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Short Communication

Complete response and survival outcomes in patients with advanced cancer on immune checkpoint inhibitors

    Adi Kartolo‡

    Department of Oncology, Cancer Center of Southeastern Ontario, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, K7L 3N6, Canada

    ‡Authors contributed equally

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    ,
    Cynthia Yeung‡

    Department of Medicine, Kingston Health Sciences Centre, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, K7L 3N6, Canada

    ‡Authors contributed equally

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    ,
    Wilma Hopman‡

    Department of Public Health Sciences, Kingston Health Sciences Centre, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, K7L 3N6, Canada

    ‡Authors contributed equally

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    ,
    Andrea S Fung‡

    Department of Oncology, Cancer Center of Southeastern Ontario, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, K7L 3N6, Canada

    ‡Authors contributed equally

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    ,
    Tara Baetz‡

    Department of Oncology, Cancer Center of Southeastern Ontario, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, K7L 3N6, Canada

    ‡Authors contributed equally

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    &
    Francisco E Vera Badillo‡

    *Author for correspondence:

    E-mail Address: francisco.verabadillo@kingstonhsc.ca

    Department of Oncology, Cancer Center of Southeastern Ontario, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, K7L 3N6, Canada

    ‡Authors contributed equally

    Search for more papers by this author

    Published Online:8 Jun 2022https://doi.org/10.2217/imt-2021-0220

    Abstract

    Aim: To evaluate overall survival in advanced cancer patients who achieved complete response (CR) with immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy. Methods: This retrospective study included patients with advanced unresectable or metastatic cancer who received at least one cycle of palliative-intent ICI. Best overall response was used to define response groups. Results: 21 (7%) of 322 patients achieved CR. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that CR was independently associated with better overall survival compared with disease progression (hazard ratio: 0.012; 95% CI: 0.002–0.090) and stable disease (hazard ratio: 0.063; 95% CI: 0.009–0.464) as well as a nonsignificant trend toward better overall survival compared with partial response (hazard ratio: 0.169; 95% CI: 0.023–1.252) regardless of cancer type, ICI regimen or ICI line. Conclusion: Patients who achieved CR had longer survival compared with patients who did not achieve CR.

    Papers of special note have been highlighted as: • of interest

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