LBA54 Randomized phase III trial of nivolumab in combination with carboplatin, paclitaxel, and bevacizumab as first-line treatment for patients with advanced or recurrent non-squamous NSCLC

A systematic review and meta-analysis on the Optimal Treatment duration of cHEckpoint inhibitoRS in solid tumors: the OTHERS study

No clear evidence supports the advantage of fixed (up to two years (2yICI)) or continuous treatment (more than two years (prolonged ICI)) in cancer patients achieving stable disease or response on immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials reporting the duration of ICIs (alone or in combination with standard of care (SoC)) across various solid tumors. Overall, we identified 28,417 records through database searching. Based on the eligibility criteria, 57 studies were identified for the quantitative synthesis, including 22,977 patients receiving ICIs (with or without SoC). Prolonged ICI correlated with better overall survival (OS) than 2yICI in patients with melanoma (HR:1.55; 95%CI: 1.22,1.98), while 2yICI-SoC led to better OS than prolonged ICI-SoC in patients with NSCLC (HR: 0.84; 95%CI: 0.68,0.89). Prospective randomized trials are needed to assess the most appropriate duration of ICIs. OBJECTIVE: No clear evidence supports the advantage of fixed (up to two years (2yICI)) or continuous treatment (more than two years (prolonged ICI)) in cancer patients achieving stable disease or response on immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). Here, we assessed the optimal treatment duration for ICIs in solid tumors. CONCLUSIONS: Prolonged ICIs administration does not seem to improve the outcomes of patients with NSCLC an RCC.

Efficacy and safety of combined immunotherapy and antiangiogenesis with or without chemotherapy for advanced non-small-cell lung cancer: A systematic review and pooled analysis from 23 prospective studies

Purpose: Immune checkpoint and antiangiogenic inhibitors have a potentially synergistic antitumor effect. We aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of immunotherapy in combination with antiangiogenesis therapy with or without chemotherapy in patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Methods: PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane library, Google Scholar, Ovid, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched for eligible trials. ClinicalTrials.gov and meeting abstracts were also searched for qualified clinical studies. The inclusion criteria were as follows: prospective studies (including single-arm studies) that evaluated efficacy and/or toxicity of immunotherapy combined with antiangiogenic agents (A + I) with or without chemotherapy (A + I + chemo) in patients with advanced or metastatic NSCLC; and primary outcome of each study reported at least one of these endpoints: progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival, objective response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR), or adverse events (AEs).

Results: Twenty three prospective studies comprising 1,856 patients with advanced NSCLC were included. The pooled ORR, median PFS and estimated overall survival were 39%, 6.8 months [95% confidence interval (CI), 5.53–8.13], and 18.6 months in the overall group. Similar ORR and median PFS with A + I + chemo versus A + I were observed in patients treated in first-line setting [59% and 9.47 months (95% CI, 6.45–12.49) versus 52% and 10.9 months (95% CI, 1.81–19.98), respectively]. We also observed improved ORR and mPFS with A + I + chemo versus A + I in subsequent-line setting [56% and 8.1 months (95% CI, 5.00–11.26) versus 22% and 5.1 months (95% CI, 4.01–6.15), respectively]. Efficacy of A + I + chemo therapy was evident across different PD-L1 subgroups, especially in patients with EGFR mutations [ORR: 59%; mPFS: 8.13 months (95% CI: 5.00–11.26)] or baseline liver metastases. The incidence of AEs with a major grade of ≥3 in the overall, A + I, and A + I + chemo groups were 4.1% vs. 5.5% vs. 3.4% for proteinuria, 13.7% vs. 16.2% vs. 9.7% for hypertension, and 1.9% vs. 1.2% vs. 2.8% for rash, respectively. No new safety signals were identified in this pooled analysis.

Conclusion: Immunotherapy combined with antiangiogenic agents with or without chemotherapy showed encouraging antitumor activity and an acceptable toxicity profile in treatment-naïve or pretreated patients with advanced NSCLC. Doublet treatment with immunotherapy and antiangiogenic agents might be a new option for patients with advanced NSCLC, especially those who are treatment-naive or cannot tolerate chemotherapy.

What Is Long-Term Survival and Which First-Line Immunotherapy Brings Long-Term Survival for Advanced Wild-Type Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: A Network Meta-Analysis Based on Integrated Analysis

Background

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have significantly improved survival for advanced wild-type non-small cell lung cancer, but there is no direct comparison to confirm which first-line treatment may lead to the longest overall survival. What qualifies as long-term survival (LS) is even unclear.

Methods

By searching PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials from January 2005 to December 2020, we included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of first-line ICI-containing treatments to perform an integrated analysis (IA) to determine the criterion of LS and then screened regimens with LS for network meta-analysis (NMA). The main outcomes for NMA were median overall survival (mOS), 1-year survival rate (1ySR), and 2-year survival rate (2ySR); those for IA were the pooled mOS (POS), 1ySR (P1SR), and 2ySR (P2SR).

