LBA85 REACTION: A phase II study of etoposide and cis/carboplatin with or without pembrolizumab in untreated extensive small cell lung cancer

Efficacy and safety of immunotherapy combined with chemotherapy in patients with ES-SCLC: A systematic review and network meta-analysis of RCTs and RWSs

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of programmed cell death 1 (PD-1)/programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) inhibitors in the treatment of extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC), we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis that included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and real-world studies (RWS).

METHODS

By scanning PubMed, Web of science, Embase, and other relevant clinical information public databases, nine RCTs and eight RWSs involving 5205 patients were included in the study. We directly compared the differences between chemotherapy and PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors plus chemotherapy, and determined the optimal treatment strategy through network meta-analysis (NMA).

RESULTS

Compared to chemotherapy, the addition of PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors significantly improves the overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), and objective response rate (ORR) in SCLC patients. Regarding safety, both RCTs and RWSs indicated no significant difference in grade 3-4 adverse events between chemotherapy and chemoimmunotherapy. NMA showed serplulimab plus chemotherapy (Serp_Chemo) appears to provide the best OS, PFS, and ORR benefit, while nivolumab plus chemotherapy shows higher toxicity than other regimens. In subgroup analysis, for elderly patients (age ≥65) and non-elderly (age <65) patients, the most promising quality regimens for achieving better OS extension are atezolizumab plus chemotherapy (Atez_Chemo) and Serp_Chemo, respectively. For patients with PD-L1 ≥ 1% and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) > upper limit of normal (ULN), there is no apparent OS benefit from immune therapy.

CONCLUSIONS

In ES-SCLC treatment, adding PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors to standard chemotherapy improves OS, PFS, and ORR, with Serp_Chemo shows the most promise. Atez_Chemo and Serp_Chemo provided better survival for elderly and non-elderly patients, respectively.

Combination Therapy with Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors and Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors or Alkylating Agents

Purpose

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (CPIs) have been widely adopted in a number of early and advanced malignancies. Histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACis) and alkylating agents (AAs) have been suggested to potentiate the actions of CPIs on tumor cells. We conducted a comprehensive literature review to explore the potential synergistic activity between CPIs, AAs, and HDACis.

Patients and Methods

Clinical and non-clinical studies describing outcomes in patients with cancer receiving CPIs and either concomitant or sequential (pre- or post-CPI) AAs or HDACis were identified in PubMed using pre-defined search strings. Manual searches of key oncology congresses were similarly performed. All relevant articles and abstracts were manually screened for relevance, classified according to the specific anticancer agents used (CPIs, AAs, or HDACis), tumor entity, and whether treatment was concomitant or sequential.

Results

Overall, 227 unique clinical studies across a range of tumor types, both solid tumors and hematological malignancies, were identified. One hundred and fifty-nine publications on Phase I and II clinical studies together with 41 publications on Phase III studies were examined. The most commonly investigated tumor types were melanoma, triple-negative breast cancer, non-small cell lung cancer, and Hodgkin lymphoma. The randomized clinical studies identified, all of which reported on the combination of a CPI with an AA, demonstrated superior outcomes in the combination arm compared with CPI or AA monotherapy. Similarly, combination therapy with CPIs and HDACis demonstrated promising activity.

Conclusion

Sequential or concomitant administration of a CPI with an AA or an HDACi may improve outcomes for patients with a range of tumor types. There is a rationale to support further investigation into the potential for synergy between CPIs, alkylating agents and/or HDACis in both the non-clinical and clinical settings.

