Efficacy of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Monotherapy for Advanced Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer with ALK Rearrangement

It might be a dead end: immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy in EGFR-mutated NSCLC

Despite innovative advances in molecular targeted therapy, treatment strategies using immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) for epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-mutant non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) have not progressed significantly. Accumulating evidence suggests that ICI chemotherapy is inadequate in this population. Biomarkers of ICI therapy, such as programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), are not biomarkers in patients with EGFR mutations, and the specificity of the tumor microenvironment has been suggested as the reason for this. Combination therapy with PD-L1 and cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4 (CTLA-4) inhibitors is a concern because of its severe toxicity and limited efficacy. However, early-stage NSCLC may differ from advanced-stage NSCLC. In this review, we comprehensively review the current evidence and summarize the potential of ICI therapy in patients with EGFR mutations after acquiring resistance to treatment with EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) with no T790M mutation or whose disease has progressed on osimertinib.

Outcome of non-small-cell lung cancer with driven mutations treated with anti-PD-(L)1 agents: A systematic review

Patients whose tumours harbour epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), and anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) driver mutations can benefit most from treatment with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). Most trials with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) included few patients whose tumour had oncogenic driver alterations. We therefore performed a meta-analysis of studies reporting the activity of ICIs in oncogene addicted NSCLC. A comprehensive search of MEDLINE, The Cochrane Library and EMBASE was conducted to identify relevant studies published up to 31 January 2021. The primary outcomes were median overall survival (OS); the secondary endpoints were progression-free survival and overall response rate (PFS and ORR). Overall, 46 studies were screened and selected for final analysis. The pooled ORR was 14.5% (95% CI 9.6-21.2%). The median pooled PFS in EGFR/ALK mutated cases was 3.9 months (95% CI 3-5.2 months). Median pooled OS was 10.7 months (95% CI 9.2-12.5 months). All registration trials in second line did not show any benefit of immunotherapy for the subgroup of patients with EGFR-mutated or ALK-rearranged tumours. The unsatisfied benefit of immunotherapy in oncogene-addicted tumours has been debated and is mainly due to the lower mutation burden of these neoplasms. Our data do not support the use of immunotherapy in the setting of oncogene actionable tumours. More data are needed to confirm or reject the benefit of the combination of TKIs with ICIs.

Thyroid transcription factor-1 (TTF-1) expression and the efficacy of combination therapy with immune checkpoint inhibitors and cytotoxic chemotherapy in non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer

Background

Thyroid transcription factor-1 (TTF-1) is expressed in approximately 70% of lung adenocarcinomas and is one of the most reliable makers to distinguish primary lung adenocarcinoma from metastatic disease. TTF-1-negative status is a poor prognostic factor, and TTF-1-negative lung adenocarcinoma is associated with poor efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) monotherapy. However, the relationship between TTF-1 expression and the efficacy of ICI plus chemotherapy is still unclear.

Methods

We performed a retrospective analysis of 129 consecutive patients with advanced non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer (NS-NSCLC) treated with ICI monotherapy or ICI plus chemotherapy between January 2016 and December 2021. The expression of programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1) and TTF-1 was also determined in cases for which no previous data were available. We then evaluated the association between TTF-1 expression status and treatment efficacy.

Results

Of the 129 cases, 33 were TTF-1-negative and 96 were positive. In the ICI monotherapy group (N=70), progression-free survival (PFS) was not significantly different between TTF-1-positive and negative patients (median 3.6 vs. 3.8 months, P=0.27); however, in patients with wild-type epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK), a trend for worse PFS was observed in TTF-1-negative cases compared with those that were TTF-1-positive (median 3.8 vs. 4.5 months, P=0.088). Moreover, long-term efficacy of ICI monotherapy (>2 years) was not observed in the TTF-1-negative group. TTF-1-negative patients tended to have worse overall survival (OS) than TTF-1-positive patients (median 15.6 vs. 19.5 months, P=0.13). In the ICI plus chemotherapy group (N=59), TTF-1-negative patients tended to have better PFS and similar OS compared with TTF-1-positive patients (median 9.9 vs. 9.6 months, P=0.14; median 32.3 vs. 18.9 months, P=0.78). Long-term efficacy was generally observed in TTF-1-negative patients treated with atezolizumab plus bevacizumab plus carboplatin plus paclitaxel (ABCP) (median PFS 22.5 months, median OS not reached).

