Adding PD-1/PD-L1 Inhibitors to Chemotherapy for the First-Line Treatment of Extensive Stage Small Cell Lung Cancer (SCLC): A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Trials

Continuous immunotherapy beyond disease progression in patients with advanced non-small cell and small cell lung cancer

BACKGROUND

The benefits of continuing immunotherapy beyond disease progression in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and small cell lung cancer (SCLC) remain uncertain, along with the specific patient subgroups that may gain the most from this approach. This retrospective study aims to evaluate the efficacy of this approach and identify target patient populations likely to benefit.

METHODS

We collected data from patients with NSCLC and SCLC who experienced disease progression following initial immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) treatment from January 2020 to December 2023. Patients were categorized based on second-line treatment: those receiving immunotherapy beyond progression (IBP) and those receiving non-immunotherapy beyond progression (NIBP). Survival outcomes and treatment safety were compared between these two groups.

RESULTS

A total of 150 patients were included, with 111 NSCLC patients (IBP: n = 78, NIBP: n = 33) and 39 SCLC patients (IBP: n = 31, NIBP: n = 8). Significant differences in median progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were found in patients with driver gene-negative NSCLC (mPFS: 4.7 vs 1.3 months, HR = 0.29, P < 0.01; mOS: 11.03 vs 2.63 months, HR = 0.13, P < 0.001) and SCLC (mPFS: 3.9 vs 2.1 months, HR = 0.38, P = 0.02; mOS: 9.28 vs 2.27 months, HR = 0.23, P < 0.01). Additionally, among driver gene-negative NSCLC patients, achieving a partial response (PR) or stable disease (SD) during initial immunotherapy was associated with improved effectiveness of continued immunotherapy beyond progression.

CONCLUSIONS

Continued immunotherapy as a second-line treatment may benefit patients with driver gene-negative NSCLC and SCLC who have progressed after initial immunotherapy.

Updated Bayesian network meta-analysis on the efficacy and safety of PD-1 versus PD-L1 inhibitors in first-line treatment with chemotherapy for extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer

Objective

To compare the efficacy and safety of programmed cell death 1 inhibitors plus chemotherapy (PD-1 + Chemo) and programmed cell death ligand 1 inhibitors plus chemotherapy (PD-L1 + Chemo) for the treatment of extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC).

Methods

We performed a meta-analysis of relevant data using R software, considering overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), and grade ≥ 3 treatment-related adverse events (TRAES).

Results

PD-1 + Chemo (OS: hazard ratio [HR] 0.71; PFS: HR 0.59) and PD-L1 + Chemo (OS: HR 0.72; PFS: HR 0.73) significantly prolonged survival and did not increase the incidence of grade ≥3 TRAEs compared with chemotherapy. Indirect comparisons showed no significant difference in clinical efficacy (OS: HR 0.99, 95% CI: 0.86-1.1; PFS: HR 0.80, 95% CI: 0.61-1.0) or safety (HR 1.0, 95% CI: 0.93-1.1) between PD-1 + Chemo and PD-L1 + Chemo. Non-cumulative probability ranking plot ranking results showed that PD-1 + Chemo ranked first in OS and PFS. Patients with PD-L1 expression levels < 1%, PD-1 + Chemo showed a trend of disadvantage (OS: HR 1.3; PFS: HR 1.2), whereas for patients with PD-L1 expression levels ≥ 1%, PD-1 + Chemo showed a trend of advantage (OS: HR 0.85; PFS: HR 0.85).

Conclusions

PD-1 + Chemo and PD-L1 + Chemo significantly prolonged OS and PFS in patients with ES-SCLC and did not significantly increase the incidence of grade ≥ 3 TRAES. The efficacy and safety profiles of PD-1 + Chemo and PD-L1 + Chemo appear to be similar.

First-Line Chemo-Immunotherapy in SCLC: Outcomes of a Binational Real-World Study

Introduction

SCLC is characterized by aggressiveness and limited treatment options, especially in extensive-stage SCLC (ES-SCLC). Immunotherapy added to the platinum-etoposide combination has recently become standard in this setting. This retrospective study aims to evaluate the real-world effectiveness of chemo-immunotherapy in patients with ES-SCLC, focusing on subpopulations excluded from clinical trials.

Methods

A retrospective binational multicenter study was conducted, involving consecutive patients with ES-SCLC from 10 British and 10 Swiss institutions. Patients received platinum-etoposide chemotherapy in combination with immunotherapy (atezolizumab or durvalumab). Patient, tumor, and treatment details were collected. Overall survival (OS), progression-free survival, objective response rate, and safety outcomes were analyzed.

Results

A total of 436 patients were included. One hundred forty-two patients (32.6%) in our cohort would not have been eligible for the pivotal registrational trials owing to an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 2 or higher, autoimmune disease, active brain metastases, or steroid use. Most patients received carboplatin (96.8%) and atezolizumab (97.9%). The median progression-free survival was 5.5 months and the median OS was 9.3 months. The two-year OS was 14%. Patients with liver or bone metastases or an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 2 or higher had worse survival outcomes. Treatment-related adverse events were reported in 222 patients (51%) whereas immune-related adverse events occurred in 95 patients (22%). Three out of five grade 5 immune-related adverse events were caused by pneumonitis.

Conclusions

To our knowledge, this is the largest real-world cohort of patients treated with chemo-immunotherapy for ES-SCLC. Although one-third of patients would not have been eligible for pivotal trials, the survival outcomes in our cohort are similar to those in registrational trials. In particular, the number of long-term survivors and the safety data are comparable, supporting the use of chemo-immunotherapy as first-line treatment for ES-SCLC in daily clinical practice.

Natural Killer Cells in Cancers of Respiratory System and Their Applications in Therapeutic Approaches

BACKGROUND

Cancer is still regarded as a major worldwide health issue due to its high health and socioeconomic burden. Currently, lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer-related fatalities globally. Additionally, mesotheliomas and other cancers of the respiratory system, including those of the trachea, larynx, and bronchi, are also posing a significant health threat. Natural killer (NK) cells are lymphocytes of the innate immune system involved in response against cancer.

OBJECTIVE

This review discussed recent findings in the context of NK cell activity in the immune surveillance of respiratory system cancers and NK cell-based treatments to combat those malignancies.

RESULTS

The presence of natural killer cells in the tumor microenvironment is shown to be associated with a higher survival rate in patients with various malignancies. However, cancerous cells benefit from several mechanisms to evade natural killer cell-mediated cytotoxicity, including reduced major histocompatibility complex I expression, shedding of ligands, upregulation of inhibitory receptors, and release of soluble factors. Using NK cells to design therapeutic approaches may enhance antitumor immunity and improve clinical outcomes. Clinical trials investigating the use of natural killer cells in combination with cytokine stimulation or immune checkpoint inhibitors have exhibited promising results in various respiratory system malignancies.

CONCLUSION

Respiratory system cancers present significant health challenges worldwide, and while NK cells play a crucial role in tumor surveillance, tumors often evade NK cell responses through various mechanisms. Advances in NK cell-based therapies, including CAR-NK cells, immune checkpoint inhibitors, and cytokine stimulation, have shown promising outcomes in tackling these tactics. However, challenges such as the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment persist. Ongoing research is crucial to improve NK cell therapies by targeting autophagy, modulating miRNAs, and developing combinatorial approaches to enhance treatment efficacy for respiratory cancers.

Patients with Extensive-Stage Small Cell Lung Cancer Harboring Less Than 4 Metastatic Sites May Benefit from Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Rechallenge by Reshaping Tumor Microenvironment

Background

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) has prolonged survival in patients with extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC) as first-line treatment. However, whether ICI rechallenge could bring survival benefit to patients with ES-SCLC following its failure as first-line treatment remains unknown. Therefore, we aim to address the issue and identify the cohort of patients that may derive such benefit.

Methods

Patients with ES-SCLC from both the IMpower133 study and Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute (shanzhong cohort) who failed first-line ICI were included. Kaplan Meier analysis was performed to compare overall survival (OS). Both univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were conducted to identify factors affecting survival. Tumor immune cell infiltration was evaluated by the CIBERSORT algorithm and detected by multiplex immunofluorescence (mIF).

