Chronic irAEs Persist in Nearly Half of Adjuvant Anti-PD-1 Melanoma Patients

This multicenter cohort quantifies the long-term immune-related toxicity burden of adjuvant anti-programmed cell death protein 1 (anti-PD-1) therapy in resected melanoma and identifies corticosteroid use and later onset as risk markers for chronicity, informing survivorship-era pharmacy monitoring.

nivolumabpembrolizumabanti-PD-1immune checkpoint inhibitorsmelanomaimmune-related adverse eventschronic irAEadjuvant therapycorticosteroidscytokinescohort studysurvivorship Oncology Pharmacy

Background Information

Chronic irAEs affect nearly half of melanoma patients on anti-PD-1 therapy.

Anti-PD-1 therapy significantly improves outcomes in melanoma but leads to chronic immune-related adverse events (irAEs) in many patients. Of 303 patients, 48% developed chronic irAEs, with common types being hypothyroidism (31%), arthritis (17%), and dermatitis (12%). Corticosteroid use and later onset of irAEs are linked to chronic conditions. Monitoring and management are essential for patient care. Chronic immune-related adverse events after anti-PD-1 therapy in melanoma patients require careful long-term management.

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Authors: Kankaria RA, Fankhauser R, Boutros A, Pinzon M, Bai K, Chen SC, Agbisit CB, Kalyan A, Lawless A, Long GV, Sullivan RJ, Mehnert JM, Rapisuwon S, Balko JM, Carlino MS, Menzies AM, Johnson DB

Citation: Kankaria RA, Fankhauser R, Boutros A, et al. Anti-PD-1 Therapy and Long-Term Toxic Effects Among Patients With Melanoma. JAMA network open. 2026;9(10):e2637199. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2026.37199

Article Links: PubMed · Journal / DOI · Free Full Text (PMC)

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