Tissue and circulating biomarkers of benefit to immunotherapy in extensive-stage small cell lung cancer patients

Extensive stage-Small-Cell Lung Cancer (ES-SCLC) is an aggressive cancer with dismal prognosis. The addition of immune-checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) to platinum-based chemotherapy have been consistently demonstrated to improve outcomes and survival, becoming the new standard in first - line treatment of ES-SCLC patients. However, despite positive results reported in the pivotal trials, longer benefit appears evident only for a selected group of patients. Several predictive biomarkers have been studied so far but the prospective identification of patients more likely to experience better outcome seems to be challenging in SCLC. Indeed, classical immune predictive biomarkers as PD-L1 and tumor mutational burden (TMB) seem not to correlate with outcomes. Recently, a new molecular classification of SCLC based on differential expression of genes associated with specific clinical behaviors and therapeutic vulnerability have been presented suggesting a new field to be investigated. Despite the achievements, these studies focused mainly on inter-tumoral heterogeneity, limiting the exploration of intra-tumoral heterogeneity and cell to cell interactions. New analysis methods are ongoing in order to explore subtypes plasticity. Analysis on single biopsies cannot catch the whole genomic profile and dynamic change of disease over time and during treatment. Moreover, the availability of tissue for translational research is limited due to the low proportion of patients undergoing surgery. In this context, liquid biopsy is a promising tool to detect reliable predictive biomarkers. Here, we reviewed the current available data on predictive role of tissue and liquid biomarkers in ES-SCLC patients receiving ICIs. We assessed latest results in terms of predictive and prognostic value of gene expression profiling in SCLC. Finally, we explored the role of liquid biopsy as a tool to monitor SCLC patients over time.

Antiprogrammed death ligand 1 therapy failed to reduce the risk of developing brain metastases in patients with extensive-stage small cell lung cancer: A retrospective analysis

BACKGROUND

Immunotherapy (IO) has demonstrated promising results in treating extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC), and the management of ES-SCLC brain metastases (BMs) is now receiving significant clinical attention. The objective of this study was to evaluate the role of IO in the clinical management of BMs.

METHODS

Between January 2020 and December 2021, the study included the records of 250 patients who were diagnosed with ES-SCLC. Overall survival (OS), progression-free survival, intracranial progression-free survival, and the cumulative incidence of BMs were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method and were compared using the log-rank test. In addition, the Cox regression model was used to analyze prognostic factors.

RESULTS

In the entire group, 85 patients had baseline BMs (IO plus chemotherapy [IO + ChT], n = 38; ChT alone, n = 47), and 165 patients (IO + ChT, n = 86; ChT alone, n = 79) did not have BMs at the time of initial diagnosis. The median follow-up was 22.4 months. The OS benefit with first-line antiprogrammed death ligand 1 therapy was maintained regardless of whether patients had BMs (with BMs, 17.97 vs. 13.14 months [p = .03]; without BMs, 18.46 vs. 15.05 months [p = .047]). However, in patients without BMs, IO did not delay the median time to developing brain progression (10.84 vs. 10.74 months; p = .84), and it did not significantly reduce the risk of developing intracranial metastases (the 2-year actuarial risk of developing BMs was 57.0% vs. 50.6%, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

Antiprogrammed death ligand 1 therapy improved OS regardless of the presence of BMs. However, IO did not delay the median time to brain progression or reduce the risk of intracranial metastasis in patients without baseline BMs. The findings of this study have important clinical implications for the future management of BMs from ES-SCLC.

Effectiveness and safety of first-line immune checkpoint inhibitors for patients with extensive-stage small cell lung carcinoma: A systematic review and network meta-analysis

Objective

In recent years, the introduction of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) has revolutionized the treatment of extensive-stage small cell lung carcinoma (ES-SCLC), but the optimal combination of ICI and standard chemotherapy strategy is yet to be established. The aim of this network meta-analysis (NMA) was to identify which first-line combination strategy is optimal for patients with ES-SCLC.

Methods

PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and the proceedings of international conferences, including American Society of Clinical Oncology and European Society for Medical Oncology meetings, were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published through October 31, 2022. The collected primary outcomes were overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), and grade 3-5 treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs).