Results

A total of 125 ES-SCLC patients undergoing atezolizumab and 161 patients undergoing ICI as first-line treatment were recruited from IMpower133 and shanzhong cohort. Those receiving ICI rechallenge had a longer OS than those without in IMpower133 (P = 0.08) and shanzhong cohort (P = 0.013). In IMpower133 cohort, subgroup analyses found that patients with <4 metastatic sites derived more survival benefit from atezolizumab (P = 0.008). For patients with ES-SCLC harboring <4 metastatic sites, there was significant OS difference between atezolizumab versus non-atezolizumab as retreatment (P = 0.036). Moreover, for ES-SCLC patients with <4 metastatic sites, atezolizumab improved survival compared with non-atezolizumab (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.457; 95% CI: 0.256-0.817; P = 0.008). These findings were confirmed in shanzhong cohort. Those harboring <4 metastatic sites had fewer M2 macrophage and more CD4 naïve T cells infiltration, which was further confirmed by mIF of ES-SCLC samples from shanzhong cohort.

Conclusion

Our study provides rationale for ICI rechallenge among ES-SCLC patients with <4 metastatic sites, suggesting beneficial outcome by reshaping TME.

Long-Term Survival and Stable Disease in a Patient with Extensive-Stage Small-Cell Lung Cancer after Treatment with Carboplatin, Etoposide and Atezolizumab

Survival beyond 2 years is rare in patients with extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC) treated with chemotherapy alone. We describe a patient with ES-SCLC who was treated with carboplatin, etoposide and the programmed death-ligand 1 inhibitor atezolizumab in the IMpower133 study (ClinicalTrials.gov registration: NCT02763579) and who achieved exceptionally long-term survival. Treatment-naïve patients with ES-SCLC (n = 403) were included in the IMpower133 study, and the identified patient had been randomised to the investigational treatment arm, where patients received induction therapy with carboplatin and etoposide plus atezolizumab for four 21-day cycles, followed by ongoing maintenance therapy with atezolizumab. The patient had achieved a partial response after induction therapy, and then received seven cycles of atezolizumab maintenance therapy until immune-related toxicities necessitated discontinuation. The patient was alive with an ongoing response and excellent performance status more than 6 years after starting treatment and 5 years after discontinuing atezolizumab maintenance. In conclusion, this patient with ES-SCLC from the IMpower133 study is a rare example of ongoing survival more than 6 years beyond diagnosis and the start of treatment with first-line atezolizumab. This demonstrates the potential durability of response with immunotherapy.

Nanomedicine-based co-delivery of a calcium channel inhibitor and a small molecule targeting CD47 for lung cancer immunotherapy

Pro-tumoral macrophages in lung tumors present a significant challenge in immunotherapy. Here, we introduce a pH-responsive nanomedicine approach for activating anti-tumoral macrophages and dendritic cells. Using a layered double hydroxide nanosheet carrier, we co-deliver a T-type calcium channel inhibitor (TTA-Q6) and a CD47 inhibitor (RRX-001) into lung tumors. In the tumor acidic environment, TTA-Q6 is released, disrupting cancer cell calcium uptake, causing endoplasmic reticulum stress and inducing calreticulin transfer to the cell surface. Surface calreticulin activates macrophages and triggers dendritic cell maturation, promoting effective antigen presentation and therefore activating antitumor T cells. Simultaneously, RRX-001 reduces CD47 protein levels, aiding in preventing immune escape by calreticulin-rich cancer cells. In lung tumor models in male mice, this combined approach shows anti-tumor effects and immunity against tumor re-exposure, highlighting its potential for lung cancer immunotherapy.

Immunotherapy in patients with brain metastasis: advances and challenges for the treatment and the application of circulating biomarkers

The central nervous system (CNS) is one of the most frequent metastatic sites of various cancers, including lung cancer, breast cancer and melanoma. The development of brain metastases requires a specific therapeutic approach and is associated with high mortality and morbidity in cancer patients. Advances in precision medicine and the introduction in recent years of new drugs, such as immunotherapy, have made it possible to improve the prognosis of these patients by improving survival and quality of life. New diagnostic techniques such as liquid biopsy allow real-time monitoring of tumor evolution, providing molecular information on prognostic and predictive biomarkers of response to treatment in blood or other fluids. In this review, we perform an exhaustive update of the clinical trials that demonstrate the utility of immunotherapy in patients with brain metastases and the potential of circulating biomarkers to improving the results of efficacy and toxicity in this subgroup of patients.

Comparative efficacy and safety of novel immuno-chemotherapy for extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer: a network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trial

Background

Recently, several new first-line immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) plus chemotherapy have been approved for patients with extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC). However, direct comparisons between first-line treatments are lacking. Therefore, we indirectly compared the efficacy and safety of specific treatment strategies to inform physicians' and patients' clinical decisions.

Methods

The Pubmed, Cochrane, Embase, and Web of Science databases were searched from 1 January 2000 to 27 November 2022, for randomized clinical trials (RCTs) assessing first-line immuno-chemotherapies for ES-SCLC. A fixed-effect multivariable meta-regression model was established for frequentist network meta-analysis and hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were computed to compare the effects of immuno-chemotherapies on patient overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS), while risk ratios with 95% CI were used for treatment- and immune-related adverse events (AEs). The p score values were then used to rank treatments based on their odds of being the best treatment option. The research protocol was registered with the PROSPERO (CRD42022383254).

Results

Seven studies involving 3822 patients were eligible for analysis. Serplulimab plus chemotherapy had better OS outcomes compared to chemotherapy (HR = 0.63; 95% CI: 0.49-0.82) and ipilimumab plus chemotherapy (HR = 0.67; 95% CI: 0.50-0.90). It additionally exhibited better PFS outcomes compared to chemotherapy (HR = 0.48; 95% CI: 0.39-0.60), adebrelimab (HR = 0.72; 95% CI: 0.53-0.97), atezolizumab (HR = 0.62; 0.46-0.85), durvalumab (HR = 0.60; 95% CI: 0.45-0.80), durvalumab and tremelimumab (HR = 0.57; 95% CI: 0.43-0.76), ipilimumab (HR = 0.57; 95% CI: 0.44-0.73), and pembrolizumab (HR = 0.64; 95% CI: 0.48-0.86) plus chemotherapy. Serplulimab plus chemotherapy was linked to the greatest odds of effectively reducing the odds of death (p score = 0.87) and progression (p score = 0.99) while exhibiting a good safety profile.

Conclusion

Serplulimab plus chemotherapy exhibited the best survival outcomes with manageable AEs. Thus, serplulimab plus chemotherapy may represent the optimal best first-line treatment option for ES-SCLC patients.

Small Cell Lung Carcinoma: Current Diagnosis, Biomarkers, and Treatment Options with Future Perspectives

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is an aggressive malignancy characterized by rapid proliferation, early dissemination, acquired therapy resistance, and poor prognosis. Early diagnosis of SCLC is crucial since most patients present with advanced/metastatic disease, limiting the potential for curative treatment. While SCLC exhibits initial responsiveness to chemotherapy and radiotherapy, treatment resistance commonly emerges, leading to a five-year overall survival rate of up to 10%. New effective biomarkers, early detection, and advancements in therapeutic strategies are crucial for improving survival rates and reducing the impact of this devastating disease. This review aims to comprehensively summarize current knowledge on diagnostic options, well-known and emerging biomarkers, and SCLC treatment strategies and discuss future perspectives on this aggressive malignancy.

Camrelizumab as a novel third or post-third-line treatment strategy in small cell lung cancer: a retrospective study of 12 patients

Background

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) constitutes 15% of all lung cancer cases, with a comparatively low survival rate. The advent of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) has provided new alternatives for treating SCLC. However, the effectiveness of camrelizumab in the treatment of SCLC remains unclear. This retrospective case series was designed to investigate the efficacy and safety of camrelizumab in SCLC patients.

Methods

The study enrolled SCLC patients recorded as having received more than one cycle of camrelizumab in the electronic medical record system. Data related to clinical and survival times were collected and statistically analyzed.

