Risk of endocrine complications in cancer patients treated with immune check point inhibitors: a meta-analysis

Background: We performed a meta-analysis of the risk of endocrine adverse events associated with immune check point inhibitors. Methods: Eligible studies included randomized trials of cancer patients on immune checkpoint inhibitors; describing events of hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, hypophysitis and adrenal insufficiency. Results: A total of ten clinical trials were eligible for the meta-analysis. The relative risk of all-grade hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, hypophyisitis and adrenal insufficiency were 8.26 (95% CI: 4.67-14.62; p < 0.00001), 5.48 (95% CI: 1.33-22.53; p = 0.02); 22.03 (95% CI: 8.52-56.94; p < 0.00001), 3.87 (95% CI: 1.12-13.41; p = 0.03), respectively. Conclusion: Our meta-analysis has demonstrated that the use of immune check point inhibitors is associated with an increased risk of hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, hypophysitis and adrenal insufficiency compared with control.