Electrolyte disorders in advanced non-small cell lung cancer patients treated with immune check-point inhibitors: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

Background: Aim of this meta-analysis was to determine the relative risk (RR) of electrolyte disorders (EDs) in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (aNSCLC) patients treated with immune check-point inhibitors (ICIs).

Methods: We searched for phase II/III randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing ICIs (alone or combined with chemotherapy) with standard chemotherapy in aNSCLC. Summary incidence and RR were calculated.

Results: Six RCTs with data on all-grade hyponatremia were identified (n = 3257). The incidence was 8.7 % in the study group and 4.9 % in the control group (RR 1.78, 95 %CI 1.12-2.80). Looking at all-grade hypokalemia, 7 RCTs were included (n = 4119). Incidence was 10.4 % in ICIs-treated patients and 5.9 % in the control arms (RR 1.62, 95 % CI 1.30-2.02).

Conclusions: Treatment with ICIs in aNSCLC is associated with a significant increased risk of hyponatremia and hypokalemia compared to chemotherapy. Monitoring of electrolyte levels should be emphasized in this setting.

Keywords: Hypokalemia; Hyponatremia; Immune check-point inhibitors; Non-small cell lung cancer.