Results

Our NMA study included six phase 3 and three phase 2 RCTs including 4037 patients and 10 first-line regimens. Regarding effectiveness, the addition of programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) or programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) inhibitors to standard chemotherapy provided greater efficacy than chemotherapy alone. However, cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen-4 inhibitors were not associated with satisfactory prognoses. Serplulimab plus carboplatin-etoposide (vs. standard chemotherapy, hazard ratio [HR] = 0.63; 95% CI = 0.49-0.82) and nivolumab plus platinum-etoposide (HR = 0.65; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.46-0.91) displayed the greatest benefit regarding OS. In terms of PFS, serplulimab plus carboplatin-etoposide yielded the best benefit of all treatments (HR = 0.48; 95% CI = 0.39-0.6). The combination of ICIs and chemotherapy caused more toxicity in general, but durvalumab plus platinum-etoposide (odds ratio [OR] = 0.98; 95% CI = 0.68-1.4), atezolizumab plus carboplatin-etoposide (OR = 1.04; 95% CI = 0.68-1.6), and adebrelimab plus platinum-etoposide (OR = 1.02; 95% CI = 0.52-2) displayed similar safety as standard chemotherapy. Subgroup analysis by race illustrated that serplulimab plus carboplatin-etoposide was associated with the best OS in Asian patients. And in non-Asian patients, the combination of PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors and chemotherapy (pembrolizumab plus platinum-etoposide, durvalumab plus platinum-etoposide, and durvalumab and tremelimumab plus platinum-etoposide) displayed superiority to standard chemotherapy.

Conclusions

The results of our NMA study suggested that serplulimab plus carboplatin-etoposide and nivolumab plus platinum-etoposide are associated with the best OS as first-line treatments for patients with ES-SCLC. Serplulimab plus carboplatin-etoposide was associated with the best PFS. In Asian patients, serplulimab plus carboplatin-etoposide had the best OS.

Systematic review registration

This study is registered with PROSPERO, number CRD42022345850.

Thoracic Radiotherapy in Extensive Disease Small Cell Lung Cancer: Multicenter Prospective Observational TRENDS Study

(1) Introduction: Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is an aggressive tumor type, accounting for about 15% of all lung cancers. Radiotherapy (RT) plays a fundamental role in both early and advanced stages. Currently, in advanced disease, the use of consolidative chest RT should be recommended for patients with good response to platinum-based first-line chemotherapy, but its use has not yet been standardized. The present prospective study aims to evaluate the pattern of care of consolidative chest RT in patients with advanced stage SCLC, and its effectiveness in terms of disease control and tolerability. (2) Materials and methods: This study was a multicenter prospective observational trial, proposed and conducted within the AIRO lung study group to evaluate the pattern of care of consolidative chest RT after first-line chemotherapy in patients with advanced SCLC. The patient and tumor characteristics, doses, fractionation and volumes of thoracic RT and prophylactic cranial irradiation (PCI), as well as the thoracic and extrathoracic response to the treatment, toxicity and clinical outcomes, were collected and analyzed. (3) Results: From January 2017 to December 2019, sixty-four patients were enrolled. Median follow-up was 33 months. The median age was 68 years (range 42-81); 38 patients (59%) were male and 26 (41%) female. Carboplatin + etoposide for 6 cycles was the most commonly used first-line therapeutic scheme (42%). With regard to consolidative chest RT, 56% of patients (35) received 30 Gy in 10 factions and 16 patients (26%) received 45 Gy in 15 sessions. The modulated intensity technique was used in 84.5% of cases, and post-chemotherapy macroscopic residual disease was the target volume in 87.5% of patients. Forty-four patients (69%) also underwent PCI. At the last follow-up, over 60% of patients did not experience chest disease progression, while 67% showed extrathoracic progression. At the first radiological evaluation after RT, complete response and stable disease were recorded in 6% and 46% of the cases, respectively. Two patients had a long-term complete response to the combined treatment. The brain was the first site of extrathoracic progression in 28%. 1y and 2y OS and PFS were 67%, 19%, 28% and 6%, respectively. Consolidative chest RT was well-tolerated in the majority of patients; it was interrupted in three cases (due to G2 pulmonary toxicity, disease progression and clinical decay, respectively). Only 1 patient developed G3 asthenia. (4) Conclusions: Consolidative chest RT has been shown to be useful in reducing the risk of thoracic disease progression and is absolutely well-tolerated in patients with advanced stage SCLC with good response after first-line chemotherapy. Among the Italian centers that participated in this study, there is still variability in the choice of fractionation and target volumes, although the guidelines contain clear recommendations. The aim of future research should be to clarify the role and modalities of chest RT in the era of immunotherapy in advanced-stage SCLC.