Conclusions

ICI monotherapy is generally less efficacious in TTF-1-negative NS-NSCLC patients, and clinicians should consider ICI plus chemotherapy in these cases. Our study suggests that ABCP is an optimal regimen for TTF-1-negative NS-NSCLC.

Management of Oncogene Driven Locally Advanced Unresectable Non-small Cell Lung Cancer

INTRODUCTION

The current standard of care of locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (LA-NSCLC) is concurrent chemoradiation, followed by consolidation durvalumab. However, there is evidence that the efficacy of chemoradiation and also immunotherapy in many oncogene-positive LA-NSCLC are attenuated, and dependent on the subgroup.

AREAS COVERED

We will firstly review the outcomes of standard-of-care therapy in oncogene-driven LA-NSCLC. We looked at various oncogene driven subgroups and the tumor microenvironment that may explain differential response. Finally, we review the role of targeted therapy in the treatment of LA-NSCLC.

EXPERT OPINION

Each oncogene-positive subgroup should be treated as its own entity, and continued efforts should be undertaken to incorporate targeted therapy, which is likely to yield superior survival outcomes if trial design can be optimized and toxicities can be managed.

Remarkable Clinical Response of ALK-Rearranged/TP53-Mutant Lung Adenocarcinoma with Liver Metastasis to Atezolizumab-Bevacizumab-Carboplatin-Paclitaxel After ALK Inhibitors: A Case Report

Anaplastic lymphoma kinase-positive (ALK-positive) lung adenocarcinoma with multiple liver metastases accounts for a relatively small number of cases of non-small cell lung cancer. Several ALK-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (ALK-TKIs) are available for the treatment of lung cancer. However, there is limited evidence on the treatment of multiple liver metastases in patients with lung cancer that are refractory to ALK-TKIs. We report the case of a 42-year-old male patient with ALK-positive lung adenocarcinoma who experienced rapid progression to multiple liver metastases while receiving treatment with alectinib. Biopsy of the liver metastases revealed echinoderm microtubule-associated protein-like 4-ALK (EML4-ALK) fusion and tumor protein p53 (TP53) mutation; notably, ALK secondary mutations were not detected. Despite the sequential administration of third-generation ALK-TKIs, the liver metastases did not respond, the serum levels of total bilirubin and biliary enzymes continued to increase, and the patient's general appearance worsened. Finally, the patient exhibited a remarkable clinical response to treatment with a combination of atezolizumab, bevacizumab, carboplatin, and paclitaxel (ABCP). ABCP is one of the optimal options for ALK-positive lung cancer with liver metastasis that is refractory to ALK-TKIs therapy.

Heterogeneity of tumor immune microenvironment of EGFR/ALK-positive tumors versus EGFR/ALK-negative tumors in resected brain metastases from lung adenocarcinoma

BACKGROUND

Previous studies found that lung adenocarcinomas (LUAD) with EGFR-positive and ALK-positive were less responsive to immunotherapy, which may be associated with a suppressive tumor immune microenvironment (TIME). Given the discordance in the TIME between primary lung cancer and brain metastasis, it is urgent to explore the TIME in patients with EGFR/ALK-positive LUAD with brain metastases (BMs).

METHODS

The transcriptome feature of formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded samples of BMs and paired primary LUAD from 70 patients with LUAD BMs was illustrated by RNA-sequencing. Six of them were available for paired sample analysis. Then, after excluding 3 co-occurring patients, we divided 67 BMs patients into 41 EGFR/ALK-positive and 26 EGFR/ALK-negative patients. The differences in immune profiling between the two groups were analyzed from three dimensions: TIME, T-cell receptor repertoire, and immunohistochemistry. Finally, the survival data of 55 patients were collected.

