Correlation Between Body Mass Index and Immunotherapy Response in Advanced NSCLC

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Immunotherapy
• Cancer Research

Background:

• Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have transformed advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treatment.
• Emerging data suggest a link between higher body mass index (BMI) and improved ICI efficacy, but this requires further validation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of baseline body mass index (BMI) on the efficacy of first-line immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
• To evaluate the association between BMI and survival outcomes, including overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS).

Main Methods:

• Retrospective multi-center study of 346 advanced NSCLC patients receiving first-line ICI therapy (pembrolizumab or ipilimumab/nivolumab).
• BMI categorized per WHO standards; survival analyzed using Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression.
• Subgroup analyses considered PD-L1 status, chemotherapy use, ICI type, and histology.

Main Results:

• No significant differences in median OS or PFS were observed across BMI categories (underweight, normal, overweight, obese).
• Overweight/obese patients were more likely to receive pembrolizumab and less likely to receive chemotherapy.
• Survival differences emerged based on PD-L1 levels, chemotherapy, ICI type, and histology, not BMI alone.

Conclusions:

• Body mass index (BMI) is not an independent predictor of survival in advanced NSCLC patients treated with first-line ICIs.
• Integrating BMI with other patient-specific factors is essential for developing personalized immunotherapy strategies to optimize patient care and outcomes.