Challenges in the treatment of small cell lung cancer in the era of immunotherapy and molecular classification

For many years the standard of care for small cell lung cancer (SCLC) has remained unchanged. Despite decades of active research, current treatment options are limited and the prognosis of patients with extended disease (ED) SCLC remains poor. The introduction of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) represents an exception and the only recent approval for ED-SCLC. However, the magnitude of benefit obtained with immunotherapy in SCLC is much more modest than that observed in other malignancies. Different pro-immunogenic or immunosuppressive features within the tumor microenvironment of SCLC may either modulate the sensitivity to immunotherapy or conversely dampen the efficacy of ICIs. Beside immunotherapy, a deeper understanding of the molecular biology of SCLC has led to the identification of new therapeutic targets for this lethal malignancy. Recent epigenetic and gene expression studies have resulted into a new molecular classification of four distinct subtypes of SCLC, defined by the relative expression of key transcription regulators and each characterized by specific therapeutic vulnerabilities. This review discusses the rationale for immunotherapy in SCLC and summarizes the main ICIs-trials in this tumor. We provide also an overview of new potential therapeutic opportunities and their integration with the new molecular classification of SCLC.

[Clinical Progress in the Immunotherapy of Small Cell Lung Cancer]

Small cell lung cancer is a kind of malignant tumor with strong invasiveness and poor prognosis, and the classic therapeutic modality of the disease remains multidisciplinary and comprehensive treatment. Treatment options for small cell lung cancer have been stalled for a long time, and new opportunities have emerged in recent years due to the development and initial experience of immunotherapeutic drugs. Clinical trials of some selected immune checkpoint inhibitors have confirmed the efficacy and safety in small cell lung cancer. Based on the results of phase III clinical trials (Impower133 and CASPIAN), Atezolizumab or Durvalumab in combination with chemotherapy has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the first-line treatment of extensive-stage small cell lung cancer. Clinical trials involving immune checkpoint inhibitors are being actively carried out and provide different perspectives for the management of small cell lung cancer. This article aimed to review the clinical progress in immunotherapy of small cell lung cancer.
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SCLC Treatment in the Immuno-Oncology Era: Current Evidence and Unmet Needs

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) represents about 13%-15% of all lung cancers. It has a particularly unfavorable prognosis and in about 70% of cases occurs in the advanced stage (extended disease). Three phase III studies tested the combination of immunotherapy (atezolizumab, durvalumab with or without tremelimumab, and pembrolizumab) with double platinum chemotherapy, with practice-changing results. However, despite the high tumor mutational load and the chronic pro-inflammatory state induced by prolonged exposure to cigarette smoke, the benefit observed with immunotherapy is very modest and most patients experience disease recurrence. Unfortunately, biological, clinical, or molecular factors that can predict this risk have not yet been identified. Thanks to these clinically meaningful steps forward, SCLC is no longer considered an "orphan" disease. Innovative treatment strategies and combinations are currently under investigation to further improve the expected prognosis of patients with SCLC. Following the recent therapeutic innovations, we have reviewed the available literature data about SCLC management, with a focus on current unmet needs and potential predictive factors. In detail, the role of radiotherapy; fragile populations, such as elderly or low-performance status patients (ECOG PS 2), usually excluded from randomized studies; predictive factors of response useful to optimize and guide therapeutic choices; and new molecular targets and future combinations have been explored and revised.

Treatment of small cell lung cancer: recent advances

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

In this article, we aimed to summarize the recent progress being made in treatment of small cell lung cancer (SCLC).

RECENT FINDINGS

SCLC is characterized by strong invasiveness, easy recurrence and early metastasis. In recent years, the emergence of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) therapy has broken the deadlock in the treatment field of SCLC. Combination strategies, such as the addition of ICIs to chemotherapy and radiotherapy, are actively underway. Some of these strategies have yielded significant survival benefits and tolerable adverse events, whereas several of them have failed with no significant improvement. In addition, the new classification of SCLC based on genomic analysis has deepened the understanding of SCLC and suggested new therapeutic directions. Similarly, the discovery of some new therapeutic targets, such as DDL3, CDK7 and PARP, also brings new hope for improving the survival of patients with SCLC.

