Betof AS, et al. – 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 monoclonal antibodies (mAb) at two academic medical centers, was identified. It was reported that patients could safely tolerate anti-PD1/PDL-1 mAb therapy. In addition, these patients accomplished similar outcomes regardless of their age.

Methods

• Data on all patients with metastatic melanoma treated with anti-PD-1/PD-L1 mAb between May 2009 and April 2015, were gathered.
• Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression analyses were used to assess OS and PFS, and factors associated with these outcomes were determined.
• Rates of autoimmune toxicity across age groups were compared.

Results

• 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, among 254 patients.
• Across age groups, there were no differences 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).
• An association of the presence of liver metastases and elevated pre-treatment lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) with reduced OS was observed.
• A correlation of presence of liver metastasis, pretreatment LDH, BRAF mutation, and type of melanoma with PFS was noticed.
• Data demonstrated immune-mediated toxicities in 110 patients (43.3%); colitis in 25 (9.8%) and endocrine toxicity in 26 (10.2%).
• Across age groups, rates of colitis, hepatitis, and pneumonitis did not differ.