Results

By IA of 16 first-line ICIs from 20 RCTs, the POS was 16.20 (95% CI 14.79–17.60) months, with P1SR of 63% (95% CI 59–66%) and P2SR of 37% (33–41%). Thus, we defined LS as mOS ≥ POS (16.20 m) for regimens and screened for RCTs with outcomes meeting this criterion. Eleven ICI-based regimens can bring LS for the overall population, among which ICI with bevacizumab and chemotherapy achieved the longest POS of 19.50 m (16.90–22.10 m) and the highest P1SR (74%, 61%–87%) and P2SR (49%, 38%–61%). Pembrolizumab with chemotherapy ranked first in mOS and 1ySR, while atezolizumab plus bevacizumab and chemotherapy ranked first in 2ySR.

Conclusions

Through the IA of first-line treatment regimens, a POS of 16.20 m can be determined as the LS standard. Further considering 1ySR and 2ySR, atezolizumab combined with bevacizumab and chemotherapy or pembrolizumab plus chemotherapy are likely to bring the longest LS in the overall population, while single ICI may be adequate for patients with a high PD-L1 expression. ICIs with bevacizumab and chemotherapy may be the best combination for LS for its further advantage over time.

First-line immune-based combination therapies for advanced non-small cell lung cancer: A Bayesian network meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Immune-based combination therapies have revolutionized the first-line treatment for advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, for the efficacy and safety, the best treatment option is still uncertain.

METHODS

We conducted a Bayesian network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to evaluate first-line immune-based combination therapies for advanced NSCLC.

RESULTS

Fourteen trials involving 8467 patients were included. For the programmed cell death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression non-selective patients, there were no significant differences among all the treatment modes for overall survival (OS), but the ranking profiles indicated that Immunotherapy + Immunotherapy + Chemotherapy (IO + IO + Chemo) was most likely to be the best mode (probability = 68%). Immunotherapy + Immunotherapy + Anti-angiogenic therapy + Chemotherapy (IO + Anti-angio + Chemo) was significantly better than most other treatment modes for progression-free survival (PFS) with better objective response rate (ORR) and more obvious grade ≥3 treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs). In PD-L1-high cohort, IO + Anti-angio + Chemo seemed to be the best mode for OS, PFS, and ORR according to the ranking profiles. In PD-L1-intermediate and PD-L1-negative cohort, IO + IO + Chemo was inclined to be ranked first for prolonging OS (probability = 78%; 37%) and IO + Anti-angio + Chemo was most likely to provide best PFS (probability = 96%; 100%).

CONCLUSION

IO + IO + Chemo has great potential to improve the OS regardless of histology type, especially in PD-L1-intermediate and PD-L1-negative cohort. IO + Anti-angio + Chemo shows great superiority in improving the short-term survival accompanied by increasing grade ≥3 TRAEs.

Atezolizumab: an investigational agent for the treatment of biliary tract cancer

INTRODUCTION

Biliary tract cancers (BTCs) have a dismal prognosis and limited treatment options. The role of immunotherapy in BTC is unclear. BTCs respond poorly to PD-(L)1 blockade, highlighting the need for combination regimens to augment antitumor immunity. Atezolizumab (anti-PD-L1) combined with other therapies is under investigation in advanced BTC.

AREAS COVERED

This paper provides an overview of the recent progress and future applications of immunotherapy for BTCs and sheds light on the status and therapeutic potential of atezolizumab. We discuss published data for atezolizumab and an examine the rationale and design of ongoing clinical studies. We offer insights and opinions on the future applications and challenges of immunotherapy in BTC.

EXPERT OPINION

Atezolizumab monotherapy has demonstrated limited antitumor activity in BTC, indicating the need for combination regimens to unlock effective anticancer immunity, and the development of predictive biomarkers to enrich the population. Data for atezolizumab combined with chemotherapy, anti-VEGF agents and other targeted drugs in solid tumors justifies their evaluation in BTC. Several novel atezolizumab-based combinations have been or are currently under investigation in Phase II studies. It is hoped that data from these studies, along with other immunotherapy trials, will provide more effective treatments for patients with BTC.

The Effect of Asymptomatic and/or Treated Brain Metastases on Efficacy of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in Metastatic Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: A Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND

To assess the effect of asymptomatic and/or treated brain metastases (BMs) on the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and recent meetings were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs). The primary outcomes of interest were overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS).

