Impact of Concomitant Medication Use and Immune-Related Adverse Events on Response to Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors

Abstract

<b>Aim:</b> Patients receiving checkpoint inhibitors (CPI) are frequently on other medications for co-morbidities. We explored the impact of concomitant medication use on outcomes. <b>Materials & methods:</b> 210 metastatic cancer patients on CPI were identified and association between concomitant medication use and immune-related adverse events with clinical outcomes was determined. <b>Results:</b> Aspirin, metformin, β-blockers and statins were not shown to have any statistically significant difference on clinical benefit. 26.3% patients with clinical benefit developed rash versus 11.8% without clinical benefit (p < 0.05) on multivariate analysis. <b>Conclusion:</b> Use of common prescription and nonprescription medications in patients with multiple co-morbidities appears safe and does not have an adverse effect on CPI efficacy. The presence of rash predicted for a better response.