cancer.

Consensus disease definitions for neurologic immune-related adverse events of immune checkpoint inhibitors.

Expanding the US Food and Drug Administration-approved indications for immune checkpoint inhibitors in patients with cancer has resulted in therapeutic success and immune-related adverse events (irAEs). Neurologic irAEs (irAE-Ns) have an incidence of 1%-12% and a high fatality rate relative to other irAEs. Lack of standardized disease definitions and accurate phenotyping leads to syndrome misclassification and impedes development of evidence-based treatments and translational research. The objective of this study was to develop consensus guidance for an approach to irAE-Ns including disease definitions and severity grading. A working group of four neurologists drafted irAE-N consensus guidance and definitions, which were reviewed by the multidisciplinary Neuro irAE Disease Definition Panel including oncologists and irAE experts. A modified Delphi consensus process was used, with two rounds of anonymous ratings by panelists and two meetings to discuss areas of controversy. Panelists rated content for usability, appropriateness and accuracy on 9-point scales in electronic surveys and provided free text comments. Aggregated survey responses were incorporated into revised definitions. Consensus was based on numeric ratings using the RAND/University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) Appropriateness Method with prespecified definitions. 27 panelists from 15 academic medical centers voted on a total of 53 rating scales (6 general guidance, 24 central and 18 peripheral nervous system disease definition components, 3 severity criteria and 2 clinical trial adjudication statements); of these, 77% (41/53) received first round consensus. After revisions, all items received second round consensus. Consensus definitions were achieved for seven core disorders: irMeningitis, irEncephalitis, irDemyelinating disease, irVasculitis, irNeuropathy, irNeuromuscular junction disorders and irMyopathy. For each disorder, six descriptors of diagnostic components are used: disease subtype, diagnostic certainty, severity, autoantibody association, exacerbation of pre-existing disease or de novo presentation, and presence or absence of concurrent irAE(s). These disease definitions standardize irAE-N classification. Diagnostic certainty is not always directly linked to certainty to treat as an irAE-N (ie, one might treat events in the probable or possible category). Given consensus on accuracy and usability from a representative panel group, we anticipate that the definitions will be used broadly across clinical and research settings.

Radiological dynamics and SITC-defined resistance types of advanced melanoma during anti-PD-1 monotherapy: an independent single-blind observational study on an international cohort.

BACKGROUND: Although the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) Immunotherapy Resistance Taskforce recently defined primary and secondary resistance to anti-programmed cell death protein 1 (anti-PD-1) therapy, there is lack of real-world data regarding differences in these resistance subtypes with respect to radiological dynamics and clinical manifestations. METHODS: We performed single-blind re-evaluations of radiological images by independent radiologists on a retrospectively assembled cohort of patients with advanced melanoma (n=254, median follow-up 31 months) receiving anti-PD-1 monotherapy at Massachusetts General Hospital and Peking University Cancer Hospital. Radiological characteristics and timing at multiple crucial time points were analyzed and correlated with each other and with survival. Primary and secondary resistance was defined as per the SITC Immunotherapy Resistance Taskforce definitions. RESULTS: The most significant target lesion measurement change took place within the first 3 months after anti-PD-1 initiation. Patients with stable disease with versus without tumor shrinkage at the initial evaluation exhibited distinct disease trajectory, as the rate of further upgrade to a partial or complete remission (CR/PR) was 44% and 0%, respectively. Eleven per cent of PR patients ultimately achieved a CR. In multivariate analyses, deeper response depth was independently associated with a more limited progression pattern, fewer involved organs, lower tumor burden, slower growth rate at disease progression (PD) (all p≤0.001), and longer post-progression survival (PPS) (bivariate analysis, p=0.005). Compared with primary resistance, secondary resistance was associated with less widespread PD pattern, lower tumor burden and slower tumor growth (all p≤0.001). Patients with secondary resistance were less likely to receive further systemic therapy (28% vs 57%, p<0.001) yet had significantly better PPS (HR 0.503, 95% CI 0.288 to 0.879, p=0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Radiological dynamics were variable, yet significantly correlated with survival outcomes. SITC-defined primary and secondary resistance are distinct clinical manifestations in patients with melanoma, suggesting the possibility of resistance-type-based therapeutic decision-making and clinical trial design, once further validated by future prospective studies.

Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor-Based Therapy as a Backbone in Cancer Treatment.