SUMMARY

In this article, we will review the recent advances of therapeutic regimen for patients with SCLC. Following the revolutionary success of adding ICIs to chemotherapy, more varieties of combination strategies have been explored in recent trials. In addition, therapeutic drug research and efficacy evaluation against for new targets are under investigation. Altogether, progress on genomic analysis, investigation of biological pathways and treatment regimen combination are providing renewed hope for patients with SCLC.

FRESC: French Real world Extensive stage SCLC Cohorts: A retrospective study on patient characteristics and treatment strategy based on KBP-2010

OBJECTIVES

FRESC reanalyzed extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC) patient data from the French KBP-2010 cohort to describe the characteristics and therapeutic management of ES-SCLC and provide real-world estimates of survival.

METHODS

A target population of first line (1L) ES-SCLC was identified at initial diagnosis in KBP-2010 (KBP population, N = 796). A KBP-2010 subpopulation was defined as patients who also met the IMpower133 clinicaltrial PS ≤ 1 inclusion criteria (KBP-PS_0/1 population, N = 394). Subgroups were defined according to the 1L ES-SCLC chemotherapy regimens: carboplatin or cisplatin with etoposide (Carb-E or Cisp-E subgroups).

RESULTS

The vast majority of KBP populations exhibited stage IV ES-SCLC (84.9%) at initial diagnosis. Median age was 66 years; patients were mostly male and smokers. Patients receiving Cisp + Eto were younger (median age 61 years [55.0-67.0]) and fitter (25.5% had PS ≥ 2) than those receiving Carb + Eto (71 years [62.5-77.5]; 44.1%had PS ≥ 2). Median overall survival (OS) of chemotherapy-treated 1L ES-SCLC patients varied from 7.0 months [95% CI, 6.1; 7.8] in the KBPCarb-Esubgroups to 9.6 months [95% CI, 8.4;10.8] in the KBP Cisp-E subgroup. KBP-PS_0/1 population showed better median OS, especially for the Cisp-E subgroup (10 months [95% CI, 8.7; 11.3]).

CONCLUSION

In the KBP-PS_0/1 population, median OS was close to the one that was found in the IMpower133 control arm. Although this needs to be confirmed by further research, it suggests the transposability of the IMpower133 results to real-life conditions.

Recent developments in the treatment of small cell lung cancer

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) comprises about 15% of all lung cancers. It is an aggressive disease, with early metastasis and a poor prognosis. Until recently, SCLC treatment remained relatively unchanged, with chemotherapy remaining the cornerstone of treatment. In this overview we will highlight the recent advances in the field of staging, surgery, radiotherapy and systemic treatment. Nevertheless, the prognosis remains dismal and there is a pressing need for new treatment options. We describe the progress that has been made in systemic treatment by repurposing existing drugs and the addition of targeted treatment. In recent years, immunotherapy entered the clinic with high expectations of its role in the treatment of SCLC. Unravelling of the genomic sequence revealed new possible targets that may act as biomarkers in future treatment of patients with SCLC. Hopefully, in the near future, we will be able to identify patients who may benefit from targeted therapy or immunotherapy to improve prognoses.

Consideration of Surrogate Endpoints for Overall Survival Associated With First-Line Immunotherapy in Extensive-Stage Small Cell Lung Cancer

Background

The combination of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) and chemotherapy is known to improve overall survival (OS) in patients with extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC). ICIs have different response patterns and survival kinetics characteristics from those of the traditional chemotherapy. In first-line treatment for ES-SCLC, there is an urgent need for surrogate endpoints for the early and accurate prediction of OS. This study aimed to assess progression-free survival (PFS), milestone OS rate, milestone restricted mean survival time (RMST), overall response rate (ORR), and disease control rate (DCR) as proposed surrogate endpoints for OS in ES-SCLC for first-line immunotherapy trials.

