Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Therapy for Patients With Non-small Cell Lung Cancer Ineligible for Platinum Doublet...

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Immunotherapy
• Thoracic Medicine

Background:

• Combined immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) and chemotherapy improve survival in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
• Many NSCLC patients are ineligible for platinum doublet chemotherapy due to age, comorbidities, or poor performance status (PS).
• Limited data exists on first-line ICI efficacy and safety in chemotherapy-ineligible NSCLC patients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy and safety of first-line ICI therapy in NSCLC patients ineligible for platinum doublet chemotherapy.
• To assess survival outcomes, including progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS), in this patient population.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective observational study of 48 NSCLC patients.
• Patients received first-line ICI therapy (pembrolizumab or nivolumab plus ipilimumab).
• Ineligibility for platinum doublet chemotherapy was due to age, comorbidities, or PS ≥2.

Main Results:

• Median PFS was 7.1 months and median OS was 31.7 months for all patients.
• Two-year PFS and OS rates were 30.8% and 50.7%, respectively.
• Patients with PS ≥2 showed a median PFS of 1.6 months and median OS of 5.5 months, with two-year survival rates of 34.3% (PFS) and 45.3% (OS).

Conclusions:

• First-line ICI therapy offers favorable outcomes for NSCLC patients ineligible for platinum doublet chemotherapy, including those with PS 0-1.
• Even patients with PS ≥2 achieved notable two-year PFS and OS rates with ICI treatment.
• ICI therapy represents a viable treatment option for chemotherapy-ineligible NSCLC patients, irrespective of performance status.