Health-related quality of life in cancer patients treated with PD-(L)1 inhibitors: a systematic review

ABSTRACT

Introduction: A systematic review was performed to explore the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) outcomes among cancer patients receiving PD-(L)1 inhibitors compared to those receiving traditional cytotoxic therapy.

Areas covered: Citations from PubMed and the American Society of Clinical Oncology meeting library were examined. Cross-references from original studies and review articles were also reviewed. Eligible trials included randomized controlled trials of cancer patients treated with one of the PD-(L)1 inhibitors and reporting HRQoL outcomes. A total of 11 studies were included in the current review. PD-(L)1 inhibitors were associated with a consistent prolongation of the time to symptomatic deterioration. This was shown with the three agents (nivolumab, pembrolizumab, and atezolizumab) as well as across a variety of solid tumors (lung cancer, melanoma, head and neck cancer and urothelial cancer). Moreover, PD-(L)1 inhibitor therapy was associated with better symptomatic control at different follow-up points. This was observed regardless of the agent used of the solid tumor treated.

Expert commentary: Across a variety of solid tumor indications as well as a variety of PD-(L)1 inhibitors, the use of PD-(L)1 inhibitors is associated with an improvement in the quality of life. The utility of patient-reported outcomes in predicting clinical benefit from these agents needs to be explored further.

KEYWORDS:

• Nivolumab
• pembrolizumab
• atezolizumab
• quality of life

Declaration of interest

The author has no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties

Reviewer disclosures

Peer reviewers on this manuscript have no relevant financial or other relationships to disclose.

Additional information

Funding

This paper was not funded.