In a retrospective cohort study, researchers utilized data from the National Cancer Database, focusing on patients with stage IV melanoma, non–small cell lung cancer, and renal cell carcinoma diagnosed after the FDA approved immune checkpoint inhibitors for treating each disease through December 2019. The primary measure was the initiation of immunotherapy within one month of death. The researchers observed a significant increase in the percentage of patients receiving end-of-life immunotherapy since the approval of these treatments, with over 1 in 14 immunotherapies in 2019 being initiated within one month of death.
The study further revealed that patients with a higher metastatic burden were significantly more likely to receive end-of-life immunotherapy compared with those with only lymph node involvement. Additionally, the setting in which patients received treatment played a crucial role, as treatment at academic centers was associated with a lower likelihood of receiving end-of-life immunotherapy. These findings emphasize the growing use of immunotherapy at the end of life and suggest that the treatment location and extent of metastatic disease influence the likelihood of receiving such therapies.
Reference: Stenger M. Immunotherapy Initiation at the End of Life for Patients With Metastatic Cancers. The Asco Post. Updated January 10, 2024. Accessed February 2, 2024. https://ascopost.com/news/january-2024/immunotherapy-initiation-at-the-end-of-life-for-patients-with-metastatic-cancers/
