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Immunotherapy (in particular immune checkpoint inhibitors) has transformed the treatment of many cancers, including melanoma and kidney cancer. Randomised trials are looking at patient outcomes from studies using reduced immunotherapy dosing schedules with the aim of improving quality of life, tolerability, and cost-effectiveness. This study looks at patient’s and carer’s perspectives of these trials.
Seven group discussions (focus groups) were conducted with 31 people with stage 4 melanoma, kidney cancer, or carers for people being treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors.
During the discussions, three themes were identified:
- “Treatment and clinic visits provide reassurance”: reducing hospital visits may not improve quality of life.
- “Assessment of personal risk versus benefit”: the decision to take part in a study to change the treatment schedule to reduce the dose of immune checkpoint inhibitors is influenced by treatment response, side effects and perceived logistical benefits based on the individual’s circumstances.
- “Pre-existing experience and beliefs about how treatment and trials work”, including the belief that more treatment is better, influence views around these trials.
This study provides insight into recruitment challenges and recommends strategies to enhance recruitment for ongoing trials using a reduced immunotherapy dosing schedule. These findings will influence the design of future trials ensuring they are acceptable to patients.
Alison Fielding (trustee) and Sharon Deveson Kell from Action Kidney Cancer are authors of this paper.