Results

From August 2019 to December 2021, the study enrolled 12 SCLC patients. The objective response rate was 41.7% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 15.2%-72.3%). The disease control rate was 83.3% (95% CI: 51.6%-97.9%). The median progression-free survival (PFS) for all patients was 4.0 months. Notably, the median PFS of patients in third- or post-third-line subgroups was 7 months (95% CI: 1.12-12.88 months). The median overall survival (OS) for all eligible patients was 10.0 months (95% CI: 7.35-12.65 months), with a 1-year survival rate of 25%. Notably, the OS of patients treated with third- or post-third-line therapy was 5-34 months, with a 1-year survival rate of 75%. The two most prevalent non-hematological adverse events associated with the immune response were pneumonitis (44.4%) and reactive cutaneous capillary endothelial proliferation (44.4%). One patient experienced an exacerbation of preexisting diabetes and reached grade 3 hyperglycemia. There were no grade 4/5 immune-related adverse events.

Conclusion

This case series highlights the potential benefits and safety concerns of camrelizumab in SCLC patients. These findings suggest a possible strategy for third- and post-third-line treatments of SCLC. However, the conclusion is limited due to the study's retrospective nature and small sample size. Therefore, large-scale randomized controlled studies are needed to determine its efficacy.

Comparison of the second-line treatments for patients with small cell lung cancer sensitive to previous platinum-based chemotherapy: A systematic review and Bayesian network analysis

Objective

It remains unclear what the best second-line treatment is for patients with small-cell lung cancer sensitive to previous platinum-based chemotherapy.

Methods

We systematically screened randomized controlled trials from several online databases. The primary outcome was objective response rate (ORR), and the secondary outcomes were disease control rate (DCR), overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), and hematological complications graded 3 to 5. The efficacy of included treatments was ranked by surface under the cumulative ranking curve (SUCRA) value.

Results

We included eleven trials involving 1560 patients in quantitative analysis. Triple chemotherapy containing platinum (TP, combination of cisplatin, etoposide, and irinotecan) was associated with favorable ORR (intravenous topotecan vs TP; odds ratio: 0.13, 95% CI:0.03-0.63; SUCRA, 0.94) and PFS (vs intravenous topotecan; hazard ratio, 0.5; 95% CI: 0.25-0.99; SUCRA, 0.90). Belotecan ranked highest for OS (SUCRA, 0.90), while intravenous topotecan plus Ziv-aflibercept ranked highest for DCR (SUCRA, 0.75). TP was more likely to cause anemia and thrombocytopenia while intravenous topotecan plus Ziv-aflibercept resulted in most neutrocytopenia.

Conclusion

TP is the first recommendation for the second-line treatment of sensitive relapsed SCLC. TP achieved priority in ORR and PFS with the most frequent adverse effects in anemia and thrombocytopenia. For patients who cannot tolerate the hematological adverse effects of triple chemotherapy, amrubicin is an optional option. Amrubicin had relatively good ORR and PFS, accompanied by fewer hematological complications. The rechallenge of the platinum doublet is inferior to amrubicin in ORR, DCR, and PFS. Oral topotecan has a similar effect compared with IV topotecan, but oral topotecan was associated with slightly higher safety and less stress in nursing. Belotecan contributed to the best PFS with slightly better safety but was not ideal in other outcomes.

Systematic review registration

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/, identifier CRD42022358256.

Hepatotoxicity of immune checkpoint inhibitors: What is Currently Known

BACKGROUND

This systematic review and network meta-analysis aimed to provide a complete hepatotoxicity profile, hepatotoxicity spectrum, and safety ranking of immune checkpoint inhibitor drugs for cancer treatment.

METHODS

PubMed, Embase, Scopus, CINAHL, Web of Science, psycINFO, Cochrane Library, and ClinicalTrials.gov. websites were searched, and a manual search of relevant reviews and trials up to January 1, 2022, was undertaken. Head-to-head III randomized controlled trials comparing any 2 or 3 of the following treatments or different doses of the same immune checkpoint inhibitor drug were included: programmed death 1 (PD-1), programmed death ligand 1, and cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 (CTLA-4) inhibitors and conventional therapy. We included 106 randomized trials (n=164,782) containing 17 treatment arms.

RESULTS

The overall incidence of hepatotoxicity was 4.06%. The rate of fatal liver adverse events was 0.07%. The programmed death ligand 1 inhibitor+targeted therapy drug+chemotherapy group had the highest risk of treatment-related increases in all-grade alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase levels, and the differences were significant. For immune-related hepatotoxicity, no significant difference was found between PD-1 and CTLA-4 inhibitors for all-grade hepatotoxicity; however, CTLA-4 inhibitors were associated with a higher risk of grade 3-5 hepatotoxicity than PD-1 inhibitors.

CONCLUSIONS

The highest incidence of hepatotoxicity and fatality was observed with triple therapy. The overall incidence of hepatotoxicity was similar between different dual regimens. For immune checkpoint inhibitor monotherapy, the overall risk of immune-mediated hepatotoxicity related to CTLA-4 inhibitors did not differ significantly from that of PD-1 inhibitors. There was no direct relationship between the risk of liver injury and drug dose, whether monotherapy or combination therapy was used.

Emerging Strategies for the Treatment of Small Cell Lung Cancer: A Review

Importance

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is an aggressive disease that is characterized by rapid growth and the early development of metastases. Patients typically respond to initial chemotherapy but quickly experience relapse, resulting in a poor long-term outcome. Therapeutic innovations that substantially improve survival have historically been limited, and reliable, predictive biomarkers are lacking.

Observations

This review examines the biologic characteristics of SCLC, the current treatment landscape, and ongoing efforts to identify novel therapeutic targets. Ongoing research has advanced the understanding of molecular categories and the immunologic microenvironment of SCLC, which in turn has helped improve disease classification and staging. Recently, immunotherapy-based regimens have become available for the management of SCLC, with 2 programmed cell death 1 ligand 1 inhibitors approved in combination with chemotherapy for first-line treatment of extensive-stage disease. For second-line treatment, a novel alkylating agent, lurbinectedin, which inhibits oncogenic transcription, has been approved for use in patients with metastatic SCLC. Furthermore, a wide variety of therapies and innovative combination regimens are being continuously evaluated. Potential therapeutic strategies, including aurora kinase A inhibitors, polyadenosine diphosphate-ribose polymerase inhibitors, ataxia telangiectasia and Rad3-related inhibitors, cyclin-dependent kinase 7 inhibitors, delta-like protein 3 agents, antiganglioside agents, CD47 inhibitors, and lysine-specific histone demethylase 1a inhibitors, are also being examined.

Conclusions and Relevance

Therapeutic optimization of SCLC remains a challenge, but recent trial results and drug approvals are encouraging. Advances in research have revealed critical information regarding biologic characteristics of the disease, which may lead to the identification of vulnerabilities and the development of new therapies. Further research focused on identifying biomarkers and evaluating innovative therapies will be paramount to improving treatment outcomes for patients with SCLC.

PD-1/PD-L1 and DNA Damage Response in Cancer

The application of immunotherapy for cancer treatment is rapidly becoming more widespread. Immunotherapeutic agents are frequently combined with various types of treatments to obtain a more durable antitumor clinical response in patients who have developed resistance to monotherapy. Chemotherapeutic drugs that induce DNA damage and trigger DNA damage response (DDR) frequently induce an increase in the expression of the programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1) that can be employed by cancer cells to avoid immune surveillance. PD-L1 exposed on cancer cells can in turn be targeted to re-establish the immune-reactive tumor microenvironment, which ultimately increases the tumor's susceptibility to combined therapies. Here we review the recent advances in how the DDR regulates PD-L1 expression and point out the effect of etoposide, irinotecan, and platinum compounds on the anti-tumor immune response.

