Symptoms of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Therapy in Cutaneous Melanoma

Characterization of the Symptom Experience of Patients With Cutaneous Melanoma Receiving Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Therapy

The introduction of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) for the treatment of patients with stages IIB to IV cutaneous melanoma resulted in dramatic improvements in mortality rates for this common form of cancer. With this rapid shift in treatment, significant gaps in knowledge exist regarding the impact of ICIs on patients' symptom experiences. An in-depth characterization of inter-individual differences in patients' symptom experiences will fill this knowledge gap and assist with the early detection of ICI toxicity; guide symptom management; inform treatment decision making; and refine ICI-symptom instrument development. Furthermore, given the limited knowledge in this area, the identification of demographic, clinical, environmental, and molecular risk factors associated with a worse symptom experience is warranted. This is a longitudinal, prospective study evaluating the symptoms that immune checkpoint inhibitors may cause in patients with cutaneous melanoma.

PRIMARY OBJECTIVES:

1. Evaluate for changes over time in the patients' symptom experience,
2. Identify distinct symptom profiles over time.
3. Evaluate for demographic, clinical, environmental, and molecular risk factors associated with a worse profile.

OUTLINE:

Participants receiving ICI outside the scope of this study as part of usual care will have a chart review from the first cycle of non-investigational treatment for up to 4 cycles. Participants may complete symptom and health-related quality of life questionnaires during the course of the study, and blood samples will be obtained at regular clinic visits.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Adults ≥18 years of age
• Able to speak and read English
• Diagnosed with stage IIB, III, or IV cutaneous melanoma
• Participants who are scheduled to receive >=1 immune checkpoint inhibitor at University of California San Francisco medical center locations. Participants on targeted therapies (e.g., BRAF or mitogen-activated extracellular signal-regulated kinase (MEK) inhibitors) will be eligible.
• Provide written informed consent to participate in this study.
• Participants with stage IIB or higher cutaneous melanoma

Exclusion Criteria:

• Participants will be excluded if they are unable to complete study requirements.