Predictive Factors of Nivolumab-induced Hypothyroidism in Patients with Non-small Cell Lung Cancer.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Although immune checkpoint inhibitors play an important role in the therapy of lung cancer, they are associated with various immune-related adverse events and predictive factors of them are unclear. In this study, we investigated predictive factors of nivolumab-induced hypothyroidism which is one of the adverse events in patients with lung cancer.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with non-small-cell lung cancer who were administered nivolumab at our hospital between December 2015 and May 2016 were retrospectively enrolled. The thyroid-stimulating hormone, free triiodothyronine, free thyroxine, thyroid peroxidase (TPO) antibody, and thyroglobulin antibody levels of each patient were analyzed.

RESULTS: Of the 64 patients enrolled, 5 (7.8%) developed hypothyroidism after treatment with nivolumab. The TPO and thyroglobulin antibodies were significantly positive in patients who developed primary hypothyroidism.

CONCLUSION: TPO and thyroglobulin antibody levels at baseline may be predictive of hypothyroidism.