Corticosteroids may reduce the effectiveness of immunotherapy in lung cancer patients, leading to faster tumor growth and shorter survival.
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High-dose corticosteroids (30-100 mg prednisone daily) significantly worsen progression-free and overall survival compared to no steroid use.
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Patients on steroids prior to immunotherapy had poorer outcomes than those who had been off steroids for at least one month.
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The study suggests a need for multidisciplinary discussions to balance steroid use and immunotherapy benefits for lung cancer patients.
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Clinical trial protocols are evolving to exclude patients on high-dose steroids, emphasizing the importance of managing steroid use before immunotherapy.
