Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40154959›Full record

ArticleJournal for immunotherapy of cancer2025

Quality of life, neurocognitive functioning, psychological issues, sexuality and comorbidity more than 2 years after commencing immune checkpoint inhibitor treatment.

Wellington Candido, Annemarie Cecile Eggen, Mathilde Jalving, Ingeborg Bosma, Reinate D Horinga, Kelly C van Heuvelen, T Jeroen N Hiltermann, Sjoukje Oosting, Emoke Racz, Melanie M van der Klauw and 2 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Journal for immunotherapy of cancer, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 8 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
8citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

8 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Guideline
  2. Patient-reported quality-of-life outcomes in immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy: addressing gaps, capturing patient experience, and advancing the field.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2026
    Review
  3. Review
  4. Article
  5. Review
  6. Review
  7. Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma (ccRCC).International journal of molecular sciences · 2025
    Review
  8. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors.

Wellington CandidoMedical Oncology, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0006-1204-3309
Annemarie Cecile EggenDepartment of Internal Medicine, St Antonius Hospital Nieuwegein, Nieuwegein, The Netherlands.
Mathilde JalvingMedical Oncology, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9142-9050
Ingeborg BosmaUniversity of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
Reinate D HoringaMedical Oncology, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
Kelly C van HeuvelenMedical Oncology, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
T Jeroen N HiltermannUniversity of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
Sjoukje OostingMedical Oncology, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
Emoke RaczUniversity of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
Melanie M van der KlauwUniversity of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
Anna K L ReynersMedical Oncology, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
Janine NuverMedical Oncology, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands j.nuver@umcg.nl.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundIncreasing numbers of patients diagnosed with advanced cancer survive long-term after treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). To design adequate interventions for these survivors, knowledge regarding quality of life (QOL) and its association with long-term and late effects of ICI treatment is required. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate QOL, neurocognitive function, psychological issues, sexuality, and comorbidities in patients surviving at least 2 years after commencing ICI treatment.

methodsWe performed a cross-sectional study in patients with stage III-IV melanoma, non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), urothelial cell carcinoma (UCC), or renal cell carcinoma (RCC) who survived at least 2 years after the start of ICIs. We assessed QOL, neurocognitive function, psychological issues, sexual function and comorbidity in survivors. Additionally, we evaluated QOL of informal caregivers.

results132 survivors (70 melanoma, 50 NSCLC, 12 UCC or RCC) and 80 caregivers were included. Median age was 65 years (range 30-85) and 50 survivors were women (38%). Median time since start and cessation of ICI treatment was 33 (range 21-91) and 18 (range 0-68) months, respectively. Average survivor QOL was comparable to the reference population, but 37 (28%) survivors had poor QOL. Depression and anxiety were negatively correlated with all QOL domains. Although immune-related adverse events were common, there was no association with lower QOL. Caregiver and survivor QOL were only weakly related. Neurocognitive concerns and formally tested neurocognitive impairment were present in 22 (17%) and 13 (15%) survivors, respectively, and were not associated with a diagnosis of brain metastases. Men had a high prevalence of erectile dysfunction and low sexual satisfaction. Half of the survivors met the criteria for the metabolic syndrome.

conclusionsAt least 2 years after the start of ICI treatment, one-quarter of cancer survivors had a clinically relevant lower QOL. This was associated with symptoms of depression and anxiety, but not with immune-related adverse events. Sexual issues and metabolic syndrome are prevalent. Survivorship care should address these issues in this population.

Indexed as

Immune Checkpoint InhibitorsNeoplasmsQuality of LifeSexualityAdultAgedAged, 80 and overCancer SurvivorsCognitionComorbidityCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedImmune Checkpoint InhibitorsCOGNITIONImmune Checkpoint InhibitorsImmune related adverse event - irAEQUALITY OF LIFESurvivorship

Identifiers

PMID40154959
PMCPMC11956391

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.