Disparities in REsults of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Treatment (DiRECT): A Prospective Cohort Study of Cancer Survivors Treated with anti-PD-1/anti-PD-L1 in a Community Oncology Setting

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ABSTRACT Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are a powerful and innovative mode of cancer therapy, believed to be partially responsible for the largest single-year drop in cancer mortality from 2016 to 2017. Their use has increased dramatically over the past 3 years. However, little data has been collected about ICI treatment response among patients of African ancestry (AA). In addition, little is known about the toxicities, treatment patterns, long-term outcomes, and post-treatment quality of life associated with ICIs outside the clinical trials setting. A prospective cohort study with a focus on racial differences between AA patients and patients of European ancestry (EA) in community oncology settings could address these knowledge gaps. Focusing on racial differences in ICI impact is important for three reasons. First, at the population level, AA patients are more likely than EA patients to have advanced cancers, an important disease group ICIs are intended to treat. Second, due to racial differences in host immunity, AA individuals tend to have a stronger pro-inflammatory response than EAs. This could lead to a higher risk of immune-related adverse events (irAEs) while on ICIs. Third, as a result of immune differences, AA patients who manage irAEs and continue ICI treatment may be more likely to benefit than EA patients. However, AA populations may experience multiple barriers while accessing healthcare (e.g., discrimination, financial toxicity) that may lead to discontinuing ICIs. We have a unique opportunity to assess the treatment, disease, individual, lifestyle, and quality of life factors that contribute to differential experiences of AA patients on ICIs, by accruing a prospective cohort through the nationwide NCI Community Oncology Research Program (NCORP) network. We will include all patients receiving anti-PD-1/-L1 therapy regardless of cancer site and enroll a total of 600 AA and 1,200 EA patients, with 1:2 match of AA to EA patients on cancer type within NCORP site. Our Specific Aims are: 1. To examine racial differences and predictors of irAEs, comparing AA and EA patients on incidence and severity of irAEs and assessing disease, individual, and lifestyle factors as predictors of these differences. 2. To examine treatment delay and discontinuation between AA and EA patients and assess racial differences in irAEs, healthcare barriers, and other factors as potential causes of treatment interruptions. 3. To examine short- and long-term treatment outcomes, comparing AA and EA patients on objective response rate (ORR), recurrence, death, and HRQOL after ICIs, and assessing treatment, disease, individual, and lifestyle factors as predictors of patient outcomes and potential causes of racial differences. We envision this to be the first large cohort study of diverse AA and EA patients treated with ICIs. We will gain valuable knowledge of the usage, effects, and challenges of ICIs in community oncology settings. Our findings may inform use of ICIs, management of irAEs and reduction of healthcare barriers across populations.