Optimal Duration of Consolidation Durvalumab Following Chemoradiotherapy in Stage III Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: A...

Although durvalumab has shown promise in improving survival rates in patients with locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), the ideal duration of treatment has yet to be established.

The primary objective of this study was to determine the optimal number of durvalumab cycles following definitive chemoradiotherapy for locally advanced NSCLC.

A total of 178 patients who received chemoradiotherapy for stage III NSCLC at 15 institutions were retrospectively analyzed. Progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were assessed according to the number of consolidation durvalumab cycles by landmark analysis. Landmark analyses were performed at 3-month intervals from the start of durvalumab treatment to 9 months.

The median number of durvalumab cycles was 16 (range 1-27). PFS and OS were significantly better in patients who received ≥20 cycles of durvalumab than in those who did not (p < 0.001 and p < 0.001, respectively). In landmark analysis, significant differences were observed in PFS from 0 to 6 months and OS from 3 to 6 months between patients who continued durvalumab after the time point and those who did not. However, there were no significant differences in PFS or OS between patients who received 13-19 or ≥20 cycles of durvalumab at 9 months.

Durvalumab should be administered for more than 6 months to contribute to the main benefits of consolidation therapy following chemoradiotherapy.