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Survey: Fertility and the Use of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Therapy
Immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy has transformed the treatment landscape for several malignancies, with use across both early and late-stage disease. Although effective, ICI is known to have various clinical and subclinical impact on a range of organ functions that may be long term and irreversible. With cancers such as melanoma, triple negative breast cancer, and Lynch-syndrome related tumours necessitating ICI therapies, the patients who receive these types of treatments may include both young people, and people who are anticipated to live many decades. For example, nearly a third of women diagnosed with melanoma are of childbearing age. Younger patients with a good prognosis are as potentially still suitable to consider conception and childbirth following on from their systemic therapies.
Although previous retrospective data has investigated the fertility effects of ICI, there continues to be a dearth of evidence in how treatments may affect these goals in the long-term. We also recognise that ICI may be given in combination with chemotherapy, or as a later line therapy depending on the tumour stream, and as such we recognise fertility issues in ICI recipients may be multifactorial or not applicable depending on specific patient factors.
The purpose of this questionnaire is to detect variation and consistency across UK oncology practice in regards to managing patients of childbearing age who are planned for, or have previously received immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy. We don't believe there is a consistent approach across UK centres in terms of fertility counselling, baseline and monitoring sex specific investigations, and approaches to fertility preservation. By gauging current practice amongst those with an interest in (or experience with) Immuno-Oncology, we seek to identify key areas where additional research may be required, or where a standardised guideline may be helpful.
When you submit this form, it will not automatically collect your details like name and email address unless you provide it yourself.
With thanks on behalf of the team at the Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust
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