Efficacy and safety of first-line immune checkpoint inhibitors combined with chemotherapy for extensive-stage small cell lung cancer: A network meta-analysis

The efficacy and safety of first-line immune checkpoint inhibitors plus chemotherapy in the treatment of patients with extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC) remains unevaluated, and there are no reports to directly compare the efficacy and safety among different immunotherapy (especially adebrelimab and surplulimab). Suitable phase III randomized controlled trials with two or more different arms were included. Independent reviewers screened and extracted relevant data and disagreements were resolved through consensus. Fixed-effect consistency models were used to calculate the overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), objective response rate, adverse events ≥ 3, and safety outcomes in the clinically relevant subgroups. In this network meta-analysis, six randomized controlled clinical trials (CAPSTONE-1, ASTRUM-005, CASPIAN, IMpower133, KEYNOTE-604, and an ipilimumab + chemotherapy trial) with totaling 3662 patients were involved. Compared to chemotherapy, immune checkpoint inhibitors plus chemotherapy present higher possibilities to bring about better OS and PFS. Serplulimab + chemotherapy significantly showed a better survival profit in comparison with ipilimumab + chemotherapy (0.67; 0.50-0.90). Compared with chemotherapy, adebrelimab + chemotherapy (0.72; 0,58-0.90), atezolizumab + chemotherapy (0.76; 0.60-0.96) durvalumab + chemotherapy (0.75; 0.62-0.91), and serplulimab + chemotherapy (0.63;0.49-0.82) all presented significantly better overall survival. In terms of progression-free survival, serplulimab + chemotherapy showed better efficacy in comparison with adebrelimab + chemotherapy (0.72; 0,53-0.97), atezolizumab + chemotherapy (0.62; 0.46-0.84), durvalumab + chemotherapy (0.60; 0.45-0.80). Compared with chemotherapy, adebrelimab + chemotherapy (0.67; 0.54-0.83) and serplulimab + chemotherapy (0.48; 0.48-0.86) all presented significantly better PFS. Immunotherapy plus chemotherapy had similar probabilities to cause adverse events of grade ≥ 3. In comparison with chemotherapy, immune checkpoint inhibitors plus chemotherapy were likely to be more suitable for the first-line treatment of ES-SCLC. According to our analysis, serplulimab plus chemotherapy and adebrelimab plus chemotherapy present higher possibilities to show better efficacy and safety, however, the level of evidence of this type of comparison is limited.

Combination of chemotherapy and immune checkpoint therapy by the immunoconjugates-based nanocomplexes synergistically improves therapeutic efficacy in SCLC

Although the etoposide and carboplatin (EP) combination strategy has been the first-line chemotherapy, patients with extensive-stage disease small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) still have poor survival outcomes. Our retrospective analysis revealed that 46 patients with SCLC only achieved medium overall survival (OS) of 11.6 months after treated by EP. Recently, it was demonstrated that combination therapy of PD1/PD-L1 immune checkpoint blocker and EP could significantly improve the OS of SCLC patients. However, the serious treatment-related toxicity leaded to a high rate of treatment-discontinuation or even death. In the present study, we have developed a novel TPP1-conjugated nanocomplex, abbreviated as TPP1NP-EP, which was co-loaded with carboplatin (CBP) and etoposide (VP16). The TPP1 was a PD-L1 targeting peptide and conjugated on the surface of nanocomplex by a matrix metalloproteinase (MMP-2/9)-cleavable peptide linker sequence PLGLAG. For dual-loading of CBP and VP16, the CBP was chemically conjugated with poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)-poly(caprolactone) (PCL) by pH-sensitive hydrazone bond and the VP16 was physically encapsulated by emulsion-solvent evaporation method. In vitro and in vivo experiments demonstrated an excellent anti-tumor effect of TPP1NP-EP on SCLC and improved safety. In conclusion, the present study has provided a promising strategy for treatment of malignant SCLC.

Anlotinib plus etoposide and cisplatin/carboplatin as first-line therapy for extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC): a single-arm, phase II study

Patients with extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC) have high relapse rates and poor prognosis. Anlotinib monotherapy has shown promising efficacy for patients with ES-SCLC and has a non-overlapping toxicity profile with chemotherapy. Therefore, the study aims to assess the efficacy and safety of the addition of anlotinib to platinum-chemotherapy as first-line therapy for patients with ES-SCLC. ES-SCLC patients without systemic chemotherapy and immunotherapy were recruited. Eligible patients received anlotinib (12 mg/day, on day 1-14) of a 21-day cycle, with concomitant etoposide (100 mg/m², on day 1-3) plus cisplatin (75 mg/m², on day 1) or carboplatin (AUC = 4-5, on day 1) for 4-6 cycles, followed by indefinite anlotinib maintenance therapy. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS). Secondary endpoints included objective response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR), overall survival (OS). Between Jan 15, 2019 and Dec 31, 2020, 25 patients were enrolled. At the data cut-off time (November 3, 2021), the median follow-up was 14.3 months. Median PFS was 10.3 months (95% CI: 6.0-14.5) and median OS was 17.1 months (95% CI: 11.1-19.3). The ORR and DCR were 90% and 100%, respectively. The most common grade 3 or worse treatment-related adverse events were neutropenia (50%), leukopenia (35%), thrombocytopenia (25%), fatigue (10%), nausea (10%), hyponatremia (10%), anemia (10%). One patient discontinued treatment due to treatment-related adverse events. No treatment-related death occurred. Anlotinib plus platinum-chemotherapy as first-line therapy for ES-SCLC has anti-tumor activity, and showed acceptable tolerability. These results provide a basis for future randomized controlled trials.

Plasma cell-free DNA and circulating tumor cells as prognostic biomarkers in small cell lung cancer patients

BACKGROUND

Lack of biomarkers for treatment selection and monitoring in small cell lung cancer (SCLC) patients with the limited therapeutic options, result in poor outcomes. Therefore, new prognostic biomarkers are needed to improve their management. The prognostic value of cell-free DNA (cfDNA) and circulating tumor cells (CTCs) have been less explored in SCLC.

METHODS

We quantified cfDNA in 46 SCLC patients at different times during first-line of chemotherapy or chemo-immunotherapy. Moreover, CTCs were analyzed in 21 patients before therapy onset using CellSearch® system. The possible association between both biomarkers and patients' outcomes was investigated in order to develop a prognostic model.

RESULTS

High cfDNA levels before therapy were associated with shorter progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Furthermore, cfDNA levels at 3 weeks and at progression disease were also associated with patients' outcomes. Multivariate analyses confirmed the independence of cfDNA levels as a prognostic biomarker. Finally, the three-risk category prognostic model developed included Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status (ECOG PS), gender and baseline cfDNA levels was associated with a higher risk of progression and death.

CONCLUSIONS

We confirmed the prognostic utility of cfDNA quantitative analysis in SCLC patients before and during therapy. Our novel risk prognostic model in clinical practice will allow to identify patients who could benefit with actual therapies.

Rechallenge of immunotherapy beyond progression in patients with extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer

Background: Rechallenge of immunotherapy beyond progression (RIBP) has been demonstrably effective in a variety of cancers. Our study aims to investigate the efficacy of RIBP in small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) patients under real-world conditions.

Methods: SCLC patients who experienced progressive disease after receiving programmed cell death-1 (PD-1)/programmed cell death ligand-1 (PD-L1) inhibitors combined with chemotherapy from January 2017 to October 2021 were enrolled. The study population was divided into two groups: the RIBP group and the discontinuation of immunotherapy beyond progression (DIBP) group. Inverse propensity score weighting (IPSW) method was used to balance the clinical baseline characteristics. The short-term and long-term efficacy of the two groups was compared.

Results: 100 SCLC patients were included in this study. There were 45 patients in the RIBP group and 55 patients in the DIBP group. The disease control rate (DCR) and the proportion of durable clinical benefit (DCB) were significantly higher in the RIBP group (DCR: 79.7% vs. 55.7%, p = 0.027; DCB: 40.7 vs. 20.7%, p = 0.025) after weighting. The median progressive-free survival (PFS) in the RIBP group was significantly longer than the DIBP group in the total population (mPFS: 4.8 vs. 2.4 months, p = 0.002), while there was no significant difference in overall survival (OS) of the two groups (mOS: 17.4 vs. 8.0 months, p = 0.098). In the weighted first-line initial immunotherapy subgroup, PFS and OS were significantly improved in the RIBP group (mPFS: 4.5 vs. 2.8 months, p = 0.017; mOS: 11.6 vs. 5.4 months, p = 0.028). After weighting, the RIBP group had a significantly longer PFS than the DIBP group in the SD/PD response to the initial immunotherapy subgroup (mPFS: 6.8 vs. 1.8 months, p = 0.026).

Conclusion: Rechallenge of PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors could bring benefits to SCLC patients, especially in the first-line initial immunotherapy subgroup or SD/PD response to the initial immunotherapy subgroup.

Alpha5 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor mediated immune escape of lung adenocarcinoma via STAT3/Jab1-PD-L1 signalling

Background

Immunotherapy has proven to be an emerging treatment for non-small-cell lung cancer in recent years. Notably, smokers show higher programmed cell death ligand-1 (PD-L1) expression and better responses to PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors than nonsmokers. Genome-wide association studies show that the CHRNΑ5 encoding α5-nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α5-nAChR) is especially relevant to lung cancer and nicotine dependence. Jab1 is a key regulatory factor and promotes the stabilization of PD-L1. Our previous study reported that α5-nAChR mediates lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and metastasis via STAT3/Jab1. However, the link between α5-nAChR and PD-L1 is unclear in LUAD.

Methods

We used various bioinformatics databases to analyze the expression of related genes and their correlations. Expression and clinicopathologic significance of α5-nAChR and PD-L1 were detected by immunohistochemistry in a tissue microarray. α5-nAChR regulated LUAD cell immune escape by targeting the STAT3/Jab1-PD-L1 signalling by Western-blotting and ChIP in vitro. We used T cell coculture, flow cytometry, ELISA, CCK8 assay and crystal violet staining to detect the expression of regulatory T cell (Tregs), IFN-γ, IL-2 and the ability of T cell-mediated tumour cell killing respectively. IF assays were performed in both cancer cells and tumour xenograft paraffin sections to analyze the protein expression. The in vivo experiments in mouse model were performed to show the α5-nAChR-mediated immune escape via PD-L1 pathway.

Results

The expression of α5-nAChR was correlated with PD-L1 expression, smoking status and lower survival of LUAD in vivo. In vitro, the expression of α5-nAChR mediated phosphorylated STAT3 (pSTAT3), Jab1 and PD-L1 expression. STAT3 bound to the Jab1 or PD-L1 promoter and mediated PD-L1 expression. Jab1 stabilized PD-L1 expression in LUAD cells. Furthermore, in primary T cell cocultured system, downregulation of α5-nAChR suppressed the function of CD4⁺CD25⁺FOXP3⁺ Tregs, enhanced IFN-γ secretion, and increased T cell-mediated killing of LUAD cells. In the Jurkat T cells and LUAD cells coculture assay, inhibition of α5-nAChR increased IL-2 secretion. In tumour xenograft tissues, α5-nAChR expression was related to PD-L1, Jab1, pSTAT3, CD4 and granzyme B expression (GB).

Conclusions

Our results suggest that the novel α5-nAChR/STAT3-Jab1-PD-L1 axis is involved in LUAD immune escape, which could lead to potential therapeutic strategies for cancer immunotherapy.

Prognostic Nutritional Index Predicts Response and Prognosis in Cancer Patients Treated With Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Objective

To investigate the association between pretreatment prognostic nutritional index (PNI) and clinical survival outcomes for advanced-stage cancer patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs).

Methods

We conducted a comprehensive literature search to identify eligible studies concerning the relationship between pretreatment PNI and survival outcomes in advanced cancer patients treated with ICIs. Published data were extracted and pooled odds ratio (pOR) for objective response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR), and pooled hazard ratio (pHR) for overall survival (OS), progressive-free survival (PFS), along with 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were calculated.

Results

Twelve studies with 1,359 participants were included in our study. A higher level of PNI indicated a greater ORR (pOR = 2.17, 95% CI = 1.52–3.10) and favorable DCR (pOR = 2.48, 95% CI = 1.87–3.29). Low PNI was associated with a shorter OS (pHR = 2.24, 95% CI = 1.57–3.20) and unfavorable PFS (pHR = 1.61, 95% CI = 1.37–1.88).

Conclusion

Low PNI might be an effective biomarker of poor tumor response and adverse prognosis of advanced cancer patients with ICIs. Further studies are needed to verify the prognostic value of PNI in clinical practice.

New perspectives in the management of small cell lung cancer

The treatment of small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is a challenge for all specialists involved. New treatments have been added to the therapeutic armamentarium in recent months, but efforts must continue to improve both survival and quality of life. Advances in surgery and radiotherapy have resulted in prolonged survival times and fewer complications, while more careful patient selection has led to increased staging accuracy. Developments in the field of systemic therapy have resulted in changes to clinical guidelines and the management of patients with advanced disease, mainly with the introduction of immunotherapy. In this article, we describe recent improvements in the management of patients with SCLC, review current treatments, and discuss future lines of research.

Adverse Events Associated with Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors: Overview of Systematic Reviews

BACKGROUND

Recognition and management of adverse events (AEs) associated with immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) use by cancer patients requires expertise from multiple disciplines. Greater awareness of potential AEs may result in earlier recognition, appropriate management, and better patient outcomes.

OBJECTIVE

The primary objective of this overview of systematic reviews was to synthesize and consolidate systematic review evidence describing the incidence proportion and severity of AEs associated with various ICI therapies across different cancers.

METHODS

A systematic literature search of four databases was conducted to identify systematic reviews that describe the incidence proportion and severity of AEs related to ICI therapy in cancer patients. A systematic review was eligible if it included adults with cancer; on ICI alone or in combination with another ICI, chemotherapy, or targeted therapy; severity (graded according to the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events) and incidence proportion of AEs and whether it reported its eligibility criteria. AEs of interest were identified through an iterative ranking exercise by key stakeholders and knowledge users. Extraction of PICOTTS elements and quality indicators (AMSTAR-2) were used to manage overlap of primary studies across systematic reviews at the outcome level. Cancer subtypes were mapped to drug class and AE severity.

RESULTS

Overall, 129 systematic reviews met the inclusion criteria for data mapping. Systematic reviews reported incidence proportions for more than 76 AEs, of which 34 were identified as AEs of interest. After overlap assessment, 65 systematic reviews were chosen for data extraction. The three AEs with the highest median incidence were fatigue (18.3%, interquartile range [IQR] 15.0-28.0%), diarrhea (15.3%, IQR 9.7-29.2%) and rash (14.4%, IQR 10.3-19.2%). The three AEs (high-grade) with the highest median incidence were diarrhea (1.5%, IQR 1.2-6.0%), colitis (1.3%, IQR 0.6-6.1%) and neutropenia (1.2%, IQR 0.4-3.3%). Incidence proportions of high-grade AEs were often considerably lower than all-grade AEs and combination therapy (ICI combinations or combinations of ICI with chemotherapy or targeted therapy) was responsible for some of the highest incidence proportions regardless of AE. Rare AEs and certain cancer subtypes were not well reported.

CONCLUSIONS

Early recognition of AEs associated with ICIs requires expertise from diverse specialists, not just oncologists. Greater awareness of potential AEs may result in earlier recognition, appropriate management, and better patient outcomes.

PROSPERO REGISTRATION

CRD42021231593.

A phase II, open-label, single-arm trial of carboplatin plus etoposide with bevacizumab and atezolizumab in patients with extended-stage small-cell lung cancer (CeLEBrATE study): background, design and rationale

Based on improved survival from the addition of PD-L1 inhibitors in phase III trials, the combination of immunotherapy and platinum-doublet chemotherapy has become the new standard treatment for extended-stage small-cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC). Furthermore, the antiangiogenetic agent bevacizumab showed a longer progression-free survival by targeting VEGF that has pleiotropic effects, including immunosuppressive ones. We, therefore, hypothesized that targeting angiogenesis would improve the efficacy of chemoimmunotherapy. The CeLEBrATE trial is an open-label, multicenter, phase II study designed to assess the efficacy and safety of the combination of carboplatin and etoposide plus bevacizumab and atezolizumab in treatment-naive patients with ES-SCLC. The primary end point is overall survival rate at 1 year, while secondary end points include overall response rate, progression-free survival and toxicity.

Addition of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors to Chemotherapy vs Chemotherapy Alone as First-Line Treatment in Extensive-Stage Small-Cell Lung Carcinoma: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Introduction

The addition of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) to conventional chemotherapy (CT) as first-line treatment improves survival in extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC). The aim of this meta-analysis was to determine the relative efficacy of first-line ICIs compared with CT in patients with ES-SCLC.

Methods

Two independent reviewers extracted relevant data according to PRISMA guidelines and assessed the risk of bias using the Cochrane Collaboration's risk-of-bias tool. Meta-analysis was conducted using random-effects models to calculate an average effect size for overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), and safety outcomes in the overall populations and clinically relevant subgroups.

Results

A literature search of PubMed and Embase was performed. Six randomized controlled clinical trials (IMpower133, CHECKMATE-451, CASPIAN, KEYNOTE-604, and phase II and III ipilimumab plus CT trials) with a total of 3757 patients were included. Compared with CT alone, ICIs plus CT showed a favourable effect on OS (hazard ratio [HR] 0.85; 95% confidence intervals [CI] 0.79–0.96) and PFS (HR 0.78; 95% CI 0.72–0.83) but a non-significant increase in the risk of experiencing any adverse event (relative risk, 1.05; 95% CI 0.99–1.11). The estimated HR for OS favoured ICI combinations in all planned subgroups according to age (< 65 years/≥ 65 years), sex (men/women), and ECOG performance status (0/1). Analysis by specific ICI revealed significant improvements in OS only for atezolizumab + CT (HR 1.36; 95% CI 1.09–1.69) and durvalumab + CT (HR 1.35; 95% CI 1.12–1.62) compared with CT alone.

Conclusion

Combining anti-programmed cell death ligand 1 antibodies with platinum/etoposide is a superior therapeutic approach compared to CT alone for the first-line treatment of patients with ES-SCLC.

Graphic abstract

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40487-021-00182-0.

Treatment-Related Adverse Events with PD-1 or PD-L1 Inhibitors: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Objective: to evaluate the risk of treatment-related adverse events of different severity and different system with PD-1 or PD-L1 inhibitors. Methods: randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that using PD-1/PD-L1 for cancer treatment were searched in the PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science from 1 January 2019 to 31 May 2021. Adverse events data were extracted from clinical trials website or original article by two authors separately. Meta-analysis was used to determine risk ratio (RR) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) of adverse events in PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors groups compared to that of control groups. Subgroup analyses were also performed. Results: a total of 5,807 studies were initially identified and after exclusion, 41 studies were included in meta-analysis. All the trials were international multicenter, randomized, phase II/III clinical trials, with the median follow-up of 27.5 months on average. Analysis of all grade adverse events showed that PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors treatment significantly increased the risk of immune-related adverse events, including pruritus (RR: 2.34, 95% CI: 1.85–2.96), rash (RR: 1.53, 95% CI: 1.25–1.87), ALT elevation (RR 1.54, 95% CI 1.23–1.92), AST elevation (AST: RR 1.49, 95% CI 1.20–1.85), hepatitis (RR: 3.54, 95% CI: 1.96–6.38) and hypothyroid (RR: 5.29, 95% CI: 4.00–6.99) compared with that of control group. Besides that, PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors were associated with higher risk of adverse events related to respiratory system including cough (RR: 1.33, 95% CI: 1.21–1.48), dyspnea (RR:1.23, 95% CI: 1.12–1.35) and chest pain (RR: 1.26, 95% CI: 1.07–1.47) compared with that of control groups in our meta-analysis and the dyspnea was taken high risk both in all grade and grade 3 or higher (RR: 1.55, 95% CI: 1.13–2.12). The risk of arthralgia was increased with PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors (RR: 1.27, 95% CI: 1.10–1.47). Although the risk of myalgia was similar with PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors and control groups, under subgroup analysis, PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors decreased the risk of myalgia (RR: 0.56, 95% CI: 0.45–0.70) compared with that of chemotherapy. Conclusions: our results provide clear evidence that the risk of treatment-related adverse events in PD-1 or PD-L1 varies widely in different system. In particular, when using PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors for oncology treatment, besides the common immune-related adverse events like pruritus, rash, hepatitis, and hypothyroid, the respiratory disorders and musculoskeletal disorders, such as cough, dyspnea, arthralgia, and myalgia, should also be taken into consideration.

Advances in Treatment of Recurrent Small Cell Lung Cancer (SCLC): Insights for Optimizing Patient Outcomes from an Expert Roundtable Discussion

Second-line treatment options for patients with relapsed, extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC) are limited, and even with currently available treatments, prognosis remains poor. Until recently, topotecan (a topoisomerase I inhibitor) was the only drug approved by the United States (US) Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the management of ES-SCLC following progression after first-line treatment with etoposide plus a platinum derivative (EP; carboplatin preferred). With the most recent approval of EP plus a programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) inhibitor, there are now more therapeutic options for managing ES-SCLC. A number of novel agents have emerging data for activity in relapsed ES-SCLC, and single-agent lurbinectedin (an alkylating drug and selective inhibitor of oncogenic transcription and DNA repair machinery in tumor cells) has conditional FDA approval for use in this patient population. Trilaciclib, a short-acting cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6 (CDK 4/6) inhibitor, has also been recently approved as a supportive intervention for use prior to an EP or a topotecan-containing regimen to diminish the incidence of chemotherapy-induced myelosuppression. The current review is based on a recent expert roundtable discussion and summarizes current therapeutic agents and emerging data on newer agents and biomarkers. It also provides evidence-based clinical considerations and a treatment decision tool for oncologists treating patients with relapsed ES-SCLC. This paper discusses the importance of various factors to consider when selecting a second-line treatment option, including prior first-line treatment, available second-line treatment options, tumor platinum sensitivity, and patient characteristics (such as performance status, comorbidities, and patient-expressed and perceived values).

Comparing strategy of immune checkpoint inhibitors plus chemotherapy with chemotherapy alone for small cell lung cancer: a meta-analysis based on six RCTs incorporating 2800 participants

OBJECTIVES

The project is designed to compare the clinical efficacy and adverse events resulting from immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) plus chemotherapy and chemotherapy alone in patients with small cell lung cancer (SCLC).

METHODS

PubMed Database and ClinicalTrials.gov were both searched to identify randomized controlled clinical trials for assessing ICIs in all-stage SCLC. After screening in strict accordance with the inclusion and exclusion criteria, eligible studies were evaluated in regard to the population, intervention, comparator, outcome as well as study design (PICOS) pattern. Furthermore, primary endpoints of these randomized controlled trials (RCTs) included overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS) and complete/objective response rate (CRR/ORR). Statistical analyses were realized via Review Manager Version 5.3 Software.

RESULTS

Compared with the chemotherapy alone group, the ICIs plus chemotherapy group significantly improved with respect to such indicators as OS (hazard ratio (HR) = 0.82, 95% CI 0.74-0.90, P < 0.0001), PFS (HR = 0.80, 95% CI 0.74-0.87, P < 0.00001) and ORR (64.7% versus 59.1%). According to the safety analysis, the incidence of treatment-related adverse events (trAEs) at all grades was higher in ICIs plus chemotherapy group (OR = 1.59, 95% CI 1.20-2.10, P = 0.001), bearing no statistical significance at grade 3 or above (OR = 1.21, 95% CI 0.99-1.49, P = 0.07).

CONCLUSIONS

The combination of ICIs and chemotherapy witnessed better anti-neoplastic efficacy for SCLC. Moreover, the incidence of trAEs at all grades was elevated in ICIs plus chemotherapy group, with little discrepancy in both groups at grade 3 or above.

Hyperprogression After Immunotherapy for Primary Small Cell Neuroendocrine Carcinoma of the Ureter: A Case Report

Background

Primary small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (SCNEC) in the ureter is extremely rare and has been sporadically reported in case reports. Its incidence, diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes have not yet been thoroughly understood. Here we present a patient with advanced SCNEC in the ureter who was treated by multimodal strategies. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first literature report about the clinical outcomes of the combination of programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) and radiotherapy in patient with primary ureteral SCNEC.

Case Presentation

A 71-year old male presented with right flank pain and gross hematuria. A laparoscopic right nephroureterectomy was performed. He was diagnosed with primary ureteral SCNEC, pT3N0M0. Following the surgery, 4 cycles of adjuvant chemotherapy with carboplatin and etoposide (CE) were administered, with disease-free survival (DFS) of 10.1 months. He was then offered 4 cycles of palliative first-line chemotherapy with nedaplatin and irinotecan. The disease was continuously progressed, with progression-free survival (PFS) of 3.7 months. The patient subsequently received second-line treatment with PD-L1 ICI combined with radiotherapy. Unfortunately, hyperprogressive disease was found at the end of treatment. MRI and CT scan showed bilateral pubic bones, right acetabulum, and liver metastases. Without further intervention, the patient died from extensive metastatic disease 2 months after diagnosis, with overall survival (OS) of 18.2 months.

