Abstract 1901
Background
AEs resulting from placebo administration have not been well studied in oncology. The aim of this study was to describe the incidence of AEs in the placebo arms of target and immunotherapy cancer drugs in all treatment settings, and to analyze their relation with AEs reported in the active arms of included trials.
Methods
Based on PRISMA guidelines, a systematic literature search was performed including phase 3, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials from 1/1/2000 to 1/5/19. Adjuvant and advanced-stage studies using targeted and immunotherapy were included. Trials involving active anticancer treatment in addition to placebo in the control group were excluded. Random-effects meta-analysis was performed to estimate the incidence of grade 3-4 placebo AEs.
Results
Of 4396 studies screened, 40 trials were eligible (adjuvant n = 14; advanced n = 26) including 10 cancer types and 28,520. Median incidence of any-grade placebo AEs was 90% (IQR 89-91%) in the adjuvant and 89.5% (IQR 72-96%) in the advanced trials. Grade 5 drug-related AEs were reported in 19 pts receiving placebo. 4 trials reported a higher frequency of grade 3-4 AEs in the placebo arm than in the active treatment arm. The overall, random-effects pooled incidence of grade 3-4 placebo AEs was 22% (95% CI, 17-27%; [I2= 95%]) for the adjuvant and 27% (95% CI, 20-35%; [I2= 97%]) for the advanced trials. No statistical differences were observed comparing both settings (Wilcoxon rank-sum test, P = 0.2). Frequency of grade 3-4 placebo AEs was found to be correlated between the treatment and placebo arms in both adjuvant (ρ = 0.5; P = .042) and advanced studies (ρ = 0.6; P = .003).
Conclusions
Placebo administration was associated with a substantial incidence of grade 3-4 placebo AEs in adjuvant and advanced settings. An association between the active treatment and placebo arms was observed in both scenarios. These findings should be taken into consideration by the medical community in the toxicity evaluation criteria of a placebo-controlled clinical trial.
Clinical trial identification
Editorial acknowledgement
Legal entity responsible for the study
The authors.
Funding
Has not received any funding.
Disclosure
All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.
Resources from the same session
1357 - Upfront atezolizumab chemoimmunotherapy-associated Immune-related adverse events in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer
Presenter: Francis Mogollon-Duffo
Session: Poster Display session 1
Resources:
Abstract
1851 - Nivolumab-induced and radiation recall pneumonitis in patients with non-small cell lung cancer: a multicenter real world analysis of 669 patients
Presenter: Nobuaki Mamesaya
Session: Poster Display session 1
Resources:
Abstract
851 - Retrospective analysis of immunotherapy prognostic scores in advanced NSCLC at Nottingham University Hospitals (UK)
Presenter: Cristina Lopez Escola
Session: Poster Display session 1
Resources:
Abstract
3639 - Applicability of lung immune prognostic index (LIPI) to predict efficacy of first-line pembrolizumab in advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC)
Presenter: Xabier Mielgo Rubio
Session: Poster Display session 1
Resources:
Abstract
2950 - Delayed Onset Immune Related Adverse Effects (IRAEs) of Pembrolizumab in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
Presenter: Haixi Yan
Session: Poster Display session 1
Resources:
Abstract
3659 - Clinical implication of multiplex IHC and serologic biomarkers on Hyperprogression in NSCLC patients receiving Immune checkpoint blockers in real world.
Presenter: Joori Kim
Session: Poster Display session 1
Resources:
Abstract
4882 - Local ablative treatment and treatment beyond progression for oligo-progression in stage IV non-small cell lung cancer after tumor response to anti-PD1 treatment
Presenter: Florian Guisier
Session: Poster Display session 1
Resources:
Abstract
1358 - Atezolizumab in combination with chemotherapy for first-line treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs)
Presenter: Francis Mogollon-Duffo
Session: Poster Display session 1
Resources:
Abstract
2170 - Prognostic Impact of Metastatic Sites for Pembrolizumab Efficacy as First-line therapy in Patients with PD-L1 tumor proportion score (TPS) ≥ 50% Advanced Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer: A Retrospective Multicenter Study
Presenter: Hayato Kawachi
Session: Poster Display session 1
Resources:
Abstract
3051 - Impact of visceral fat area as independent predictive factor in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer treated with nivolumab
Presenter: Yuki Sato
Session: Poster Display session 1
Resources:
Abstract