Emotional and cognitive disturbances in long-term melanoma survivors treated with ipilimumab.

Authors

null

Anne Rogiers

Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Brugmann, Service de Psychiatrie, Brussels, Belgium

Anne Rogiers, Gil Awada, Julia Schwarze, Jennifer De Cremer, Laila Ben Salama, Peter Theuns, Bart Neyns

Organizations

Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Brugmann, Service de Psychiatrie, Brussels, Belgium, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel, Brussels, Belgium, UZ Brussels, Brussels, Belgium, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium

Research Funding

Other Foundation

Background: Immunotherapy with the CTLA-4 blocking mAb ipilimumab (IPI) has improved the long-term (>3 y) survival of a subpopulation (15-20%) of patients (pts) with metastatic melanoma. Little is known about the psychosocial outcome and the long-term effects of immune-related adverse events in these survivors. Methods: Pts with advanced melanoma (AJCC stages IIIC or IV) who were in complete remission for at least 2 y after treatment initiation, were eligible for this ongoing study. Data on health related quality of life (HRQOL), psychosocial outcome and neurocognitive function (NCF) were collected using 5 validated questionnaires, a semi-structured psychiatric examination (SSPE), and computer-based NCF testing. Results: Test results from 17 pts (5 F/12 M), median age 57 y (range 33-86) were analyzed. Median time since start of IPI was 5.5 y (range 2-7). Seven pts (41%) had elevated scores on the Cognitive Failure Questionnaire (CFQ). Nine pts (53%) had elevated scores on the Hospitalization Depression Scale (HADS) indicating moderate anxiety (4 pts), severe anxiety (2 pts), and moderate depression (3 pts). The SSPE revealed that all 10 pts who were professionally active at the time of diagnosis, had to change or stop work due to their illness. Nine pts (53%) reported persisting emotional distress: anxiety, existential problems, survivor guilt, post-traumatic stress symptoms or daily worrying about the disease. Three pts were referred for suicidal ideation in relation with their disease. Four pts (24%) developed hypophysitis and suffered from comorbid depression (1 pt), adjustment disorder (2 pt), or post-traumatic stress disorder related to the symptoms of hypopituitarism (1 pt). Five years after the incidence of hypophysitis, all pts had elevated scores on the Fatigue Severity Scale, the HADS; and 3 pts on the CFQ. All cases of skin toxicity (8 pts), hepatitis (2 pts), colitis (2 pts), sarcoidosis (2 pts), and Guillain-Barre syndrome (1 pt) resolved without long-term impact on HRQOL. Conclusions: A majority of melanoma survivors treated with IPI continues to suffer from emotional distress and cognitive problems impacting their HRQOL. Timely detection and providing adaptive care is imperative.

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Abstract Details

Meeting

2019 ASCO-SITC Clinical Immuno-Oncology Symposium

Session Type

Poster Session

Session Title

Poster Session A

Track

Breast and Gynecologic Cancers,Developmental Therapeutics,Genitourinary Cancer,Head and Neck Cancer,Lung Cancer,Melanoma/Skin Cancers,Gastrointestinal Cancer,Combination Studies,Implications for Patients and Society,Miscellaneous Cancers,Hematologic Malignancies

Sub Track

Survivorship

Citation

J Clin Oncol 37, 2019 (suppl 8; abstr 97)

DOI

10.1200/JCO.2019.37.8_suppl.97

Abstract #

97

Poster Bd #

F3

Abstract Disclosures

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