According to results from the CheckMate 8HW trial, nivolumab plus ipilimumab significantly improved health-related quality of life compared to nivolumab alone among patients with microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H) or mismatch repair-deficient (dMMR) metastatic colorectal cancer. 

These data were presented by Elena Elez Fernandez, MD, PhD, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain, at the ESMO Gastrointestinal Cancers Congress in Barcelona, Spain. 

In this study, 582 patients who underwent at least 1 dose of nivolumab either alone (n = 286) or in combination with ipilimumab (n = 296) were assigned to complete EORTC QLQ-C30/QLQ-C29 and EQ-5D-3L questionnaires to assess mean score change from baseline. 

At a median follow-up of 47 months, questionnaires were completed by > 80% of patients. EORTC QLQ-C30/QLQ-C29 questionnaires were completed by 89% of patients in the nivolumab plus ipilimumab arm and 88% of patients in the nivolumab monotherapy arm. The mean change in global health status was 10.1 in the nivolumab plus ipilimumab arm and 7.1 in the nivolumab monotherapy arm. The mean change in physical functioning was 6.5 in the nivolumab plus ipilimumab arm and 3.5 in the nivolumab monotherapy arm. The mean change in fatigue was -10.4 in the nivolumab plus ipilimumab arm and -7.3 in the nivolumab monotherapy arm. The mean change in diarrhea was -3.8 in the nivolumab plus ipilimumab arm and -2.1 in the nivolumab monotherapy arm. The mean change in pain was -15.4 in the nivolumab plus ipilimumab arm and -10.1 in the nivolumab monotherapy arm. 

EQ-5D-3L questionnaires were completed by 88% of patients in the nivolumab plus ipilimumab arm and 86% of patients in the nivolumab monotherapy arm. The mean change in visual analogue score was 9.8 in the nivolumab plus ipilimumab arm and 5.8 in the nivolumab monotherapy arm. The mean change in utility index was 0.077 in the nivolumab plus ipilimumab arm and 0.074 in the nivolumab monotherapy arm. 

“Nivolumab plus ipilimumab demonstrated improved HRQoL and reduced symptoms from [baseline in patients] with centrally confirmed MSI-H/dMMR [metastatic colorectal cancer],” concluded Dr Fernandez.” The addition of [ipilimumab to nivolumab] significantly improved [progression-free survival compared to nivolumab] alone without compromising HRQoL.” 

Source : 

Fernandez EE, Andre T,  Lonardi S, et al. Nivolumab (NIVO) plus ipilimumab (IPI) vs NIVO monotherapy for microsatellite instability-high/mismatch repair-deficient (MSI-H/dMMR) metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC): Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) analyses from CheckMate 8HW. Presented at ESMO Gastrointestinal Cancers Congress. July 2-5, 2025. Abstract 1O.