Patient-Reported Outcomes with PD-1/PD-L1 Inhibitors for Advanced Cancer: A Meta-Analysis

Abstract

Abstract Background The aim of this meta-analysis was to compare patient-reported outcomes (PROs) between programmed death receptor-1/programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-1/PD-L1) inhibitors and standard-of-care therapy in patients with advanced cancer. Methods We searched randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing single-agent PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors (nivolumab, pembrolizumab, atezolizumab, avelumab, or durvalumab) with standard-of-care therapy in patients with advanced cancer reporting PROs with generic measures: the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Core 30 items (QLQ-C30) and the EuroQol Five Dimensions Questionnaire. The summary outcomes were changes in PROs from baseline to follow-up within and between treatment groups and time to deterioration (TTD) in PROs based on clinically meaningful change. Results A total of 6,334 patients from 13 RCTs were included: six nivolumab, five pembrolizumab, and two atezolizumab trials. For the QLQ-C30 global health status/quality of life, the pooled difference in mean change between treatment groups was 5.1 (95% confidence interval [CI], 3.3–6.9; p < .001) favoring PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors. The pooled mean change from baseline in PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors and controls was 0.1 (95% CI, −2.2, 2.5) and − 6.1 (95% CI, −8.4, −3.8), respectively. The TTD was significantly longer with PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors, with a hazard ratio of 0.72 (95% CI, 0.55–0.93; p = .011). Similarly, significantly better outcomes were noted with PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors on most of the other PRO measures. Conclusion PD1/PD-L1 inhibitors maintained health-related quality of life to a greater degree and had less worsening in symptoms than standard-of-care therapy even though patients on these immune modulators were on treatment longer. The better PRO profile further supports the clinical benefit of this treatment strategy for advanced cancer.