RESULTS

Compared with primary LUAD, BMs present an immunosuppressed TIME, manifested as: inhibition of immune-related pathways; low expression of immune checkpoint; decreased infiltration of CD8+T cells and cytotoxic lymphocyte; increased proportion of suppressive M2 macrophages. In different subgroups based on EGFR/ALK gene variation status, both EGFR-positive and ALK-positive tumors present a relatively immunosuppressive microenvironment, but the heterogeneity of tumor microenvironment may undergo different mechanisms. EGFR-positive BMs showed decreased CD8+T cells and increased regulatory T cells (Treg) cells, while ALK-positive BMs showed decreased CD8+T cells and increased M2 macrophages. Moreover, in the TCGA-LUAD cohort, EGFR-positive tumors showed reduced CD8+T cell infiltrations (p<0.001) and borderline significantly higher Tregs than EGFR/ALK-negative (p=0.072). In parallel, ALK-positive tumors had higher median M2 macrophages infiltrations than EGFR/ALK-negative (p=0.175), although there was no statistical significance. Collectively, there was a similar immunosuppressive milieu between EGFR/ALK-positive primary LUAD and BMs. Moreover, survival analysis uncovered higher CD8A expression, cytotoxic lymphocyte infiltration, and immune scores were significantly associated with better prognosis in both EGFR/ALK-positive and EGFR/ALK-negative groups.

CONCLUSION

This study found that LUAD-derived BMs exhibited an immunosuppressive TIME and revealed that EGFR-positive and ALK-positive BMs exhibited different immunosuppressive characteristics. Meanwhile, EGFR-negative BMs showed a potential benefit to immunotherapy. These findings boost molecular and clinical understanding of LUAD BMs.

Advances in artificial intelligence to predict cancer immunotherapy efficacy

Tumor immunotherapy, particularly the use of immune checkpoint inhibitors, has yielded impressive clinical benefits. Therefore, it is critical to accurately screen individuals for immunotherapy sensitivity and forecast its efficacy. With the application of artificial intelligence (AI) in the medical field in recent years, an increasing number of studies have indicated that the efficacy of immunotherapy can be better anticipated with the help of AI technology to reach precision medicine. This article focuses on the current prediction models based on information from histopathological slides, imaging-omics, genomics, and proteomics, and reviews their research progress and applications. Furthermore, we also discuss the existing challenges encountered by AI in the field of immunotherapy, as well as the future directions that need to be improved, to provide a point of reference for the early implementation of AI-assisted diagnosis and treatment systems in the future.

Case report: anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) rearranged adenocarcinoma with high level of microsatellite instability response to pembrolizumab

The presence of anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) rearrangement is reported to be related to the lack of efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). High levels of microsatellite instability (MSI-high) are important biomarkers of ICIs, particularly in colorectal cancer. The therapeutic effect of ICIs for MSI-high NSCLC is uncertain because of the rarity of these tumors. Here we report a case of ALK rearranged NSCLC with MSI-high. A 48-year-old male was diagnosed with lung adenocarcinoma, cT4N3M1a, stage IVA with ALK rearrangement, high PD-L1 expression with a tumor proportion score (TPS) of 100%, and MSI-high. The patient was treated with alectinib as the first-line therapy but progressed at five months with left atrial invasion re-expansion. The patient discontinued alectinib and was switched to pembrolizumab monotherapy. After two months, left atrial invasion significantly decreased. The patient continued pembrolizumab for a year without noticeable adverse events, and tumor shrinkage persisted. This case supports the efficacy of ICIs for MSI-high NSCLC, even in the presence of ALK rearrangement.

Evaluation of clinicopathological features determining treatment response in patients with ALK mutant NSCLC

ALK (anaplastic lymphoma kinase) inhibitors may be used to treat patients with ALK mutant metastatic nonsmall cell cancer (NSCLC). This study aimed to investigate the factors affecting the patients response to treatment with ALK-positive metastatic NSCLC. Data of the patients were investigated retrospectively. Binary regression analysis was performed to evaluate response predictors of treatment. Furthermore, we determined the cut-off value of the ALK-positivity for objective response to the therapy using ROC analysis. A total of 68 patients were included in the research. The median overall survival was observed 39.2 months. The overall response rate was 66.2%. The ratio of ALK positivity (P = .02), gender (P = .04), and the total number of metastatic sites (P = .02) all were detected as predictors of the response to ALK inhibitor in binary regression analysis. ALK inhibitor type (P = .56), primary tumor location (P = .35), pathological subtype (P = .68), de-novo metastatic disease (P = .28), and age (P = .94) were not predictive indicators for response. The cut-off level of ALK positivity was found to be 33% in patients with an objective response. The real-life effectiveness of ALK inhibitors in NSCLC patients with ALK mutations was shown in this research. We determined that having less than 3 metastatic sites, having a high ALK positivity ratio, and being female were all good predictors of ALK inhibitor response.

