{
  "abstract": "Background\n\nImmune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), including nivolumab, have significantly improved cancer care. However, due to high costs, there is a significant financial barrier to their widespread access. Emerging evidence shows biological plausibility as well as efficacy of low-dose nivolumab across different cancers.Aims\n\nThis exploratory study aims to investigate the clinical outcomes of low-dose nivolumab in cancer treatment to explore the potential to improve its access by reducing costs, especially in resource-limited settings.Methods and results\n\nData on patients with various malignancies treated with fixed 20 or 40 mg of nivolumab every 3 weeks were retrospectively analyzed. Response to the treatment, including the best objective response rate, best disease control rate, and adverse events, was reported. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to determine progression-free survival and overall survival. The patient cohort of 31 patients with various tumors received a median of 9 cycles (range, 2-20) of low-dose nivolumab therapy for 5.7 months (range, 0.7-17.1). Median follow-up was 8.6 months (95% CI, 7.1-12.9). Disease control was achieved in 21/31 (67.7%) patients, with the best objective response rate of 51.6%. The median progression-free survival was 8.8 months (95% CI, 6.6-not reached) and overall survival was 14.8 months (95% CI, 11.1-not reached). At the end of the study period, 3/31 patients had a radiologic complete response, 9/31 had a partial response, 4/31 had stable disease, and 6/31 had progressive disease, and 3/31 were not evaluable; 6 patients died during this period. The responses achieved were sustainable for a median of 4 months (range, 0.8-8.2). Only 5 patients developed adverse events of grade 2 or 3.Conclusions\n\nLow-dose nivolumab shows preliminary efficacy in resource-constrained settings. Further research should explore optimal dosing and scheduling for low-dose immunotherapy and evaluate its efficacy and safety through larger, homogeneous studies.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Department of Clinical Oncology, Kathmandu Cancer Center, Bhaktapur, Nepal.",
    "Department of Research and Academics, Kathmandu Cancer Center, Bhaktapur, Nepal.",
    "Department of Medical Oncology, Kathmandu Cancer Center, Bhaktapur, Nepal."
  ],
  "article_type": "research article",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 8,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Subhas Pandit",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-8992-5194"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Simit Sapkota",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-6290-4318"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Abish Adhikari",
      "orcid": "0009-0001-0985-0197"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Jeebana Bhandari",
      "orcid": "0009-0003-0370-2104"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2
      ],
      "name": "Sunil Shrestha",
      "orcid": "0009-0001-7804-4877"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2
      ],
      "name": "Rajani Jha",
      "orcid": "0009-0006-1817-6348"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Gerim Prasai",
      "orcid": "0009-0006-9433-9049"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Anjani Kr Jha",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-9579-7176"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/d38y3qp82z2r4.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.1002/cnr2.70713",
  "fulltext_url": "https://europepmc.org/articles/PMC13680289",
  "id": "d38y3qp82z2r4",
  "issns": [
    "2573-8348"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42897090",
  "language": "eng",
  "licence": "CC-BY",
  "licence_label": "CC BY",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "openalex",
      "2730|Cancer Immunotherapy and Biomarkers"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7222930265",
  "pdf_url": "https://europepmc.org/articles/PMC13680289?pdf=render",
  "pmcid": "PMC13680289",
  "pmid": "42897090",
  "published": "2026-10-01",
  "publisher": null,
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/d38y3qp82z2r4.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:19:37Z",
      "native_id": "MED:42897090",
      "source": "europepmc",
      "url": "https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42897090"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "medicine",
      "origin": "openalex:2730|Cancer Immunotherapy and Biomarkers",
      "subfield": "oncology"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Low-Dose Nivolumab in Various Cancers: A Real-World Exploratory Analysis in Resource-Constrained Settings.",
  "title_text": "Low-Dose Nivolumab in Various Cancers: A Real-World Exploratory Analysis in Resource-Constrained Settings.",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:19:37Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/d38y3qp82z2r4",
  "venue": "Cancer reports (Hoboken, N.J.)",
  "versions": []
}