The association between body mass index and immune checkpoint inhibitors outcomes in melanoma: Results from real-world data.

Authors

Dina Elantably

Dina Elantably

MetroHealth Medical Center, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH

Jiasheng Wang , Abdul Rahman Al Armashi , Anas Al Zubaidi , Akram Alkrekshi , Dina Elantably

Organizations

Department of Hematology and Oncology, Seidman Cancer Center, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, Seidman Cancer Center, Case Western Reserve University, Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, Cleveland, OH, Johns Hopkins University - School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, Department of Hematology and Oncology, MetroHealth Medical Center, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, MetroHealth Medical Center, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH

Research Funding

No funding received
None.

Background: The “obesity paradox” refers to increase cancer risk in obesity with paradoxical improved outcomes. This phenomenon was previously reported in melanoma patients on immunotherapy; however, results are uncertain. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) are the mainstay of melanoma treatment. There is a lack of real-world data on the impact of body mass index (BMI) on overall survival (OS) and immunotherapy-related adverse events (irAEs) in melanoma patients on ICI. Methods: Data were retrospectively collected from an electronic health record database (TriNetX) which includes over 89 million patients from 56 healthcare systems in the United States. We identified adults with melanoma who received ICI; pembrolizumab, nivolumab, or a combination of ipilimumab and nivolumab between 2012 and 2022. Patients were stratified based on the WHO body mass index (BMI) classification. Overweight and obese patients were 1:1 propensity score-matched for age, sex, race, and use of ICI, with patients with normal BMI. Results: Ourcohort included 11,656 melanoma patients on ICI. 62% were males, 91% were white, and 86% were non-Hispanics. OS was significantly improved in overweight and obese compared to normal BMI patients (HR 0.72, 95% CI, 0.60-0.86; P < 0.001, and HR 0.53, 95% CI, 0.43-0.65); P < 0.001, respectively). Nearly one-third of all weight categories had an irAE. Skin toxicity was the most common, 16.5%-18.2%, while pneumonitis was the least common, 1.0% -2.0%. There was no statistically significant difference between the groups in all included irAE; skin toxicities, thyroid dysfunction, colitis, pneumonitis, or hepatitis. Conclusions: This is the largest real-world data study describing the association between weight status and the outcomes of ICI in melanoma. Our study showed that overweight and obese melanoma patients treated with single or combination ICI had a significantly improved OS compared to patients with normal BMI, in keeping with the “obesity paradox” phenomenon. Intriguingly, high BMI wasn’t associated with an increased risk of irAE. Studies to clarify the underlying mechanisms in melanoma and other malignancies are needed.

Normal BMI (reference)
No. of patients (%)
Overweight
No. of patients (%); HR (95% CI), P-value
Obese
No. of patients (%); HR (95% CI), P-value
Any irAE122 (33.2%)
148 (35.4%); HR 1.00 (0.79-1.27), 0.975128 (30.3%); HR 0.81 (0.63-1.04), 0.090
Skin toxicity96 (17.4%)
113 (18.2%); HR 1.00 (0.76-1.31), 0.98598 (16.5%); HR 0.86 (0.65-1.14), 0.294
Thyroid dysfunction80 (10.34%)
67 (8.27%); HR 0.79 (0.57-1.10), 0.15864 (8.25%); HR 0.70 (0.50-0.98),0.148
Colitis65 (8.1%)
57 (6.8%); HR 0.77 (0.54-1.09), 0.14363 (7.36%); HR 0.81 (0.57-1.14), 0.226
Pneumonitis10 (1.0%)
13 (1.3%); HR 1.14 (0.50-2.53), 0.75820 (2.0%); HR 1.84 (0.86-3.92), 0.112
Hepatitis30 (3.3%)
29 (3.0%); HR 0.90 (0.54-1.50), 0.68933 (3.5%); HR 0.98 (0.60-1.6), 0.922

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Abstract Details

Meeting

2023 ASCO Annual Meeting

Session Type

Publication Only

Session Title

Publication Only: Developmental Therapeutics—Immunotherapy

Track

Developmental Therapeutics—Immunotherapy

Sub Track

PD1/PD-L1 Inhibitor Monotherapy

Citation

J Clin Oncol 41, 2023 (suppl 16; abstr e14604)

DOI

10.1200/JCO.2023.41.16_suppl.e14604

Abstract #

e14604

Abstract Disclosures