Efficacy and safety of immune checkpoint inhibitors in post-TKI NSCLC patients harboring EGFR mutations

OBJECTIVE

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have been validated in epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) wild-type advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. However, there exists no evidence regarding NSCLC patients harboring EGFR mutations, experiencing EGFR-TKI (tyrosine kinase inhibitor) treatment failure. We collected clinical information from real world and conducted a time series-based meta-analysis to determine the efficacy and safety of ICIs in patients harboring EGFR mutations and experienced EGFR-TKIs resistance.

METHODS

Twenty-two NSCLC patients with EGFR mutations after TKI resistance were included from two hospitals. PubMed, Embase and Cochrane Library were searched for relevant literature published until December 31, 2021. Endpoint outcomes included mortality and progression-free survival (PFS) at different times of follow-up.

RESULTS

In total, 22 patients showed that the median PFS was 5.6 months (range 2.0-9.0 months). According to treatment strategies, the median PFS was 2.4 months (range 2.0-5.3 months) in the ICI monotherapy group and 5.9 months (range 2.8-9.0 months) in the ICI combined Chemotherapy group. Additionally, sixteen studies, including 5 trials, 10 controlled cohorts and 1 real-world study, were assessed, involving a total of ICI-treated NSCLC patients with EGFR mutation after TKI failure. The 6-month survival and PFS rate were 0.82 (95% CI 0.36-0.97) and 0.55 (95% CI 0.34-0.74), respectively. ICI combined chemotherapy showed the best survival outcome among these groups, as demonstrated by the 12-month survival rate and PFS. No new safety signals were identified with the combination therapy. The frequency of treatment-related adverse events was similar to that in previously reported studies of chemotherapy combined with checkpoint inhibitors.

CONCLUSIONS

The addition of ICIs plus chemotherapy may significantly improve progression-free survival among patients with locally advanced or metastatic non-squamous NSCLC who EGFR-TKIs resistance.

Efficacy and Safety of Low-Dose Nab-Paclitaxel Plus Tislelizumab in Elderly Patients With Previously Treated Metastatic Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

The combination of immunotherapy and chemotherapy has a synergic effect in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, the elderly are often excluded from clinical trails due to their poor health status and more comorbidities. We sought to assess the efficacy and safety of low-dose nanoparticle albumin-bound paclitaxel (nab-paclitaxel) plus tislelizumab (an anti-PD-1 antibody) in elderly patients with advanced NSCLC. In this phase 2 clinical trail, eligible patients were those aged ≥65 years with metastatic NSCLC who had disease progression after treatment with ≥1 line of chemotherapy or targeted therapy. Patients with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) or anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) variations were eligible if they demonstrated disease progression after treatment with ≥1 corresponding inhibitor. Primary endpoints were progression-free survival and safety/tolerability. Secondary endpoints included objective response rate and overall survival. Among 29 patients enrolled from May 2019 through August 2020, 21 (72.4%) had adenocarcinoma, 17 (58.6%) had a performance status of 2, 8 (27.6%) had asymptomatic brain metastases, and 13 (44.8%) had EGFR/ALK variations. As of the data cutoff point on April 1, 2021, median progression-free survival and overall survival were 9.5 months and 16.5 months, respectively. Ten patients achieved a partial response (objective response rate of 34.5%). Seventeen (58.6%) patients had ≥1 treatment-related adverse event, with grade 3 events seen in 3 patients (10.3%). The most common adverse events were fatigue (20.7%), fever (17.2%), abnormal liver function (17.2%), and rash (17.2%). These results suggest that low-dose nab-paclitaxel plus tislelizumab is well tolerated and effective in elderly patients with advanced NSCLC, including those with EGFR/ALK variations.

