Background: Cancer therapies are associated with multiple adverse effects, including (but not limited to) cancer-related fatigue (CRF). Fatigue is one of the most common side effects of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), occurring in up to 25% of patients. Physical activity has been shown to help reduce CRF through modulating the immune system, and may synergistically aid in the anti-tumor effects of ICIs. This review describes the nature and scope of evidence for the effects associated with concurrent physical activity while undergoing ICI therapy. Method: Scoping review methodology was utilized to identify studies, extract data, and collate and summarize results. Results: In literature published from January 2010 through to August 2021, only one human study and three pre-clinical studies met inclusion criteria. Conclusion: Existing evidence supports that physical activity is associated with decreased treatment-related toxicities such as CRF. However, further investigation is warranted. The dearth of clinical studies illustrates the need for more research to address this question, to guide patients and their providers in the application of appropriate physical activity interventions in those patients undergoing ICI.

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) harness the immune system and are the therapy of choice for multiple cancers. Although immunosuppressive agents such as steroids are also used in many cancers, it is unknown how their timing affects treatment outcomes. Thus, we investigated the relationship between the timing of steroid exposure preceding ICI administration and subsequent treatment outcomes in melanoma. This population-based study utilized the SEER-Medicare-linked database to identify patients diagnosed with melanoma between 1991 and 2015 and receiving ICIs between 2010 and 2016, examining last steroid exposure in the 12 months preceding ICI. The main outcome was all-cause mortality (ACM) after ICIs. Modifications of the Cox proportional hazards model were used to calculate time-dependent hazards. Of 1671 patients with melanoma receiving ICIs, 907 received steroids. Compared with no steroids, last steroid exposures ≤1 month and 1–3 months prior to ICIs were associated with a 126% and 51% higher ACM within 3 months post ICI initiation, respectively (hazard ratio (HR): 2.26, 95% CI: 1.65–3.08; and HR: 1.51, 95% CI: 1.01–2.27). Steroid exposure within 3 months of initiating ICIs was associated with increased mortality up to 6 months after ICI. Further investigation is warranted to elucidate mechanisms affecting outcomes due to steroids.

Background: Racial disparities exist in prostate cancer care and outcomes. Ultrasound-guided biopsy may miss a sizeable portion of clinically significant prostate cancer, while magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) improves its detection. This study aimed to investigate demographic and socioeconomic status–related factors influencing MRI use for prostate cancer detection. Methods: Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program–Medicare data were used to assess use of prediagnostic MRI in 90 908 patients with a diagnosis of primary prostate cancer (2012-2019). Modified Poisson regression models adjusted for socioeconomic factors such as income, education, Medicare buy-in, and dual eligibility, were used to examine factors associated with MRI use. All statistical tests were 2 sided. Results: Prediagnostic MRI use increased substantially between 2012 (3.8%) and 2019 (32.6%). The disparity in utilization between non-Hispanic Black and non-Hispanic White patients decreased by more than half, from 43% (relative risk [RR] = 0.57, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.48 to 0.67) in 2012 to 20% (RR = 0.80, 95% CI = 0.74 to 0.86) in 2019. Rural residents were 35% less likely (RR = 0.65, 95% CI = 0.61 to 0.69) to undergo MRI, while individuals in the US Census Central (vs West) region of the United States were 49% less likely (RR = 0.49, 95% CI = 0.48 to 0.51). No significant disparities in MRI use were identified between individuals 75 years of age and older and individuals aged 64 to 75 years. Socioeconomic status factors associated with MRI use were income, education, Medicare buy-in, and dual eligibility. Conclusions: This study revealed increased MRI utilization over time, including among individuals 75 years of age and older. Racial disparities decreased, while wide urban-rural disparities remained. Targeted public health interventions should focus on geographical factors because urban or rural designations and US region were associated with the most prominent disparities. Future research should explore pathways contributing to these disparities by using a multidisciplinary approach, including geographical studies, to help eliminate health-care inequities.