Opioid analgesia may reduce efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors among advanced lung cancer patients

Written By : Dr. Shravani Dali |Medically Reviewed By : Dr. Kamal Kant Kohli Published On 2022-12-19T09:30:44+05:30 | Updated On 19 Dec 2022 1:03 PM IST

Opioid analgesia may reduce the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors suggests a recent study published in the BMC Pulmonology medicine.

A retrospective clinical study was conducted to compare the prognosis between the opioid analgesic (OA) treated and OA-untreated groups and to evaluate the effect of opioid painkillers on the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in the treatment of advanced lung cancer patients. In addition, a subgroup analysis of the clinical characteristics of the enrolled patients was performed to explore possible influencing factors.

This study reviewed the medical records of eligible patients who received ICIs at our institution. The clinicopathological features and clinical outcomes were compared. Also, the use of OA was collected. Patient survival, the incidence of immune-related adverse events (irAEs), and other baseline variables were examined in both cohorts according to whether OA was used.

Results:

• A total of 132 patients were included in the study. Of them, 39 (29.5%) were in the OA-treated group.

• No significant differences in baseline characteristics were observed between the OA-treated and untreated groups.

• The combined application of OA treatment significantly shortened progression-free survival (PFS) (P < 0.001) and overall survival (OS) (P = 0.002).

• However, both groups experienced similar incidences and gradations of irAEs.

• According to multivariate analysis, OA treatment resulted in significantly worse PFS and OS

Clinical outcomes of ICIs were significantly diminished in a cohort of Chinese patients with advanced lung cancer receiving OA therapy.

Reference:

Yu X, Zhao L, Song B. Impact of opioid analgesics on the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors in a lung cancer population. BMC Pulm Med. 2022 Nov 21;22(1):431. doi: 10.1186/s12890-022-02210-9. PMID: 36411438; PMCID: PMC9677634.

Keywords:

Yu X, Zhao L, Song B, impact, opioid, analgesics, efficacy, immune, checkpoint, inhibitors, lung cancer, population, BMC Pulm Med, Drug resistance, Gut microbiota, Immune checkpoint inhibitors, Lung cancer, Opioid analgesics.

opioid analgesiaefficacyimmunecheckpoint inhibitorsBMC Pulm Med

Source : BMC Pulmonary Medicine

Dr. Shravani Dali

Dr. Shravani Dali has completed her BDS from Pravara institute of medical sciences, loni. Following which she extensively worked in the healthcare sector for 2+ years. She has been actively involved in writing blogs in field of health and wellness. Currently she is pursuing her Masters of public health-health administration from Tata institute of social sciences. She can be contacted at editorial@medicaldialogues.in.

Dr. Kamal Kant Kohli

Dr Kamal Kant Kohli-MBBS, DTCD- a chest specialist with more than 30 years of practice and a flair for writing clinical articles, Dr Kamal Kant Kohli joined Medical Dialogues as a Chief Editor of Medical News. Besides writing articles, as an editor, he proofreads and verifies all the medical content published on Medical Dialogues including those coming from journals, studies,medical conferences,guidelines etc. Email: drkohli@medicaldialogues.in. Contact no. 011-43720751