Predictive Markers for Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have dramatically improved the outcomes of non-small cell lung cancer patients and have increased the possibility of long-term survival. However, few patients benefit from ICIs, and no predictive biomarkers other than tumor programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression have been established. Hence, the identification of biomarkers is an urgent issue. This review outlines the current understanding of predictive markers for the efficacy of ICIs, including PD-L1, tumor mutation burden, DNA mismatch repair deficiency, microsatellite instability, CD8+ tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes, human leukocyte antigen class I, tumor/specific genotype, and blood biomarkers such as peripheral T-cell phenotype, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, interferon-gamma, and interleukin-8. A tremendous number of biomarkers are in development, but individual biomarkers are insufficient. Tissue biomarkers have issues in reproducibility and accuracy because of intratumoral heterogeneity and biopsy invasiveness. Furthermore, blood biomarkers have difficulty in reflecting the tumor microenvironment and therefore tend to be less predictive for the efficacy of ICIs than tissue samples. In addition to individual biomarkers, the development of composite markers, including novel technologies such as machine learning and high-throughput analysis, may make it easier to comprehensively analyze multiple biomarkers.

Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Progress, Challenges, and Prospects

Non-small cell lung cancer is one of the most common types of malignances worldwide and the main cause of cancer-related deaths. Current treatment for NSCLC is based on surgical resection, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and targeted therapy, with poor therapeutic effectiveness. In recent years, immune checkpoint inhibitors have applied in NSCLC treatment. A large number of experimental studies have shown that immune checkpoint inhibitors are safer and more effective than traditional therapeutic modalities and have allowed for the development of better guidance in the clinical treatment of advanced NSCLC patients. In this review, we describe clinical trials using ICI immunotherapies for NSCLC treatment, the available data on clinical efficacy, and the emerging evidence regarding biomarkers.

Case Report: Complete Response to Nivolumab in a Patient With Programmed Cell Death 1 Ligand 1-Positive and Multiple Gene-Driven Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor-Resistant Lung Adenocarcinoma

Multiple gene-driven programmed cell death 1 ligand 1 (PD-L1)-expressing non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is very rare. Previous studies have shown that patients with NSCLC with anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) gene rearrangement rarely benefit from PD-L1 inhibitors. Besides the secondary mutations in ALK gene, other mechanisms might contribute to tumor resistance to ALK tyrosine kinase inhibitors (ALK-TKIs). Herein, we present a case of PD-L1-overexpressing lung adenocarcinoma that harbors both EML4-ALK gene rearrangement and BRAF mutation. In particular, a second molecular analysis after resistance to first- and second-generation ALK-TKIs revealed a high PD-L1 expression and tumor mutation burden. Therefore, treatment with nivolumab monotherapy, an anti-PD-1 inhibitor, was started and the patient achieved complete remission. This case report suggested that PD-1 inhibitors might be an effective treatment option for patients with multiple gene-driven PD-L1-expressing NSCLC harboring ALK gene rearrangement.

Immunotherapy in EGFR-Mutant and ALK-Positive Lung Cancer: Implications for Oncogene-Driven Lung Cancer

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is a heterogeneous disease, commonly defined by genetic alterations in oncogenic drivers. Targeted therapies have transformed the management of oncogene-driven lung cancers, with targeted agents now approved in the United States for 7 distinct molecular alterations. Nonetheless, acquired resistance remains an ongoing challenge, underscoring the need for alternative therapeutic approaches. Immune checkpoint inhibitors targeting the programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) axis have emerged as important therapies in the management of advanced NSCLC, but the role of these agents in patients with oncogenic driver mutations remains unclear. Here, we focus on epidermal growth factor receptor-mutant and anaplastic lymphoma kinase-rearranged NSCLC as paradigms to explore the role of immune checkpoint inhibitors in oncogene-driven NSCLC. We provide an overview of the clinical data examining programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) inhibitor monotherapy, PD-(L)1 inhibitors, and tyrosine kinase inhibitor combinations, as well as combinations of PD-(L)1 inhibitors and chemotherapy.

Survival benefit of immune checkpoint inhibitor monotherapy in patients with non-small cell lung cancer recurrence after completely pulmonary resection

Background

Selected patients in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) responded to the treatment of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have the survival benefit for advanced stages or metastatic status.

Methods

We investigated whether a response to ICI monotherapy since 2016 influences the survival of NSCLC patients with recurrence after completely pulmonary resection between 2009 and 2017. Disease control rate (DCR) was calculated as complete plus partial response plus stable disease during more than 6 months.

