2054 Immune Checkpoints Inhibitor
Project summary
The increased use of immune checkpoint inhibitors for patients with cancer has brought benefits to many patients. It is also apparent that treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors can induce various side-effects. Given the unique side-effect profile of immune checkpoint inhibitors, patients receiving these therapies may have unique health-related quality of life concerns. Hence, the main aim of this project is to establish the important health-related quality of life issues in cancer patients receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors. Following this, we will determine a strategy for the measurement of health-related quality of life in such patients that fits with existing EORTC health-related quality of life measurement tools.
Achievements
The project is in Phase 1. We have conducted a systematic literature review consisting of both quantitative and qualitative research and also containing a review of existing systematic reviews. This has enabled us to develop a long issue list containing 146 potential quality of life-related issues that may be experienced by patient receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors.
Following the systematic review, initial interviews with healthcare professionals and patients have been undertaken and analysed. A larger group of patients is now being consulted using the results, to produce an evaluation of our initial findings.
Future plans
PHASE 1
Phase 1a: completed
Phase 1b
Second round of interviews (i.e. patient evaluations) to be completed:
1st January 2024
PHASE 2
Conversion of issues into items to be completed:
31st January 2024
Consultation phase to be completed:
1st March 2024
Final item list to be produced:
31st March 2024
For patients
Increasing numbers of cancer patients are receiving a type of immunotherapy treatment called immune checkpoint inhibitors. We know that immune checkpoint inhibitors can have many different side-effects on patients, which could affect their quality of life. This project therefore aims to understand if we need to develop new health-related quality of life questionnaires specifically for patients receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors.