RETRACTED: ORIENT-3: A randomized, open-label, phase III study of sintilimab versus docetaxel in previously treated advanced/metastatic squamous non-small cell lung cancer (sqNSCLC)

Cost‐effectiveness of first‐line versus second‐line use of domestic anti‐PD ‐1 antibody sintilimab in Chinese patients with advanced or metastatic squamous non‐small cell lung cancer

BACKGROUND

Programmed cell death protein-1/programmed cell death ligand-1 (PD-1/L1) inhibitor is a promising therapeutic option that can be used as either a first-line or second-line treatment for driver-negative advanced or metastatic squamous non-small cell lung cancers (sqNSCLC). However, reuse of PD-1/L1 inhibitor in second-line beyond progression after the first-line is generally not recommended. Therefore, oncologists face challenges in making a proper decision of using PD-1/L1 inhibitor. This analysis aimed to determine whether it is more cost-effective to use sintilimab, a domestic anti-PD-1 drug in China, as a first-line treatment than reserving it until second-line.

METHODS

We conducted a cost-effectiveness analysis to compare the use of sintilimab in the first-line setting with reserving its use until the second-line for driver-negative advanced or metastatic sqNSCLC from the perspective of the Chinese healthcare system. A Markov model composed of five main mutually independent health states and three temporary health states was established to simulate patients' clinical trajectory. Transition probabilities, including disease progression, survival, and adverse events-related treatment discontinuation, were estimated using data from the ORIENT-12, ORIENT-3, and ALTER0303 clinical trials. The robustness of the model was assessed using deterministic sensitivity analysis (DSA) and probabilistic sensitivity analyses.

RESULTS

Reserving the use of sintilimab until the second-line was associated with a greater effectiveness (1.52 vs. 1.37 quality-adjusted life-years [QALYs]) and a higher healthcare cost ($12,203 vs. $14,045) compared with the first-line sintilimab, resulting in an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of $12,693 per QALY. The results of DSA suggested that variations in all parameters did not result in the ICERs surpassing the willingness-to-pay threshold of $35,663/QALY.

CONCLUSIONS

For Chinese patients with driver-negative advanced or metastatic sqNSCLC, reserving the use of sintilimab until the second-line represents a cost-effective treatment strategy compared with the first-line treatment. This finding is useful to inform Chinese healthcare policymakers regarding the optimized treatment strategies of use of domestic PD-1/L1 inhibitors sintilimab.

PD-1 inhibitor versus bevacizumab in combination with platinum-based chemotherapy for first-line treatment of advanced lung adenocarcinoma: A retrospective-real world study

BACKGROUND

Chemotherapy combined with immunotherapy or anti-vascular therapy is both recommended by guidelines for first-line treatment of lung adenocarcinoma. However, no head-to-head clinical trial has ever compared which strategy is the optimal choice. This real-world retrospective study was done to compare the efficacy and treatment-related adverse events of immunotherapy and bevacizumab in combination with chemotherapy.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

From January 2018 to March 2021, we retrospectively collected 276 patients with advanced lung adenocarcinoma managed with chemotherapy combined with bevacizumab or PD-1 inhibitors at our center. Among them, 139 patients were treated with chemotherapy combined with bevacizumab, while 137 patients were treated with chemotherapy combined with PD-1 inhibitors. After receiving four cycles of combination therapy, all patients received maintenance therapy until disease progression. Progression-free survival (PFS), overall response rate (ORR), overall survival (OS), disease control rate (DCR), and adverse events (AE) were analyzed between the two groups.

RESULTS

Compared to patients who received anti-vascular therapy, patients who underwent immunotherapy achieved better PFS (7.3 months vs. 10 months, p = 0.002) while ORR (40.9% vs. 51.1%, p = 0.093), as well as OS (18 months vs. 24 months, p = 0.060), had no statistical difference between the two groups. In the PD-L1-negative population, there was no statistical difference in PFS and OS between the two groups. (8.0 months VS. 6.0 months, p = 0.738; and 19 months vs. 13 months, p = 0.274). In the PD-L1-positive population, there was a significant benefit in PFS in the population receiving immunotherapy (7.0 months vs. 10.0 months, p = 0.009). Proteinuria and hypertension occurred more frequently in the bevacizumab-treated group (p = 0.001 and p = 0.002), whereas immune-related pneumonia and hypothyroidism occurred more frequently in the immunotherapy-treated group (p = 0.007 and p = 0.030).

CONCLUSIONS

The addition of a PD-1 inhibitor was superior to bevacizumab in terms of PFS among patients with advanced lung adenocarcinoma. PD-L1-positive patients appeared to exhibit better PFS, OS, and ORR. Toxic reactions were manageable in both groups.

Emerging PD-1/PD-L1 targeting immunotherapy in non-small cell lung cancer: Current status and future perspective in Japan, US, EU, and China

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), one of the deadliest types of cancers worldwide, has been the target of immunotherapy due to its high immune antigenicity. With the addition of immune-checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), including anti-PD-1/PD-L1 antibodies, as an indispensable and powerful regimen for the treatment of this lethal disease, the median survival time for patients with stage IV NSCLC is approximately 2 years. In contrast, the response rate to ICIs remains less than 50%, even if the patients are selected using biomarkers such as PD-L1. Pharmaceutical companies have begun to develop additional anti-PD-1/PD-L1 antibodies to overcome resistance and are devising further immunotherapy combinations. More than 20 anti-PD-1/PD-L1antibodies have been approved or are currently in development. Numerous combination therapies are under development, and several combination therapies have provided positive results in randomized controlled trials. This review aimed to examine the current status of approved and investigational anti-PD-1/PD-L1antibodies for NSCLC in Japan, the United States, the European Union, and China. Further, this review discusses the challenges and future perspectives for developing new ICIs in alignment with the global developments in Japan.

A rapid response of lung squamous cell carcinoma following treatment with sintilimab combined with recombinant humane endostatin injection and nab-paclitaxel in an elderly patient: A case report

RATIONALE

At present, the prognosis of patients with giant lung squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) is poor, and there is no safe and effective treatment for elderly patients with large LSCC.

PATIENT CONCERNS

Here, we reported a 77-year-old man admitted to the hospital with cough for 3 months and significant chest pain. Computed tomography (CT) imaging showed a large mass in the left lung with pleural effusion.

DIAGNOSES

Chest CT scan revealed a 12.5 cm × 7.3 cm mass in the left upper lobe adjacent to the pulmonary vein, with left pleural effusion. Pulmonary tumor markers were significantly elevated, and CT-guided percutaneous lung mass biopsy specimens showed LSCC.

INTERVENTIONS

After diagnosis, the patient was treated with sintilimab combined with endostar and nab-paclitaxel. After 2 cycles of treatment, the lung mass in the patient shrank rapidly and the clinical symptoms were relieved.

OUTCOMES

The patient's tumor dramatically shrank, and the pleural effusion was decreased after 4 cycles of treatment without any adverse effects. Meanwhile, the high-level tumor marker resumed normal.

LESSONS

Sintilimab combined with endostar and nab-paclitaxel may be a good treatment option for lung squamous cell cancer, especially for that in elderly patients.