Background/aim: To evaluate the impact of development of nivolumab monotherapy-induced immune-related adverse events (irAEs) and continuing nivolumab with irAEs on the survival of patients with gastric cancer (GC).
Patients and methods: Patients with unresectable advanced GC and recurrence after curative resection who received nivolumab monotherapy were included in the study. Survival was compared between patients who did and did not develop irAEs, and between those who continued and discontinued treatment due to irAEs.
Results: Of 110 GC patients, 22 developed irAEs. Grade ≥3 IrAEs included rash and diarrhoea associated with enteritis. Progression-free and overall survival (OS) were significantly better in patients with irAEs than in those without. The overall survival of patients who continued treatment despite irAEs was better than that of those who discontinued treatment.
Conclusion: irAE development was associated with better survival in patients with GC who received nivolumab monotherapy. Continuing nivolumab with appropriate treatment in GC patients with irAEs may improve survival.
Keywords: Gastric cancer; immune-related adverse events; nivolumab; survival.
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