Results

Thirty-five patients (mean age 67 years, range 46–79 years, 60% male) were included in the study. The most frequent histology and pathological stage were adenocarcinoma (60%) and IIB (45.7%), respectively. ICI was used at a median of second-line treatment. The DCR and median progression-free survival were 42.8% and 2.5 (95% CI: 1.6–3.4) months, respectively. The therapeutic outcome from recurrence was 47.5%. Multivariate analysis revealed a significant impact of DCR on favorable therapeutic outcome (P=0.04). A serial increase (pre- to post-surgery to ICI initiation) of C-reactive protein (CRP) and prognostic nutritional index (PNI) was associated with treatment response (both P=0.01).

Conclusions

These results suggest that a response to ICI monotherapy significantly contributes to a survival benefit regardless of therapeutic lines in NSCLC patients with recurrence after completely pulmonary resection, and the therapeutic response is strongly associated with a serial increase in CRP or decrease in prognostic nutritional index.

A case of remarkable response to atezolizumab in ALK-translocated metastatic lung adenocarcinoma

The development of resistance to tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) in metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with oncogenic driver mutations highlights the challenge in improving the survival of these patients. The standard of care for ALK-rearranged advanced NSCLC refractory to various generations of ALK TKIs falls back to the use of chemotherapy and the prognosis remains poor. We report the case of a 41-year-old lady with an ALK-translocated metastatic lung adenocarcinoma, who demonstrated good response to an immune checkpoint inhibitor, atezolizumab in combination with bevacizumab and chemotherapy (pemetrexed and carboplatin), following disease progression on three generations of ALK TKIs. Six months into treatment, she continues to show improvement in her health-related quality of life and is tolerating treatment well. Our case suggests that this treatment regimen is a potential treatment option for TKI-refractory driver-mutated NSCLC.

Immunotherapy and Vaccination in Surgically Resectable Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC)

Early-stage NSCLC (stages I and II, and some IIIA diseases) accounts for approximately 30% of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cases, with surgery being its main treatment modality. The risk of disease recurrence and cancer-related death, however, remains high among NSCLC patients after complete surgical resection. In previous studies on the long-term follow-up of post-operative NSCLC, the results showed that the five-year survival rate was about 65% for stage IB and about 35% for stage IIIA diseases. Platinum-based chemotherapy with or without radiation therapy has been used as a neoadjuvant therapy or post-operative adjuvant therapy in NSCLC, but the improvement of survival is limited. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have effectively improved the 5-year survival of advanced NSCLC patients. Cancer vaccination has also been explored and used in the prevention of cancer or reducing disease recurrence in resected NSCLC. Here, we review studies that have focused on the use of immunotherapies (i.e., ICIs and vaccination) in surgically resectable NSCLC. We present the results of completed clinical trials that have used ICIs as neoadjuvant therapies in pre-operative NSCLC. Ongoing clinical trials investigating ICIs as neoadjuvant and adjuvant therapies are also summarized.

Effectiveness and safety of immunotherapy in NSCLC patients with ECOG PS score ≥2 - Systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are standard of care in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), however their status in patients with poor performance status (PS) is poorly defined. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of ICIs in NSCLC patients with PS ≥ 2.

METHODS

We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of interventional and observational studies, which reported efficacy and safety data on ICIs in PS ≥ 2 comparing to PS ≤ 1 NSCLC patients. Efficacy endpoints included: Objective Response Rate (ORR), Disease-Control Rate (DCR), Overall Survival (OS), Progression-Free Survival (PFS). Safety endpoint was the incidence of severe (grade≥3) Adverse Events (AE). Random-effects model was applied for meta-analysis. Heterogeneity was assessed using I². The review is registered on PROSPERO (CRD42020162668).

FINDINGS

Sixty-seven studies (n = 26,442 patients) were included. In PS ≥ 2 vs. PS ≤ 1 patients, the pooled odds ratios were: for ORR 0.46 (95 %CI: 0.39-0.54, I²:0 %); for DCR 0.39 (95 %CI: 0.33-0.48, I²:50 %) and for AEs 1.12 (95 %CI: 0.84-1.48, I²:39 %). The pooled hazard ratio for PFS was 2.17 (95 %CI: 1.96-2.39, I²:65 %) and for OS was 2.76 (95 %CI: 2.43-3.14, I²:76 %). The safety profile was comparable regardless of the PS status.

INTERPRETATION

Patients with impaired PS status are, on average, twice less likely to achieve a response when exposed to ICIs when compared with representative PS ≤ 1 population. For lung cancer patients treated with ICIs, the impaired PS is not only prognostic, but also predictive for response, while the safety profile is not affected. Prospective randomized studies are indispensable to determine whether poor PS patients derive benefit from ICIs.

