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Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors

Forty seven cancer patients with melanoma included prior to treatment with ICI.

Fifthy three age- and gender- matched healthy controls.

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are a group of novel immunotherapies that boost the body's own defense against the cancer by improving the immune system's ability to recognize and destroy cancer cells. While it is relatively well-documented that conventional cancer treatments (e.g., chemotherapy) are associated with cognitive impairment, virtually nothing is yet known about effects on cognition during and after ICI treatment. Due to significantly improved survival rates after ICI treatments, it becomes important to map possible adverse effects associated with these treatments. The investigators therefore investigate possible changes in cognitive function in a group of cancer patients from prior to ICI treatment to nine months later. A gender- and age- matched healthy control group will serve as a comparison. The study has the potential to broaden our understanding of associations between cognition, the brain, and the immune system and to provide clinically relevant knowledge about possible cognitive impairments associated with immunotherapy.

This controlled prospective observational study will include two groups with a total of 84 participants. A total of 42 patients diagnosed with melanoma, referred to treatment with ICI will be enrolled in the study and examined prior to treatment with ICI (baseline), at eight weeks following baseline (T2), at 24 weeks following baseline (T3) and 12 weeks after treatment completed (T4). A total of 42 gender- and age- matched healthy controls will be included and assessed at similar time points. Assessments will include a battery of neuropsychological tests, questionnaires, blood samples, and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI).

The main objectives of the study are to investigate:

1. Changes in cognitive functions over the course of treatment with ICIs.
2. Possible associations between changes in cognitive function and immune markers during and following ICI treatment.
3. Possible associations between changes in cognitive function and changes in brain morphology.
4. Changes over time in other possible adverse effects of ICI treatment, including psychological distress, sleep disturbances, and fatigue.

Cognitive Function in Patients Treated for Metastatic Melanoma With Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors

Cognitive Function in Patients Treated for Metastatic Melanoma With Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors: A Controlled Prospective Observational Study

Changes in attention as measured with WAIS-IV The Digit Span Forwards (scores with a minimum of 0 points to a maximum of 16 points - higher scores mean a better outcome)

Changes in attention as measured with Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test (scores ranging from a minimum of 0 and a maximum of 60 with higher scores indicating a better outcome)

Changes in processing speed as measured with WAIS-IV The Digit Symbol coding (scores ranging from a minimum of 0 and a maximum of 135 with higher scores indicating a better outcome)

Changes in processing speed as measured with Trail Making Test A (outcome is time in seconds)

Changes in working memory as measured with WAIS-IV The Digit Span Backwards (scores with a minimum of 0 points to a maximum of 16 points - higher scores mean a better outcome)

Changes in working memory as measured with WAIS-IV The Digit Span Ranking (scores with a minimum of 0 points to a maximum of 16 points - higher scores mean a better outcome)

Changes in learning and memory as measured with the Hopkins Verbal Learning Test - Revised (part 1 include a minimum score of 0 and a maximum score of 36 with higher score indicating a better outcome, part 2 include a minimum score of 0 and a maximum score of 12 with higher scores indicating better outcomes)

Changes in learning and memory as measured with Brief Visuospatial Memory Test - Revised (part 1 include a minimum score of 0 and a maximum score of 18 with a higher score indicating a better outcome, part 2 include a minimum score of 0 and a maximum score of 6 with higher scores indicating better outcomes)

Changes in visuospatial ability as measured with WAIS-IV Matrix Reasoning (scores with a minimum of 0 and a maximum of 26 with higher scores indicating better outcomes)

Changes in verbal fluency as measured with the Controlled Oral Word Association Test, letter and animal (as many words as possible, more words indicating a better outcome. No maximum value)

Changes in executive function as measured with the Trail Making Test B (outcome is time in seconds)

Changes in fatigue severity as measured with The Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy - Fatigue (FACIT fatigue) scale (range from 0 to 52. Items are reverse scored when appropriate to provide a scale in which higher scores represent better functioning or less fatigue)

Changes in sleep quality as measured with the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) (scores ranging from a minimum of 0 and a maximum of 28 with higher scores indicating higher levels of insomnia)

Changes in sleep quality as measured with the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) (scores ranging form a minimum of 0 indicating no difficulty and a maximum of 21 indicating severe difficulties in all areas related to sleep)

Changes in perceived cognitive functioning as measured with The Patient Assessment of Own Functioning Inventory (PAOFI) (outcome is scores ranging from a minimum of 35 to a maximum of 210)

Changes in depression/anxiety as measured with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) (range from a minimum score of 0 to a maximum score of 21 in which a higher scores mean higher levels of depression/anxiety)

Changes in subjective sickness behavior as measured with the Sickness Questionnaire (SicknessQ) (scores ranging from a minimum of 0 and a maximum of 30 with higher scores indicating worse outcome)

Changes in health-related quality of life as measured with The European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer, Quality of Life questionnaire for cancer patients (EORTC QLQ-C30) (all of the scales and single-item measures range in score from 0 to 100. A high scale score represents a higher response level.)

Genotype of COMT and APOE4

Genotype of COMT

TNF-α, IL-6, IL-8, IL-21, CRP, IP-10 and MCP-1 extracted from blood samples

Changes in brain grey matter as measured with T1-weighted MRI

Changes in brain white matter as measured with T1-weighted MRI

Spots Global Cancer Trial Database for sickness behavior