Evidence from a meta-analysis: is nivolumab neurotoxic in cancer patients?

• Main Authors: Kong X, Kong Y
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dove Medical Press 2017-03-01
• Series: OncoTargets and Therapy
• Subjects: PD-1inhibitor; Nivolumab; Neurotoxicity; Cancer
• Online Access: https://www.dovepress.com/evidence-from-a-meta-analysis-is-nivolumab-neurotoxic-in-cancer-patien-peer-reviewed-article-OTT

Xiangyi Kong,1,2 Yanguo Kong1 1Department of Neurosurgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Dongcheng District, Beijing, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Anesthesia, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA Abstract: The aim of this study was to summarize the findings of previous studies focusing on whether the risks of certain neurotoxicities are correlated to the programmed death 1 (PD-1) inhibitor nivolumab versus other chemotherapy or immunotherapy drugs. Six eligible studies, including 3,023 patients, were considered in the meta-analysis. The risk ratios (RRs) of fatigue, headache, dysgeusia, vertigo, paresthesia, anxiety or malaise and peripheral neuropathy were 0.908 (95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 0.724, 1.138; P=0.402), 0.841 (95% CI: 0.606, 1.168; P=0.302), 0.423 (95% CI: 0.132, 1.357; P=0.148), 0.762 (95% CI: 0.475, 1.223; P=0.261), 0.411 (95% CI: 0.232, 0.730; P=0.002), 1.049 (95% CI: 0.094, 11.752; P=0.969) and 0.192 (95% CI: 0.039, 0.935; P=0.041), respectively. Our analysis supported that the PD-1 inhibitor nivolumab did not cause increased or decreased risks of fatigue, headache, dysgeusia, vertigo and anxiety or malaise and was associated with decreased risks of paresthesia and peripheral neuropathy as compared with controls. These outcomes indicated that although clinicians should be attentive of the side effects of nivolumab, in terms of nervous system side effects, nivolumab is generally safe. Keywords: PD-1 inhibitor, nivolumab, neurotoxicity, cancer