Clinical Guideline-Guided Outcome Consistency for Surgically Resected Stage III Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: A Retrospective Study

Clinical guidelines can help reduce the use of inappropriate therapeutics due to localism and individual clinician perspectives. Nevertheless, despite the intention of clinical guidelines to achieve survival benefit or desirable outcomes, they cannot ensure a robust outcome. This retrospective study aimed to investigate whether guideline-consistency, including adjuvant treatments after surgical resection (ATSR) and guideline-matched first-line treatment for recurrence (GMT-R), according to the genomic profiles and immune status, could influence overall survival (OS). From 2006 to 2017, the clinical data of 308 patients with stage III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) after surgical resection were evaluated. ATSR and GMT-R were allowed in 164 (53.2%) and 129 (62.3%) patients cases after surgical pulmonary resection, among which 207 (67.2%) recurrences were identified. The 5-year OS in guideline-consistent cases was significantly better than that in guideline-inconsistent cases (p < 0.01). Subgroup analyses further showed that the 5-year OS after propensity adjustment was significantly better in guideline-consistent than in guideline-inconsistent cases (p < 0.01), but not in either ATSR or GMT-R (p = 0.24). These data suggest that the guideline-consistent alternatives, which comprise ATSR or GMT-R, can contribute to survival benefits in pathological stage III NSCLC. However, only either ATSR or GMT-R has a potential survival benefit in these patients.

Tumor Mutation Burden and Differentially Mutated Genes Among Immune Phenotypes in Patients with Lung Adenocarcinoma

Introduction

Nowadays, immune checkpoint blockades (ICBs) have been extensively applied in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treatment. However, the outcome of anti-program death-1/program death ligand-1 (anti-PD-1/PD-L1) therapy is not satisfying in EGFR-mutant lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) patients and its exact mechanisms have not been fully understood. Since tumor mutation burden (TMB) and tumor immune phenotype had been thought as potential predictors for efficacy of ICBs, we further studied the TMB and immune phenotype in LUAD patients to explore potential mechanisms for poor efficacy of ICBs in EGFR positive mutated patients and to find possible factors that could impact the tumor immune phenotype which might uncover some new therapeutic strategies or combination therapies.

Methods

We enrolled 223 LUAD patients who underwent surgery in our hospital. We evaluated TMB through targeted panel sequencing. The tumor immune phenotype, which could be divided into non-inflamed, intermediate and inflamed, was determined through immunohistochemistry using formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded samples. Enumeration data were analyzed by Chi-square test or Fisher exact test and shown as number (proportion). Logistic regression model was employed for univariate and multivariate analysis of the association between TMB levels and clinical characteristics.

Results

The median TMB level was 4.0445 mutations/Mb. Multivariate analysis showed the TMB level was significantly associated with age (P=0.026), gender (P=0.041) and EGFR mutation status (P=0.015), and in EGFR-mutant patients we found a lower proportion of patients with mutated KRAS and BRCA2. Furthermore, we found patients with or without metastatic lesions would have different immune phenotype (P=0.007). And the mutational frequencies of ALK, CDKN2A, MAP2K1, IDH2 and PTEN were significantly different among three immune phenotypes.

Conclusion

Low TMB level could be the reason for the poor efficacy of ICBs in patients having EGFR mutation. And mutational frequencies of KRAS and BRCA2 were lower in EGFR-mutant patients. Furthermore, ALK, CDKN2A, MAP2K1, IDH2 and PTEN might involve in the formation of immune phenotypes.

Alectinib for Miliary Lung Metastasis in ALK-Positive Lung Adenocarcinoma

Background

Miliary pulmonary metastasis characterized by tiny nodules is a rare metastatic pattern in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and is usually seen in patients harboring an EGFR mutation, and amylase-producing lung cancer is highly uncommon and rarely reported in NSCLC patients who have an EGFR mutation.

Case

A 32-year-old Japanese female was found to have miliary pulmonary nodules throughout both lung fields on a chest x-ray examination during an annual health check-up. Further examination by computed tomography (CT) revealed diffuse, bilateral, miliary nodules. Blood tests showed no increased tumor marker levels, but there was a significantly increased serum amylase level. A diagnosis of ALK-rearranged adenocarcinoma was made based on the results of a mediastinal lymph node biopsy obtained by endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA). Treatment with alectinib resulted in rapid regression of the CT shadows and a reduction in the patient’s serum amylase level.

