Impact of thyroid immune-related adverse events on clinical outcomes in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients treated with checkpoint inhibitor therapy: A single center study

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have transformed the treatment landscape for non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) but are associated with immune-related adverse events (irAEs), including thyroid dysfunction. This study examines the incidence and clinical impact of thyroid dysfunction in NSCLC...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Šejla Cerić, Timur Cerić, Emir Sokolović, Jasmina Dalač, Dragana Miletić, Inga Marijanović, Layan Mattar, Amina Aljić, Selma Agić-Bilalagić, Amera Šadija, Miran Hadžiahmetović, Semir Bešlija
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Association of Basic Medical Sciences of Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina 2025-03-01
Series:Biomolecules & Biomedicine
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.bjbms.org/ojs/index.php/bjbms/article/view/12321
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849765304498913280
author Šejla Cerić
Timur Cerić
Emir Sokolović
Jasmina Dalač
Dragana Miletić
Inga Marijanović
Layan Mattar
Amina Aljić
Selma Agić-Bilalagić
Amera Šadija
Miran Hadžiahmetović
Semir Bešlija
author_facet Šejla Cerić
Timur Cerić
Emir Sokolović
Jasmina Dalač
Dragana Miletić
Inga Marijanović
Layan Mattar
Amina Aljić
Selma Agić-Bilalagić
Amera Šadija
Miran Hadžiahmetović
Semir Bešlija
author_sort Šejla Cerić
collection DOAJ
description Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have transformed the treatment landscape for non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) but are associated with immune-related adverse events (irAEs), including thyroid dysfunction. This study examines the incidence and clinical impact of thyroid dysfunction in NSCLC patients receiving ICIs at the Clinic of Oncology, Clinical Center University of Sarajevo. In this retrospective cohort study of 50 patients with metastatic NSCLC treated with ICIs—either in combination with chemotherapy or as monotherapy for those with programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression ≥ 50%—we collected data on demographics, treatment regimens, thyroid function tests, and survival outcomes. Thyroid dysfunction occurred in 24 patients (48%), with 12 (24%) developing hypothyroidism, 4 (8%) developing hyperthyroidism, and 8 (16%) experiencing a transition from hyperthyroidism to hypothyroidism. The incidence of thyroid dysfunction was significantly higher in patients treated with atezolizumab compared to pembrolizumab (P = 0.04), with 87.5% of affected patients receiving atezolizumab. The median time to onset of thyroid dysfunction was 10 cycles (interquartile range [IQR]: 5) for hypothyroidism and six cycles (IQR: 19) for hyperthyroidism. Progression-free survival (PFS) was significantly longer in patients who developed thyroid dysfunction, with the median PFS not reached, compared to a median PFS of 14 months (95% CI: 9.68–18.32) in patients without thyroid dysfunction (P = 0.038). No significant associations were found between thyroid dysfunction and patient age or gender. These findings suggest that thyroid dysfunction is a common irAE in patients with metastatic NSCLC receiving ICIs, particularly atezolizumab, and its development may be associated with improved PFS. Regular monitoring of thyroid function is recommended to promptly identify and manage thyroid abnormalities during ICI therapy, potentially improving patient outcomes.
