Steroids Found to Limit Effectiveness of Lung Cancer Immunotherapy Treatment

Keck Medicine of USC researchers discovered that tumors shrank less in patients who were given steroids for symptoms of lung cancer.

Category	Detail
Condition
Key Mechanisms	Corticosteroids may hinder the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in non-small cell lung cancer patients, particularly at high doses.
Target Population
Care Setting

High-dose corticosteroids (30-100 mg prednisone daily) are linked to worse progression-free and overall survival.
Medium-dose corticosteroids (7.5-30 mg) do not significantly affect survival compared to no steroid use, but further research is needed to confirm this.

Consider delaying immunotherapy initiation until patients are weaned off high-dose steroids.
Explore alternative medications for symptom management that do not impair immunotherapy efficacy.

Evaluate the necessity of corticosteroids versus the potential benefits of immunotherapy, considering patient-specific factors.

Engage in multidisciplinary discussions regarding steroid use and immunotherapy, including potential alternatives.

Clinical Scorecard: Steroids Found to Limit Effectiveness of Lung Cancer Immunotherapy Treatment