Conclusion

We have reported a case of ALK-rearranged NSCLC with a miliary pulmonary metastasis pattern that was sensitive to alectinib and in which the serum amylase level decreased in response to treatment with alectinib. Young patients with miliary pulmonary metastasis should be checked for all driver mutations.

Predictive biomarkers of anti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapy in NSCLC

Immunotherapy, especially anti-programmed cell death protein 1/programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-1/PD-L1) treatment has significantly improved the survival of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. However, the overall response rate remains unsatisfactory. Many factors affect the outcome of anti-PD-1/PD-L1 treatment, such as PD-L1 expression level, tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), tumor mutation burden (TMB), neoantigens, and driver gene mutations. Further exploration of biomarkers would be favorable for the best selection of patients and precisely predict the efficacy of anti-PD-1/PD-L1 treatment. In this review, we summarized the latest advances in this field, and discussed the potential applications of these laboratory findings in the clinic.

Improved survival and disease control following pembrolizumab-induced immune-related adverse events in high PD-L1 expressing non-small cell lung cancer with brain metastases

INTRODUCTION

Immune checkpoint inhibitors have become standard of care for many patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). These agents often cause immune-related adverse events (IRAEs), which have been associated with increased overall survival (OS). Intracranial disease control and OS for patients experiencing IRAEs with metastatic NSCLC and brain metastases have not yet been described.

METHODS

We performed a single-institution, retrospective review of patients with NSCLC and existing diagnosis of brain metastasis, who underwent pembrolizumab treatment and developed any grade IRAE. The primary outcome of the study was intracranial time to treatment failure (TTF), defined from time of pembrolizumab initiation to new intracranial disease progression or death. Kaplan-Meier and Cox proportional hazard analyses were performed.

RESULTS

A total of 63 patients with NSCLC brain metastasis were identified, and 24 developed IRAEs. Patients with any grade IRAEs had longer OS (21 vs. 10 months, p = 0.004), systemic TTF (15 vs. 4 months, p < 0.001) and intracranial TTF (14 vs. 5 months, p = 0.001), relative to patients without IRAEs. Presence of IRAEs and high PD-L1 (≥ 50%), but not absent/moderate PD-L1 (0-49%), had a positive association for OS, systemic TTF, and intracranial TTF. Following multivariable analysis, IRAE experienced on pembrolizumab was an independent predictor of OS, systemic TTF, and intracranial TTF.

CONCLUSIONS

In our series of patients with NSCLC and brain metastases treated with pembrolizumab, IRAE presence was associated with a significant increase in OS, systemic TTF, and intracranial TTF. Future studies with increased cohorts will clarify how IRAEs should be interpreted among molecular subtypes.

Heterogeneous Tumor-Immune Microenvironments between Primary and Metastatic Tumors in a Patient with ALK Rearrangement-Positive Large Cell Neuroendocrine Carcinoma

Evolution of tumor-immune microenviroments (TIMEs) occurs during tumor growth and dissemination. Understanding inter-site tumor-immune heterogeneity is essential to harness the immune system for cancer therapy. While the development of immunotherapy against lung cancer with driver mutations and neuroendocrine tumors is ongoing, little is known about the TIME of large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNEC) or anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) rearrangement-positive lung cancer. We present a case study of a 32-year-old female patient with ALK-rearrangement-positive LCNEC, who had multiple distant metastases including mediastinal lymph-node, bilateral breasts, multiple bones, liver and brain. Multiple biopsy samples obtained from primary lung and three metastatic tumors were analyzed by fluorescent multiplex immunohistochemistry. Tissue localizations of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes in the tumor nest and surrounding stroma were evaluated. T cell and B cell infiltrations were decreased with distance from primary lung lesion. Although each tumor displayed a unique TIME, all tumors exhibited concomitant regression after treatment with an ALK-inhibitor. This study provides the first evidence of the coexistence of distinct TIME within a single individual with ALK-rearrangement-positive LCNEC. The present study contributes to our understanding of heterogeneous TIMEs between primary and metastatic lesions and provides new insights into the complex interplay between host-immunity and cancer cells in primary and metastatic lesions.