First-line Treatment Patterns and Outcomes in Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer in Sweden: A Population-based...

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Immunotherapy
• Clinical Research

Background:

• The treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has been transformed by immunotherapies.
• Understanding real-world treatment patterns and outcomes is crucial for optimizing patient care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate PD-L1 testing rates in advanced NSCLC patients in Sweden.
• To describe treatment patterns and real-world outcomes for PD-(L)1 inhibitors in this population.

Main Methods:

• Data from the Swedish National Lung Cancer Registry (2017-2020) for advanced NSCLC patients (ECOG PS 0-2).
• Analysis of PD-L1 testing, first-line treatment patterns (platinum-based vs. PD-(L)1-based therapy), and overall survival (OS) using Kaplan-Meier methods.

Main Results:

• High PD-L1 testing rates (85-86%) observed, increasing over time.
• Shift from platinum-based to PD-(L)1-based first-line therapies.
• Median OS for PD-(L)1 inhibitor monotherapy: 18.6 months (NSQ) and 13.3 months (SQ).
• Median OS for PD-(L)1 inhibitor + chemotherapy: 24.0 months (NSQ).

Conclusions:

• The majority of advanced NSCLC patients in Sweden are tested for PD-L1 expression.
• Real-world overall survival for patients receiving first-line PD-(L)1 inhibitor-based regimens aligns with pivotal clinical trial findings.