AB1441 LEARNING NEEDS ASSESSMENT FOR PATIENTS WITH CANCER AND A PRE-EXISTING AUTOIMMUNE DISEASE WHO ARE CANDIDATES TO RECEIVE IMMUNE CHECKPOINT INHIBITORS

Background Patients with autoimmune disorders and cancer are at risk of developing immune-related adverse events (irAEs) and increasing flares of their underlying disease with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) and harms and benefits must be weighed. Objectives We conducted an assessment of learning needs. Methods We interviewed 19 patients who had received an ICI and 20 physicians who provide care for these patients. We asked what do cancer patients with pre-existing autoimmune diseases need to know in order to make an informed decision about whether to receive an ICI. Results Fifty-three percent of the patients were female, median age was 62.9 (±10.9). They had rheumatoid arthritis (47.4%), psoriasis (26.3%), Crohn’s disease (10.5%), ankylosing spondylitis (5.3%), systemic lupus erythematosus (5.3%), or ulcerative colitis (5.3%). Half of the patients (52.6%) had a demonstrable disease activity of the autoimmune disease at the time of making the decision on whether to start ICI. Most (84%) of the patients had melanoma, and at the time of the interview 68.4% had completed or discontinued the ICI. Physicians were melanoma oncologists (30%), thoracic-head & neck medical oncologists (25%), rheumatologists (20%), gastroenterologists (10%), and dermatologists (15%) who treat patients with irAEs. Sixty percent were female. Key points mentioned by patients and physicians included information on probability of irAEs and flares of the autoimmune condition with discussion about severity, benefits of ICI, ICI mechanism of action in the context of the autoimmune disease, and management for flare-ups. Key topics raised only by patients included possible reasons for stopping or modifying treatment (for cancer or autoimmune disease), when to contact the provider, possibility of autoimmune disease progression or organ damage, sharing information with other providers, and lifestyle changes that can be done to help. Conclusion Although patients and physicians listed common learning points, patients also considered specific needs to increase their self-care. The information derived from this study will be used to develop a decision support tool. Disclosure of Interests None declared