format Article
id doaj-art-d5725cd4a78c423586f6ec636ea18d15
institution DOAJ
issn 2831-0896
2831-090X
language English
publishDate 2025-03-01
publisher Association of Basic Medical Sciences of Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina
record_format Article
series Biomolecules & Biomedicine
spelling doaj-art-d5725cd4a78c423586f6ec636ea18d152025-08-20T03:04:54ZengAssociation of Basic Medical Sciences of Federation of Bosnia and HerzegovinaBiomolecules & Biomedicine2831-08962831-090X2025-03-0110.17305/bb.2025.12321Impact of thyroid immune-related adverse events on clinical outcomes in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients treated with checkpoint inhibitor therapy: A single center studyŠejla Cerić0Timur Cerić1https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5478-8057Emir Sokolović2Jasmina Dalač3Dragana Miletić4Inga Marijanović5Layan Mattar6Amina Aljić7Selma Agić-Bilalagić8Amera Šadija9Miran Hadžiahmetović10Semir Bešlija11Clinic for Nuclear Medicine, Clinical Center University of Sarajevo, Sarajevo, Bosnia and HerzegovinaClinic of Oncology, Clinical Center University of Sarajevo, Sarajevo, Bosnia and HerzegovinaClinic of Oncology, Clinical Center University of Sarajevo, Sarajevo, Bosnia and HerzegovinaDepartment for Nuclear Medicine, General Hospital “Prim. dr. Abdulah Nakaš” Sarajevo, Bosnia and HerzegovinaClinic of Oncology, University Clinical Hospital, Mostar, Bosnia and HerzegovinaClinic of Oncology, University Clinical Hospital, Mostar, Bosnia and HerzegovinaFaculty of Medicine, University of Sarajevo, Sarajevo, Bosnia and HerzegovinaFaculty of Medicine, University of Sarajevo, Sarajevo, Bosnia and HerzegovinaClinic for Nuclear Medicine, Clinical Center University of Sarajevo, Sarajevo, Bosnia and HerzegovinaClinic for Nuclear Medicine, Clinical Center University of Sarajevo, Sarajevo, Bosnia and HerzegovinaClinic for Nuclear Medicine, Clinical Center University of Sarajevo, Sarajevo, Bosnia and HerzegovinaClinic of Oncology, Clinical Center University of Sarajevo, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have transformed the treatment landscape for non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) but are associated with immune-related adverse events (irAEs), including thyroid dysfunction. This study examines the incidence and clinical impact of thyroid dysfunction in NSCLC patients receiving ICIs at the Clinic of Oncology, Clinical Center University of Sarajevo. In this retrospective cohort study of 50 patients with metastatic NSCLC treated with ICIs—either in combination with chemotherapy or as monotherapy for those with programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression ≥ 50%—we collected data on demographics, treatment regimens, thyroid function tests, and survival outcomes. Thyroid dysfunction occurred in 24 patients (48%), with 12 (24%) developing hypothyroidism, 4 (8%) developing hyperthyroidism, and 8 (16%) experiencing a transition from hyperthyroidism to hypothyroidism. The incidence of thyroid dysfunction was significantly higher in patients treated with atezolizumab compared to pembrolizumab (P = 0.04), with 87.5% of affected patients receiving atezolizumab. The median time to onset of thyroid dysfunction was 10 cycles (interquartile range [IQR]: 5) for hypothyroidism and six cycles (IQR: 19) for hyperthyroidism. Progression-free survival (PFS) was significantly longer in patients who developed thyroid dysfunction, with the median PFS not reached, compared to a median PFS of 14 months (95% CI: 9.68–18.32) in patients without thyroid dysfunction (P = 0.038). No significant associations were found between thyroid dysfunction and patient age or gender. These findings suggest that thyroid dysfunction is a common irAE in patients with metastatic NSCLC receiving ICIs, particularly atezolizumab, and its development may be associated with improved PFS. Regular monitoring of thyroid function is recommended to promptly identify and manage thyroid abnormalities during ICI therapy, potentially improving patient outcomes. http://www.bjbms.org/ojs/index.php/bjbms/article/view/12321Non-small cell lung cancerNSCLCimmunotherapyimmune checkpoint inhibitorsICIsthyroid dysfunction
