Andrea Boutros: Can fewer cycles of immunotherapy deliver the same results?
Andrea Boutros, a Medical Doctor and Oncology Resident at San Martino Polyclinic Hospital shared a recent article by Abdul-Hamid Bazarbachi on X:
“Evidence for a reduction in number of cycles of immune checkpoint inhibitors”
Authors: Abdul-Hamid Bazarbachi, Nicola Magrini and Tito Fojo
“Can fewer cycles of immunotherapy deliver the same results?
Shorter regimens could reduce toxicity without compromising outcomes.
Let’s dig into the evidence.
The article explores the potential of reducing ICI cycles in cancers like non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
In fact, in the CheckMate 816, 3 cycles of neoadjuvant ICI-chemotherapy achieved:
- pCR in 24-40%.
- 2-year EFS ~64%.
- Comparable to longer regimens.
CheckMate 77T reinforced this. Extra cycles of adjuvant ICIs offered no OS benefit. Instead, shorter regimens reduce toxicities, costs, and patient burden, making advanced care more accessible globally.
In melanoma, the story is similar. Pathological responses from neoadjuvant ICIs predict excellent EFS, likely driven by T-cell memory.
A targeted, efficient approach could redefine our standard of care.
The authors argue that more isn’t always better and call for trials to define the optimal duration of ICI therapy.
It’s a challenge to tradition but a necessary one.”
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