At JADPRO Live 2019, Krista M. Rubin, MS, FNP-BC, and Anthony J. Olszanski, MD, RPh, reviewed the basic concepts of immunotherapy and the current treatment landscape, and discussed emerging data for immune checkpoint inhibitor-based combinations that are being explored in late-stage clinical trials.

Caring for Patients Treated With Checkpoint Inhibitors for the Treatment of Metastatic Merkel Cell Carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: To provide an overview for oncology nurses about Merkel cell carcinoma and its management with immunotherapy. DATA SOURCES: A literature search was conducted from 2013 to the present using search terms including "Merkel cell carcinoma," "avelumab," "pembrolizumab," "immune-mediated adverse events," and "infusion-related reactions." Clinical experience of the authors was also considered. CONCLUSION: Oncology nurses can expect to manage an increasing number of patients with Merkel cell carcinoma because of increased incidence of the disease, as well as evolving immunotherapy treatment paradigms. Both avelumab and pembrolizumab possess favorable safety profiles but are associated with immune-mediated and infusion-related reactions. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE: Oncology nurses need to understand Merkel cell carcinoma and be able to recognize the signs and symptoms of immune-mediated adverse events and infusion-related reactions associated with treatment to provide early intervention.

Immunotherapy in Gynecologic Cancers: What We Know Now and Where We Are Headed.

Immunotherapy, mainly in the form of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), has been transformative in both solid tumor and hematologic malignancies. Patients with previously terminal illnesses have experienced profound responses of great durability with these agents, fueling excitement among patients and providers regarding their use. Unfortunately, the gains seen in some solid tumors have not been replicated in a large percentage of patients with gynecologic cancer. This review focuses on the clinical benefits seen to date, toxicities and management when using ICIs, ways to improve prediction of who should receive immunotherapy, and a discussion of next-generation immunotherapy with cellular therapeutics and how these might relate to gynecologic cancers.

Meeting the Challenge of Immune-Related Adverse Events With Optimized Telephone Triage and Dedicated Oncology Acute Care.

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have improved outcomes for many patients with advanced cancers. However, managing the immune-related adverse events (irAEs) associated with these agents is challenging. Late recognition and/or inadequate irAE management can result in ICI discontinuation or termination, negatively impacting patient outcomes and increasing unplanned emergency department visits, hospital admissions, and costs of care. Improved clinician training and infrastructure development are needed to adequately address irAEs and maximize the potential benefits of ICIs. Advanced practice providers (APPs) are well positioned to drive these improvements. Two aspects of care may reduce the burden of irAE management: improved telephone triage and the implementation of dedicated oncology acute care services. Evidence-based protocols should be used for telephone triage. Protocol development may benefit from an evaluation of current irAE management guidelines together with resources from the Melanoma Nursing Initiative and Immuno-Oncology Essentials. Patients and their caregivers must be educated to recognize and report early symptoms suggestive of an irAE, thereby supporting triage efforts. Advanced practice providers should also advocate for the development of dedicated oncology acute care facilities staffed with clinicians well trained to recognize, grade, and manage irAEs. This manuscript reviews multiple existing models of telephone triage and dedicated oncology acute care. Oncology APPs are poised to lead the staffing, infrastructure, and educational changes necessary to reduce the burden of irAEs in patients receiving ICI therapy.

High-dose glucocorticoids for the treatment of ipilimumab-induced hypophysitis is associated with reduced survival in patients with melanoma.

BACKGROUND: It remains unclear whether high doses of glucocorticoids have a negative impact on the efficacy of checkpoint inhibitors. To control for the potential association between immune-related adverse events (irAEs) and improved survival, this study examined a unique cohort of patients who had the same irAE treated with varying glucocorticoid doses. METHODS: In total, 98 patients with melanoma who had ipilimumab-induced hypophysitis were identified retrospectively in the Partners Healthcare system using an automated electronic medical record query tool. Patients with melanoma who received ipilimumab at Massachusetts General Hospital without developing hypophysitis were listed in an actively maintained institutional patient database. Glucocorticoid doses for patients with hypophysitis were categorized as low dose (LD) or high dose (HD). Survival analyses were performed for patients who received ipilimumab monotherapy. RESULTS: Both overall survival (OS) and the time to treatment failure were significantly longer in the LD group compared with the HD group (hazard ratio, 0.24; P = .002 and 0.28, P = .001, respectively). Median OS and the time to treatment failure were not reached in the LD group and were 23.3 and 14.5 months, respectively, in the HD group. All patients who had hypophysitis had improved OS compared with patients who did not have hypophysitis (median, 28.2 vs 9.5 months; P = .0003). This advantage was maintained in the HD group versus the nonhypophysitis group (P = .02). Radiologic and endocrinologic outcomes and symptom resolution did not differ in the LD group versus the HD group. CONCLUSIONS: Among patients with melanoma who had ipilimumab-induced hypophysitis, those who received higher doses of glucocorticoids had reduced survival. This is the first study to demonstrate a potential negative effect of high glucocorticoid doses on the efficacy of checkpoint inhibitors after an irAE. These findings have potential implications for the management of other irAEs.