spellingShingle Šejla Cerić
Timur Cerić
Emir Sokolović
Jasmina Dalač
Dragana Miletić
Inga Marijanović
Layan Mattar
Amina Aljić
Selma Agić-Bilalagić
Amera Šadija
Miran Hadžiahmetović
Semir Bešlija
Impact of thyroid immune-related adverse events on clinical outcomes in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients treated with checkpoint inhibitor therapy: A single center study
Biomolecules & Biomedicine
Non-small cell lung cancer
NSCLC
immunotherapy
immune checkpoint inhibitors
ICIs
thyroid dysfunction
title Impact of thyroid immune-related adverse events on clinical outcomes in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients treated with checkpoint inhibitor therapy: A single center study
title_full Impact of thyroid immune-related adverse events on clinical outcomes in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients treated with checkpoint inhibitor therapy: A single center study
title_fullStr Impact of thyroid immune-related adverse events on clinical outcomes in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients treated with checkpoint inhibitor therapy: A single center study
title_full_unstemmed Impact of thyroid immune-related adverse events on clinical outcomes in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients treated with checkpoint inhibitor therapy: A single center study
title_short Impact of thyroid immune-related adverse events on clinical outcomes in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients treated with checkpoint inhibitor therapy: A single center study
title_sort impact of thyroid immune related adverse events on clinical outcomes in non small cell lung cancer nsclc patients treated with checkpoint inhibitor therapy a single center study
topic Non-small cell lung cancer
NSCLC
immunotherapy
immune checkpoint inhibitors
ICIs
thyroid dysfunction
url http://www.bjbms.org/ojs/index.php/bjbms/article/view/12321
work_keys_str_mv AT sejlaceric impactofthyroidimmunerelatedadverseeventsonclinicaloutcomesinnonsmallcelllungcancernsclcpatientstreatedwithcheckpointinhibitortherapyasinglecenterstudy
AT timurceric impactofthyroidimmunerelatedadverseeventsonclinicaloutcomesinnonsmallcelllungcancernsclcpatientstreatedwithcheckpointinhibitortherapyasinglecenterstudy
AT emirsokolovic impactofthyroidimmunerelatedadverseeventsonclinicaloutcomesinnonsmallcelllungcancernsclcpatientstreatedwithcheckpointinhibitortherapyasinglecenterstudy
AT jasminadalac impactofthyroidimmunerelatedadverseeventsonclinicaloutcomesinnonsmallcelllungcancernsclcpatientstreatedwithcheckpointinhibitortherapyasinglecenterstudy
AT draganamiletic impactofthyroidimmunerelatedadverseeventsonclinicaloutcomesinnonsmallcelllungcancernsclcpatientstreatedwithcheckpointinhibitortherapyasinglecenterstudy
AT ingamarijanovic impactofthyroidimmunerelatedadverseeventsonclinicaloutcomesinnonsmallcelllungcancernsclcpatientstreatedwithcheckpointinhibitortherapyasinglecenterstudy
AT layanmattar impactofthyroidimmunerelatedadverseeventsonclinicaloutcomesinnonsmallcelllungcancernsclcpatientstreatedwithcheckpointinhibitortherapyasinglecenterstudy
AT aminaaljic impactofthyroidimmunerelatedadverseeventsonclinicaloutcomesinnonsmallcelllungcancernsclcpatientstreatedwithcheckpointinhibitortherapyasinglecenterstudy
AT selmaagicbilalagic impactofthyroidimmunerelatedadverseeventsonclinicaloutcomesinnonsmallcelllungcancernsclcpatientstreatedwithcheckpointinhibitortherapyasinglecenterstudy
AT amerasadija impactofthyroidimmunerelatedadverseeventsonclinicaloutcomesinnonsmallcelllungcancernsclcpatientstreatedwithcheckpointinhibitortherapyasinglecenterstudy
AT miranhadziahmetovic impactofthyroidimmunerelatedadverseeventsonclinicaloutcomesinnonsmallcelllungcancernsclcpatientstreatedwithcheckpointinhibitortherapyasinglecenterstudy
AT semirbeslija impactofthyroidimmunerelatedadverseeventsonclinicaloutcomesinnonsmallcelllungcancernsclcpatientstreatedwithcheckpointinhibitortherapyasinglecenterstudy