Conclusion

Physicians must be aware of this rare and aggressive carcinoma at its initial presentation. Special attention should be paid to the potential likelihood of hyperprogression during the treatment.

Real-World Treatment Patterns, Clinical Outcomes, and Health Care Resource Utilization in Extensive-Stage Small Cell Lung Cancer in Canada

The prognosis for extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC) is poor. Real-world evidence can highlight the unmet clinical need within this population. We conducted a population-based cohort study of ES-SCLC patients diagnosed in a large Canadian province (2010-2018) using electronic medical records and administrative claims data. In all, 1941 ES-SCLC patients were included, of which 476 (25%) were recurrent cases. Median age at diagnosis was 70 years (range: 39-94) and 50.2% were men. Of the 1941 ES-SCLC patients, 29.5% received chemotherapy and radiotherapy, 17.0% chemotherapy alone, 8.7% radiotherapy alone, and 44.8% received best supportive care. Chemotherapy was initiated by 46.5%, 8.5%, and 1.4% of first-, second-, and third-line patients, with lower uptake for recurrent cases. Median survival from first-, second-, and third-line chemotherapy was 7.82 months (95% CI: 7.50-8.22), 5.72 months (95% CI: 4.90-6.87), and 3.83 months (95% CI: 2.99-4.60). Among patients who received first-line therapy, the 2-year and 5-year survival was 7.3% (95% CI: 5.7-9.2) and 2.9% (95% CI: 1.8-4.5). In conclusion, initiation of first-line treatment in ES-SCLC was low with significant attrition in subsequent lines. These results underscore the need for effective front-line treatments and highlight the potential for novel therapies to improve patient outcomes.

Paraneoplastic myelitis associated with durvalumab treatment for extensive-stage small cell lung cancer

Paraneoplastic neurologic syndromes(PNSs) caused by immune checkpoint inhibitors(ICIs) is rare and requires clinicians to differentiate between disease progression and immune-related adverse effects(irAEs). We hereby report the case of immune-related myelitis accompanied by positive paraneoplastic autoantibodies following durvalumab treatment for extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC). A 70-year-old Chinese woman with ES-SCLC was administered durvalumab with etoposid-platinum(EP) as first-line treatment. Four cycles after treatment with EP plus ICI, she developed immune-related myelitis with positive paraneoplastic autoantibodies (CV2, SOX1, ZIC4). Spinal MRI showed diffuse abnormal signal shadow in the cervicothoracic spinal cord. She was discontinued for chemotherapy, and treated with high-dose steroids, intravenous immunoglobulin and plasmapheresis, maintenance therapy with steroids resulted in a favorable neurologic outcome. This is the first report of durvalumab-related PNSs. We supposed that the development of paraneoplastic myelitis was causally related to immune activation by durvalumab. Prompt diagnosis and therapeutic intervention are essential for the effective treatment of paraneoplastic myelitis.

Chemotherapy or chemo-immunotherapy as first-line treatment for extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer - a meta-analysis

This meta-analysis investigated the clinical benefits of chemo-immunotherapy in extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC). Seven randomized controlled trials with a total of 2862 patients were analyzed. Compared with chemotherapy alone, chemo-immunotherapy provided a better progression-free survival (PFS) with a hazard ratio (HR) of 0.81, p < 0.00001, and overall survival (OS) with a HR of 0.82, p < 0.0001; however, the incidence of treatment-related adverse effects (TRAEs) was significantly increased. Subgroup analyses showed that good performance status, cisplatin-based chemotherapy, without brain metastases at baseline and non-Asian populations were associated with greater benefits in OS from chemo-immunotherapy. Chemo-immunotherapy demonstrated better PFS and OS compared with chemotherapy alone as first line treatment in ES-SCLC, but additional TRAEs should be closely monitored.

Survival, Chemotherapy and Chemosensitivity Predicted by CTC Cultured In Vitro of SCLC Patients

Purpose

The prognosis for small cell lung cancer (SCLC) patients receiving later-line treatment is very poor and there is still no standard treatments after the second-line setting. Analyzing the susceptibility of chemotherapeutic drugs with circulating tumor cells (CTCs) cultured in vitro may contribute to optimize the therapeutic regimen. However, so far CTCs have been barely used for studying their chemosensitivity due to the lack of technology to obtain wholly intact and viable CTCs.

Methods

Based on a retrospective study of the therapeutic response of 99 patients with unresectable SCLC, the CTC count in 14 SCLC patients was detected before and after chemotherapy to evaluate its role as a potential marker of response. Furthermore, the drug susceptibility of CTCs cultured in vitro obtained from ClearCell FX^® System was tested and the therapy response was evaluated.

Results

All of the 99 patients received the first-line chemotherapy and the objective response rate (ORR) was 74.7%. A total of 36 patients received the second-line therapy and the average duration was 2.6 months, and only 11 cases out of them received the third-line therapy but no one responded. The change of CTC counts was identified to be correlated with therapy response. However all the five SCLC patients who were administered with the drugs according to the drug susceptibility test of CTCs for two cycles underwent progression of disease.

Conclusion

The results showed that the responses of chemotherapy are very poor in later lines and the drug susceptibility test using CTCs primary cultured in vitro may not benefit the improvement of therapeutic regimen of SCLC patients.

[Surgery for small-cell lung cancer]

Small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) is a high-grade neuroendocrine carcinoma, metastatic at the time of initial diagnosis in 70% of cases. Within the 30% of localised tumours only 5% of patients are eligible for surgical treatment according to the recommendations of learned societies. These recommendations are mainly based on old phase II and III randomised prospective trials and more recent registry studies. Surgical care is only possible within a multimodal treatment and essentially concerns small-sized tumours without involvement of hilar or mediastinal lymph nodes. As with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), lobectomy with radical lymph node removal is the recommended procedure to achieve complete tumour resection. Patient selection for surgery includes age, performance status and comorbidity factors. Adjuvant chemotherapy combining Platinum salts and Etoposide for resected stage I tumours is recommended by ASCO, ACCP and NCCN. The precise sequence of neo-adjuvant or adjuvant treatments remains controversial because of the large heterogeneity in clinical practice reported in the studies and the context at the time of SCLC discovery. The 5-year survival rate of patients with early stage disease (pT1-2N0M0) treated by lobectomy and adjuvant chemotherapy is between 30% and 58%, which validates the primary place that surgery must have in these early forms. There is certainly little or even no place for such a therapeutic sequence in locally advanced stages (T3-T4 or N2). However, the stage heterogeneity, as in NSCLC, makes final conclusions difficult. In fact, some registry studies with pairing scores reported a median survival of more than 20 months in N2 SCLC. So, all files of SCLC must be evaluated in a multidisciplinary meeting in order to find the optimal solution for patients with rare and heterogeneous tumours.

Efficacy and Safety of Niraparib as Maintenance Treatment in Patients With Extensive-Stage SCLC After First-Line Chemotherapy: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Phase 3 Study

INTRODUCTION

ZL-2306-005 is a randomized, double-blind, multicenter phase 3 study evaluating the efficacy and safety of niraparib, a poly(adenosine diphosphate-ribose) polymerase inhibitor, as first-line maintenance therapy in Chinese patients with platinum-responsive, extensive-stage SCLC (ES-SCLC).

METHODS

Patients with complete response (CR) or partial response (PR) to standardized, platinum-based first-line chemotherapy were randomized 2:1 to receive niraparib or placebo (300 mg [baseline body weight ≥ 77 kg, platelet count ≥ 150,000/μL] or 200 mg) once daily until progression or unacceptable toxicity. Primary end points were progression-free survival (PFS) (blinded independent central review) and overall survival (sample size planned: 591 patients). Secondary end points included investigator-evaluated PFS and safety.

RESULTS

ZL-2306-005 was terminated early owing to ES-SCLC treatment landscape changes (data cutoff: March 20, 2020). During July 2018-February 2020, a total of 185 of 272 patients screened were randomized (niraparib: n = 125 [CR = 1, PR = 124]; placebo: n = 60 [CR = 1, PR = 59]). Median (95% confidence interval [CI]) PFS (blinded independent central review) was 1.54 months (1.41-2.69, niraparib) and 1.36 months (1.31-1.48, placebo); hazard ratio (HR) = 0.66 (95% CI: 0.46-0.95, p = 0.0242). Median overall survival was 9.92 months (9.33-13.54, niraparib) and 11.43 months (9.53-not estimable, placebo); HR = 1.03 (95% CI: 0.62-1.73, p = 0.9052). Median investigator-evaluated PFS was 1.48 months (1.41-2.56, niraparib) and 1.41 months (1.31-2.00, placebo); HR = 0.88 (95% CI: 0.61-1.26; p = 0.4653). Grade greater than or equal to 3 adverse events occurred in 34.4% (niraparib) and 25.0% (placebo) of patients.

