Characteristics of initial irAEs
| Retreatment | Discontinuation | P | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade of the first irAE, N (%) | 0.01 | ||
| Grades 1 and 2 | 25 (66) | 10 (33) | |
| Grades 3 and 4 | 13 (34) | 20 (67) | |
| Type of irAE; N (%) | 0.62a | ||
| Pneumonitis | 6 (16) | 7 (23) | |
| Colitis | 7 (18) | 5 (17) | |
| Rash/pruritus | 5 (13) | 6 (20) | |
| ALT or AST increase | 3 (8) | 4 (13) | |
| Arthralgia/myalgia | 5 (13) | 1 (3) | |
| Nephritis | 2 (5) | 2 (7) | |
| Pancreatic enzymes elevation | 4 (11) | 0 (0) | |
| Meningitis/headache | 2 (5) | 1 (3) | |
| Endocrine disordersb | 2 (5) | 1 (3) | |
| Ventricular arrhythmias | 1 (3) | 0 (0) | |
| Fatigue | 1 (2) | 0 (0) | |
| ITP | 0 (0) | 1 (3) | |
| Other | 0 (0) | 2 (7) | |
| Hospitalizations, N (%) | 8 (21) | 16 (53) | 0.01 |
| Time interval to irAE: | |||
| Days, median (range) | 69 (14–577) | 73 (2–452) | 0.77 |
| No. infusions before the irAE: | |||
| No., median (range) | 4.5 (1–42) | 5.5 (1–27) | 0.51 |
| Corticosteroid used, N (%) | 29 (76) | 29 (97) | 0.03 |
| Intravenous | 3 (10) | 12 (40) | |
| Oral | 23 (80) | 16 (53) | |
| Otherc | 3 (10) | 2 (6) | |
| Steroids > 4 weeks, N (%) | 10 (34) | 15 (65)d | 0.04 |
| Anti-TNF used in the first toxicity, N (%) | 0 (0) | 3 (9) | 0.05 |
| irAE resolved to, N (%) | 0.03 | ||
| Grades 0 and 1 | 37 (97) | 23 (79) | |
| Grade ≥ 2 | 1 (3) | 6 (21) | |
| Death related to irAE; N (%) | 0 | 2 |
Abbreviations: ALT, alanine aminotransferase; AST, aspartate aminotransferase; ITP, idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura; Anti-TNF, antitumor necrosis factor alpha.
↵aThis P value refers to the comparison of the four more common toxicities.
↵bHypothyroidism (n = 1), hyperthyroidism (n = 1), and adrenal insufficiency (n = 1).
↵cTopical steroids or nonabsorbable budesonide.
↵dThere are 6 patients who were not evaluable for this category for reasons such as death, loss of follow-up, and noncompliance.