Methods

Between January 1, 2013, and December 2020, published articles on randomized clinical trials of ICIs plus chemotherapy in patients with ES-SCLC as first-line therapy were searched in PubMed. Abstracts from the ESMO, ASCO, and WCLC, reported from 2018 onwards, were also searched. A weighted regression analysis based on the weighted least squares method was performed on log-transformed estimates of treatment effect, and the determination coefficient (R²) was calculated to evaluate the association between treatment effect on the surrogate endpoint and OS.

Results

Seven trials, representing 3,009 patients, were included to make up a total of 16 analyzed arms. The ratio of the 12-month OS milestone rate (r = −0.790, P = 0.011, R² = 0.717) and 12-month OS milestone RMST (r = 0.798, P = 0.010, R² = 0.702) was strongly correlated with the hazard ratio (HR) for OS. The strongest association was observed between the ratio of the 24-month OS milestone RMST and the HR for OS (r = 0.922, P = 0.001, R² = 0.825). No associations were observed between the HR for OS and PFS and the RR for ORR and DCR.

Conclusions

The results suggested a strong correlation among the ratio of OS milestone rates at 12 months, ratios of OS milestone RMSTs at 12 and 24 months, and HR for OS. The results indicate that OS milestone rates and OS milestone RMSTs could be considered surrogate endpoints of OS in future first-line immunotherapy trials for ES-SCLC.

Immunotherapy era in the treatment of small cell lung cancer

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is differentiated from non-small cell lung cancers with its histological and morphological features, rapid response to chemotherapy, and recurrence in a short time after treatment is discontinued. Platinum plus etoposide chemotherapy combination has been used as a standard treatment, and no new drug has been found for more than 30 years in this disease. In research, the targeted pathways that may affect survival have not been identified yet. During the second half of the second decade of the 2000s, with immunotherapies that inhibit immune checkpoints, improvements in survival were achieved for the first time in treating SCLC after many years. Then a rapid increase was observed in chemotherapy plus immunotherapy combination studies in this field. Updated analyses of these studies were represented at international oncology meetings in 2020. Here, we reviewed immunotherapy studies conducted in patients with SCLC and the reflections on the daily practice.

Molecular profiles of small cell lung cancer subtypes: therapeutic implications

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC; accounting for approximately 13%-15% of all lung cancers) is an exceptionally lethal malignancy characterized by rapid doubling time and high propensity to metastasize. In contrast to the increasingly personalized therapies in other types of lung cancer, SCLC is still regarded as a homogeneous disease and the prognosis of SCLC patients remains poor. Recently, however, substantial progress has been made in our understanding of SCLC biology. Advances in genomics and development of new preclinical models have facilitated insights into the intratumoral heterogeneity and specific genetic alterations of this disease. This worldwide resurgence of studies on SCLC has ultimately led to the development of novel subtype-specific classifications primarily based on the neuroendocrine features and distinct molecular profiles of SCLC. Importantly, these biologically distinct subtypes might define unique therapeutic vulnerabilities. Herein, we summarize the current knowledge on the molecular profiles of SCLC subtypes with a focus on their potential clinical implications.

Small cell lung cancer: a slightly less orphan disease after immunotherapy

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is an aggressive malignancy accounting for 15% of all diagnosed cases of lung cancer. After >15 years without any clinically relevant therapeutic advances, extensive-disease SCLC has become the second thoracic malignancy for which immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have shifted the treatment paradigm to improve overall survival. Today, atezolizumab or durvalumab in combination with platinum-etoposide chemotherapy is considered the new standard of care in the first-line setting in SCLC. However, the magnitude of benefit with this immune-chemotherapy strategy in SCLC is more modest than that observed in metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer patients. The immunosuppressive phenotype of SCLC plays an important role in hampering ICI efficacy and may explain the differences in outcomes between these two types of lung cancer. In this review, we provide a summary of recent therapeutic advances in SCLC in light of ICIs, as well as current challenges of this strategy in patients who are elderly, have poor performance status or brain metastases. We also address future perspectives of immunotherapeutic strategies currently in clinical development for these patients.

