Common toxicities associated with immune checkpoint inhibitors and targeted therapy in the treatment of melanoma: A systematic scoping review

Egeler MD, van Leeuwen M, Fraterman I, van den Heuvel NMJ, Boekhout AH, Lai-Kwon J, Wilthagen EA, Eriksson H, Haanen JB, Wilgenhof S, Ascierto PA, van Akkooi ACJ, van de Poll-Franse LV. Crit Rev Oncol Hematol. 2023 Mar;183:103919. doi: 10.1016/j.critrevonc.2023.103919. Epub 2023 Feb 1. PMID: 36736511.

Abstract

Introduction: This systematic scoping review compares the toxicities experienced by patients receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) or targeted therapy (TT) for stage III (resected and unresectable) and stage IV melanoma.

Methods: OVID Medline, Embase, and PsycInfo were searched to identify Phase III trials reporting toxicities of FDA-approved ICIs and TT for advanced melanoma. AEs that were reported by ≥ 10% of patients in the evaluated trials were included.

Results: Toxicity profiles of 11208 patients from 24 studies were reviewed. The rate of AEs was lower with ICIs compared to TT. However, ICIs were associated with higher rates of long-term or permanent AEs compared to TT, where toxicities generally were shortterm and reversible with treatment discontinuation.

Conclusion: The toxicity profiles of ICIs and TT vary substantially. Whilst the rate of AEs was lower with ICIs than during TT, it was also associated with higher rates of potentially chronic AEs.