An update on the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer consensus statement on tumor immunotherapy for the treatment of cutaneous melanoma: version 2.0.

BACKGROUND: Cancer immunotherapy has been firmly established as a standard of care for patients with advanced and metastatic melanoma. Therapeutic outcomes in clinical trials have resulted in the approval of 11 new drugs and/or combination regimens for patients with melanoma. However, prospective data to support evidence-based clinical decisions with respect to the optimal schedule and sequencing of immunotherapy and targeted agents, how best to manage emerging toxicities and when to stop treatment are not yet available. METHODS: To address this knowledge gap, the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) Melanoma Task Force developed a process for consensus recommendations for physicians treating patients with melanoma integrating evidence-based data, where available, with best expert consensus opinion. The initial consensus statement was published in 2013, and version 2.0 of this report is an update based on a recent meeting of the Task Force and extensive subsequent discussions on new agents, contemporary peer-reviewed literature and emerging clinical data. The Academy of Medicine (formerly Institute of Medicine) clinical practice guidelines were used as a basis for consensus development with an updated literature search for important studies published between 1992 and 2017 and supplemented, as appropriate, by recommendations from Task Force participants. RESULTS: The Task Force considered patients with stage II-IV melanoma and here provide consensus recommendations for how they would incorporate the many immunotherapy options into clinical pathways for patients with cutaneous melanoma. CONCLUSION: These clinical guidleines provide physicians and healthcare providers with consensus recommendations for managing melanoma patients electing treatment with tumor immunotherapy.

MAPK Pathway-Targeted Therapies: Care and Management of Unique Toxicities in Patients With Advanced Melanoma
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BACKGROUND: Agents targeting the MAPK pathway, including inhibitors of BRAF and MEK, have dramatically transformed the treatment landscape for patients with BRAF-mutant metastatic melanoma. Although generally well tolerated, targeted agents were associated with unique toxicities.
. OBJECTIVES: This article aims to provide nurses with an overview of the key toxicities and associated management strategies of the characteristic adverse event (AE) profile associated with agents targeting the MAPK pathway.
. METHODS: Data from clinical trials evaluating vemurafenib, dabrafenib, trametinib, and cobimetinib were reviewed and summarized along with research on management of AEs identified in clinical trials.
. FINDINGS: The key AEs associated with these agents included pyrexia and cutaneous toxicities. Other notable AEs included arthralgias, ocular toxicities, and cardiac events. Because these agents are administered until progressive disease or unacceptable toxicity, nurses should be aware of management strategies to optimize treatment outcomes.

Advances in Melanoma: The Rationale for the Melanoma Nursing Initiative
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This article provides an overview of this supplement, outlining the needs assessment process the Melanoma Nursing Initiative (MNI) used to determine the immunotherapy and targeted therapy topics for discussion as well as the process for developing the consensus statements. The article provides specific discussion of a unique feature of the MNI, the care step pathways (CSPs) for management of adverse events (AEs) associated with melanoma therapies, and looks to the future in terms of the potential benefits of engaging and enabling oncology nurses to adopt a standardized approach to AE management and adherence promotion for melanoma therapies.