Old but gold: the role of drug combinations in improving response to immune check-point inhibitors in thoracic malignancies beyond NSCLC

The introduction of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in non-oncogene addicted non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has revolutionized the treatment scenario and led to a meaningful improvement in patient prognosis. Disappointingly, the success of ICI therapy in NSCLC has not been fully replicated in other thoracic malignancies as small cell lung cancer (SCLC), malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM), and thymic epithelial tumors (TETs), due to the peculiar biological features of these disease and to the difficulties in the conduction of well-designed, biomarker-driven clinical trials. Therefore, combination strategies of ICIs plus conventional therapies (either chemotherapy, alternative ICIs or targeted agents) have been implemented. Although first approvals of ICI therapy have been recently granted in SCLC and MPM (in combination with chemotherapy and different ICIs), results remain somewhat modest and limited to a small proportion of patients. This work reviews the trial results of ICI therapy in mesothelioma, SCLC, and TETs and discusses the potential of combining ICIs with old drugs.

First-line immune-checkpoint inhibitor plus chemotherapy versus chemotherapy alone for extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer: a meta-analysis

Introduction

Platin-based chemotherapy (CT) has long been the first-line standard-of-care for patients with extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC). Adding immune-checkpoint inhibitor(s) to CT (ICI+CT) in this setting is an option of interest, although its benefit is apparently modest.

Methods

This meta-analysis was conducted on randomized trials comparing first-line ICI+CT versus CT alone for ES-SCLC. Outcomes included overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), objective response rate (ORR), response at 12 months and adverse events (AEs). Subgroup analyses were computed according to the immunotherapy used, performance status (PS), age, platinum salt, liver metastases and brain metastases at diagnosis.

Results

The literature search identified one randomized phase II (ECOG-ACRIN-5161) and four phase III trials (CASPIAN, IMPOWER-133, KEYNOTE-604 and Reck et al. 2016) that included 2775 patients (66% males, 95% smokers, median age: 64 years, PS = 0 or 1). ICI+CT was significantly associated (hazard ratio [95% confidence interval]) with prolonged OS [0.82 (0.75-0.89); p <  0.00001] and PFS [0.81 (0.75-0.87); p <  0.00001], with OS benefits for anti-PD-L1 [0.73 (0.63-0.85); p < 0.0001] or anti-PD-1 [0.76 (0.63-0.93); p < 0.006] but not for anti-CTLA-4 [0.90 (0.80-1.01), p = 0.07]. ORRs for ICI+CT or CT alone were comparable [odds ratio 1.12 (0.97-1.00); p = 0.12], but responses at 12 months favored ICI+CT [4.16 (2.81-6.17), p < 0.00001]. Serious grade-3/4 AEs were more frequent with ICI+CT [odds ratio 1.18 (1.02-1.37); p = 0.03]. Compared with CT, no ICI+CT benefit was found for ES-SCLC with brain metastases at diagnosis [HR 1.14 (0.87-1.50); p = 0.34].

Conclusions

First-line ICI+CT appears to be superior to CT alone for ES-SCLC except for patients with brain metastases at diagnosis.

Advances and Therapeutic Perspectives in Extended-Stage Small-Cell Lung Cancer

Extended small cell lung cancer (ED-SCLC) is a very aggressive disease, characterized by rapid growth and an early tendency to relapse. In contrast to non-small cell lung cancer, no therapeutic innovation has improved survival in patients with ED-SCLC over the past 20 years. Recently, immunotherapy has shown an important role in the management of these patients, emerging as the treatment of first choice in combination with chemotherapy and completely changing the therapeutic paradigm. However, patients' selection for this strategy is still challenging due to a lack of reliable predictive biomarkers. Conversely, the immunotherapy efficacy beyond the first line is pretty disappointing and innovative chemotherapies or target agents seem to be more promising in this setting. Some of them are also under evaluation as an upfront strategy and they will probably change the treatment algorithm in the next future. This proposal provides a comprehensive overview of available treatment strategies for ED-SCLC patients, highlighting their strengths and weaknesses.