RESULTS

Seventeen articles reporting 15 RCTs with 10,358 patients (1,199 with and 9,159 without BMs) were eligible. ICIs were associated with longer OS and PFS than those in chemotherapy either in patients with (hazard ratio [HR], 0.65; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.51-0.82 and HR, 0.60; 95% CI, 0.45-0.79) or without BMs (HR, 0.74; 95% CI, 0.70-0.78 and HR, 0.70; 95% CI, 0.57-0.86); no significant difference in the pooled HRs for OS (Pinteraction = 0.29) and PFS (Pinteraction = 0.37) was observed between the two patient populations. Subgroup analyses revealed that either ICI monotherapy or combination therapy significantly improved OS and PFS compared with those in chemotherapy both for patients with and without BMs. Superior OS benefit from ICI combination therapy than that in monotherapy was observed in patients with BMs (HR, 0.49 vs. 0.81, Pinteraction = 0.005) but not in patients without BMs (HR, 0.71 vs. 0.76, Pinteraction = 0.27).

CONCLUSION

There was no compelling statistical evidence that the efficacy of ICIs in metastatic NSCLC was modified by the presence of asymptomatic and/or treated BMs. Patients with BMs were likely to obtain more OS benefit from ICI combination therapy than that from monotherapy.

First-Line Treatment Options for PD-L1-Negative Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: A Bayesian Network Meta-Analysis

Background

First-line treatment strategies for programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) negative non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients include chemotherapy and combination with anti-angiogenesis drugs and/or immune checkpoint inhibitor. We conducted a Bayesian network meta-analysis to evaluate the efficacy of these therapeutic options.

Methods

We included phase III randomized controlled trials comparing two or more treatments in the first-line setting for NSCLC, including data in PD-L1–negative patients. First-line strategies were compared and ranked based on the effectiveness in terms of overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS). A rank was assigned to each treatment after Markov Chain Monte Carlo analyses.

Results

Fourteen trials involving 14 regimens matched our eligibility criteria. For OS, none of the treatment were significantly more effective than chemotherapy. Nivolumab plus ipilimumab plus chemotherapy was probably the best option based on analysis of the treatment ranking (probability = 30.1%). For PFS, nivolumab plus chemotherapy plus bevacizumab, atezolizumab plus chemotherapy plus bevacizumab, and atezolizumab plus chemotherapy were statistically superior to chemotherapy in pairwise comparison. Nivolumab plus chemotherapy plus bevacizumab was likely to be the preferred option based on the analysis of the treatment ranking (probability = 72.9%).

Conclusions

Nivolumab plus chemotherapy, in combination with angiogenesis inhibition or anti-cytotoxic T-lymphocyte–associated antigen 4 (CTLA-4), had maximal benefits for NSCLC patient of PD-L1–negative expression. These findings may facilitate individualized treatment strategies. Safety at an individual patient level should be considered in decision making. Further validation is warranted.

Current and future drug combination strategies based on programmed death-1/programmed death-ligand 1 inhibitors in non-small cell lung cancer

ABSTRACT

In recent years, immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have made breakthroughs in the field of lung cancer and have become a focal point for research. Programmed death-1 (PD-1) or programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) inhibitor monotherapy was the first to break the treatment pattern for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, owing to the limited benefit of ICI monotherapy at the population level and its hyper-progressive phenomenon, it may not meet clinical needs. To expand the beneficial range of immunotherapy and improve its efficacy, several research strategies have adopted the use of combination immunotherapy. At present, multiple strategies, such as PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors combined with chemotherapy, anti-angiogenic therapy, cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4 inhibitors, and radiotherapy, as well as combined treatment with new target drugs, have been evaluated for clinical practice. To further understand the current status and future development direction of immunotherapy, herein, we review the recent progress of ICI combination therapies for NSCLC.

Paradigms on Immunotherapy Combinations with Chemotherapy

Checkpoint inhibitors are being added to standard-of-care chemotherapy in multiple clinical trials. Success has been reported in non-small and small cell lung carcinomas and urothelial, head and neck, gastric, and esophageal cancers, and promising results are already available in triple-negative breast and pancreatic malignancies. The potential mechanisms of synergy include immunogenic tumor cell death, antiangiogenesis, selective depletion of myeloid immunosuppressive cells, and lymphopenia, which reduces regulatory T cells and makes room for proliferation of effector T cells. However, chemotherapy regimens have not been optimized for such combinations, perhaps explaining some recent clinical trial disappointments. Approaches to make the most of chemoimmunotherapy include neoadjuvant and adjuvant schemes.Significance: Immunotherapy of cancer based on PD-1/PD-L1 blockade has prompted a revolution in cancer clinical management. Evidence in phase III clinical trials already supports combinations of immunotherapy with standard-of-care chemotherapy for a number of malignant diseases. This review focuses on such evidence and provides an overview of the potential synergistic mechanisms of action and the opportunities to optimize chemoimmunotherapy regimens.