CONCLUSIONS

ZL-2306-005 did not reach primary end points. Nevertheless, niraparib as maintenance therapy modestly improved PFS in patients with platinum-responsive ES-SCLC, with acceptable tolerability profile and no new safety signal.

Immune Check Point Inhibitors and Immune-Related Adverse Events in Small Cell Lung Cancer

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is a malignant solid tumor. In recent years, although immune check point inhibitors (ICIs) have achieved important advances in the treatment of SCLC, immune-related adverse events (irAEs) have occurred at the same time during the therapeutic period. Some irAEs lead to dose reduction or treatment rejection. The immune microenvironment of SCLC is complicated, therefore, understanding irAEs associated with ICIs is of great importance and necessity for the clinical management of SCLC. However, the lack of comprehensive understanding of irAEs in patients with SCLC remains remarkable. This review aims to provide an up-to-date overview of ICIs and their associated irAEs in patients with SCLC based on present clinical data.

Anlotinib-containing regimen for advanced small-cell lung cancer: A protocol of meta-analysis

Background

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is a highly malignant lung cancer with a very poor prognosis. Clinical treatment options for SCLC are still limited, especially for patients who have failed first or second line therapy. Anlotinib is a potentially beneficial new treatment option for SCLC. The aim of this meta-analysis is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of anlotinib-containing regimen for the treatment of SCLC.

Methods

We will search SinoMed, Wanfang Database, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Embase, Cochrane Library, and PubMed for relevant articles that may meet the criteria published before March 31, 2021. We will perform a meta-analysis to evaluate the efficacy and safety of anlotinib-containing regimen for the treatment of SCLC. Clinical randomized controlled trials comparing anlotinib-containing regimens with other treatment regimens for advanced SCLC will be included in this study. The risk of bias will be evaluated for each included study using the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions. We will use RevMan 5.3 software for statistical analysis of the data.

Results

The results of this study will provide evidence of anlotinib-containing regimens for advanced SCLC, and provide clinicians and patients with another convenient and effective treatment regimen for SCLC. This meta-analysis will be submitted to a peer-reviewed journal for publication.

Conclusion

This meta-analysis will provide clinical evidence of anlotinib-containing regimens for advanced SCLC, which may or may not be found for anlotinib use.

Systematic review registration

INPLASY202110034.

Novel Cytotoxic Chemotherapies in Small Cell Lung Carcinoma

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is one of the deadliest thoracic neoplasms, in part due to its fast doubling time and early metastatic spread. Historically, cytotoxic chemotherapy consisting of platinum-etoposide or anthracycline-based regimens has demonstrated a high response rate, but early chemoresistance leads to a poor prognosis in advanced SCLC. Only a fraction of patients with limited-disease can be cured by chemo-radiotherapy. Given the disappointing survival rates in advanced SCLC, new cytotoxic agents are eagerly awaited. Unfortunately, few novel chemotherapy drugs have been developed in the latest decades. This review describes the results and potential application in the clinical practice of novel chemotherapy agents for SCLC.

Comparative Efficacy and Safety of Immunotherapeutic Regimens with PD-1/PD-L1 Inhibitors for Previously Untreated Extensive-Stage Small Cell Lung Cancer: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis

Improving therapeutic strategies for extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC) remains a challenge. To date, no reports have directly compared the efficacy and safety of immune checkpoint inhibitors plus platinum–etoposide (ICIs+EP) with platinum–irinotecan (IP) or directly compared different ICIs+EP for previously untreated ES-SCLC. This study used a Bayesian approach for network meta-analysis to compare efficacy and safety between ICIs+EP and IP and between each pair of three ICIs+EP. The six treatment arms were: pembrolizumab plus platinum–etoposide (Pem+EP), durvalumab plus platinum–etoposide (Dur+EP), atezolizumab plus platinum–etoposide (Atz+EP), platinum–amrubicin (AP), IP, and platinum–etoposide (EP). No significant differences in overall survival were observed between ICIs+EP and IP and between each pair of three ICIs+EP. The incidence of ≥grade 3 adverse events (G3-AEs) was significantly higher in ICIs+EP than IP, whereas no significant difference was found in G3-AEs between each pair of three ICIs+EP. The incidence of ≥grade 3 neutropenia and thrombocytopenia was significantly higher in ICIs+EP than IP, whereas the incidence of ≥grade 3 diarrhea was significantly lower in ICIs+EP than IP. These findings will help clinicians better select treatment strategies for ES-SCLC.

Current Status and Future Perspectives of Liquid Biopsy in Small Cell Lung Cancer

Approximately 19% of all cancer-related deaths are due to lung cancer, which is the leading cause of mortality worldwide. Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) affects approximately 15% of patients diagnosed with lung cancer. SCLC is characterized by aggressiveness; the majority of SCLC patients present with metastatic disease, and less than 5% of patients are alive at 5 years. The gold standard of SCLC treatment is platinum and etoposide-based chemotherapy; however, its effects are short. In recent years, treatment for SCLC has changed; new drugs have been approved, and new biomarkers are needed for treatment selection. Liquid biopsy is a non-invasive, rapid, repeated and alternative tool to the traditional tumor biopsy that could allow the most personalized medicine into the management of SCLC patients. Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) and cell-free DNA (cfDNA) are the most commonly used liquid biopsy biomarkers. Some studies have reported the prognostic factors of CTCs and cfDNA in SCLC patients, independent of the stage. In this review, we summarize the recent SCLC studies of CTCs, cfDNA and other liquid biopsy biomarkers, and we discuss the future utility of liquid biopsy in the clinical management of SCLC.

Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in Combination with Chemotherapy as a First-Line Therapy for Extensive-Stage Small Cell Carcinoma

Patients with extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (ED-SCLC) have a very short survival time even if they receive standard cytotoxic chemotherapy with etoposide and platinum (EP). Several randomized controlled trials have shown that patients with ED-SCLC who received a combination of EP plus immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) had superior survival compared with those who received EP alone. We conducted a systematic review and network meta-analysis to provide a ranking of ICIs for our primary endpoints in terms of overall survival (OS), progression free survival (PFS), and objective response rate (ORR), as well as our secondary endpoint in terms of adverse events. The fractional polynomial model was used to evaluate the adjusted hazard ratios for the survival indicators (OS and PFS). Treatment rank was estimated using the surface under the cumulative ranking curve (SUCRA), as well as the probability of being best (Prbest) reference. EP plus nivolumab, atezolizumab or durvalumab had significant benefits compared with EP alone in terms of OS (Hazard Ratio HR = 0.67, 95% Confidence Interval CI = 0.46-0.98 for nivolumab, HR = 0.70, 95% CI = 0.54-0.91 for atezolizumab, HR = 0.73, 95% CI = 0.59-0.90 for durvalumab) but no significant differences were observed for pembrolizumab or ipilimumab. The probability of nivolumab being ranked first among all treatment arms was highest (SCURA = 78.7%, Prbest = 46.7%). All EP plus ICI combinations had a longer PFS compared with EP alone (HR = 0.65, 95% CI = 0.46-0.92 for nivolumab, HR = 0.77, 95% CI = 0.61-0.96 for atezolizumab, HR = 0.78, 95% CI = 0.65-0.94 for durvalumab, HR = 0.75, 95% CI = 0.61-0.92 for pembrolizumab), and nivolumab was ranked first in terms of PFS (SCURA = 85.0%, Prbest = 66.8%). In addition, nivolumab had the highest probability of grade 3-4 adverse events (SUCRA = 84.8%) in our study. We found that nivolumab had the best PFS and OS in all combinations of ICIs and EP, but nivolumab also had the highest probability of grade 3-4 adverse events in our network meta-analysis. Further head-to head large-scale phase III randomized controlled studies are needed to verify our conclusions.