PD-1 Inhibitor Therapy: Consensus Statement From the Faculty of the Melanoma Nursing Initiative on Managing Adverse Events
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BACKGROUND: Programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) inhibitor therapies are now a standard treatment for advanced melanoma and other tumor types. The immune-related adverse events (irAEs) associated with PD-1 inhibitor therapy are drastically different from the AEs associated with chemotherapy. Because these irAEs reflect immune system activation rather than side effects of therapy, nurses should be cognizant of the range of organ systems potentially affected as well as likely clinical presentations.
. OBJECTIVES: This article presents consensus statements to guide nurses in the recognition and management of irAEs associated with PD-1 inhibitor monotherapy for advanced melanoma.
. METHODS: Members of the Melanoma Nursing Initiative discussed the current literature and clinical experience regarding nursing interventions related to irAEs associated with PD-1 inhibitor therapy.
. FINDINGS: The care step pathways provided for select irAEs represent a proactive, comprehensive nursing care plan to support optimal outcomes for patients receiving PD-1 inhibitor therapy.

Impact of Age on Outcomes with Immunotherapy for Patients with Melanoma.

BACKGROUND: Monoclonal antibodies (mAb) targeting PD-1/PD-L1 have revolutionized melanoma treatment, yet data regarding effectiveness and tolerability across age groups is limited. We sought to determine the impact of age on overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), and rates of immune-mediated toxicities in patients treated with anti-PD-1/anti-PD-L1 mAb at two academic medical centers. METHODS: We retrospectively collected data on all patients with metastatic melanoma treated with anti-PD-1/PD-L1 mAb between May 2009 and April 2015. We used Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression analyses to assess OS and PFS and identify factors associated with these outcomes. We also compared rates of autoimmune toxicity across age groups. RESULTS: Of 254 patients, 57 (22.4%) were <50 years old, 85 (33.5%) were age 50-64, 65 (25.6%) were age 65-74, and 47 (18.5%) were ≥75 years. Across age groups, no differences existed in median OS (age <50: 22.9 months, age 50-64: 25.3 months, age 65-74: 22.0 months, age ≥75: 24.3 months) or PFS (age <50: 4.1 months, age 50-64: 6.5 months, age 65-74: 5.4 months, age ≥75: 7.9 months). The presence of liver metastases and elevated pre-treatment lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were associated with reduced OS. Presence of liver metastasis, pretreatment LDH, BRAF mutation, and type of melanoma correlated with PFS. Overall, 110 patients (43.3%) experienced immune-mediated toxicities; 25 (9.8%) had colitis and 26 (10.2%) had endocrine toxicity. Rates of colitis, hepatitis, and pneumonitis did not differ across age groups. CONCLUSION: We demonstrated that patients could safely tolerate anti-PD1/PDL-1 mAb therapy and achieve similar outcomes regardless of their age. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Immunotherapy has revolutionized treatment for patients with metastatic melanoma, yet data are lacking regarding the effectiveness and tolerability of these treatments for older patients. In this study, we demonstrated that patients with melanoma safely tolerate immunotherapy and achieve similar outcomes regardless of their age. Specifically, we utilized data from two academic cancer centers and found no significant difference in overall survival, progression free survival, or immune-related toxicities, other than arthritis, across age groups. As the population ages, studies such as this will become critical to help us understand how best to treat older adults with cancer.

Management of skin adverse events associated with immune checkpoint inhibitors in patients with melanoma: A nursing perspective.

PURPOSE: Immune checkpoint inhibitors are associated with a unique immune-related side effect profile that requires prompt recognition and management. Skin toxicities are the most common, and often earliest occurring, drug-related adverse events (AEs) of any grade observed upon treatment with these agents. The purpose of this review is to provide practical guidance on the identification and treatment of skin AEs associated with the immune checkpoint inhibitors (ipilimumab, nivolumab, and pembrolizumab) from a nursing perspective, and demonstrate hands-on application of the guidance using relevant patient case studies. DATA SOURCES: Data for drug-related skin AEs were summarized from phase 3 nivolumab and nivolumab + ipilimumab trials and phase 2 and 3 pembrolizumab trials. Patient case studies were provided by the lead (M.T.) and senior (J.N.C.) authors. CONCLUSIONS: The recommendations presented here, based on accumulated clinical trial and clinical practice experience are consistent with established treatment guidelines and reach beyond established guidelines and recommendations for the management of AEs associated with immune checkpoint inhibitors. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: The practical treatment guidance presented here may help familiarize medical teams with the recognition and management of skin AEs associated with these recently approved agents. The enclosed recommendations may contribute to optimized treatment through awareness of typical time to onset and clinical presentation, knowledge of management options, and appropriate application of treatment.