Neoadjuvant Chemoimmunotherapy for NSCLC: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Importance

To date, no meta-analyses have comprehensively assessed the association of neoadjuvant chemoimmunotherapy with clinical outcomes in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in randomized and nonrandomized settings. In addition, there exists controversy concerning the efficacy of neoadjuvant chemoimmunotherapy for patients with NSCLC with programmed cell death 1 ligand 1 (PD-L1) levels less than 1%.

Objective

To compare neoadjuvant chemoimmunotherapy with chemotherapy by adverse events and surgical, pathological, and efficacy outcomes using recently published randomized clinical trials and nonrandomized trials.

Data Sources

MEDLINE and Embase were systematically searched from January 1, 2013, to October 25, 2023, for all clinical trials of neoadjuvant chemoimmunotherapy and chemotherapy that included at least 10 patients.

Study Selection

Observational studies and trials reporting the use of neoadjuvant radiotherapy, including chemoradiotherapy, molecular targeted therapy, or immunotherapy monotherapy, were excluded.

Main Outcomes and Measures

Surgical, pathological, and efficacy end points and adverse events were pooled using a random-effects meta-analysis.

Results

Among 43 eligible trials comprising 5431 patients (4020 males [74.0%]; median age range, 55-70 years), there were 8 randomized clinical trials with 3387 patients. For randomized clinical trials, pooled overall survival (hazard ratio, 0.65; 95% CI, 0.54-0.79; I2 = 0%), event-free survival (hazard ratio, 0.59; 95% CI, 0.52-0.67; I2 = 14.9%), major pathological response (risk ratio, 3.42; 95% CI, 2.83-4.15; I2 = 31.2%), and complete pathological response (risk ratio, 5.52; 95% CI, 4.25-7.15; I2 = 27.4%) favored neoadjuvant chemoimmunotherapy over neoadjuvant chemotherapy. For patients with baseline tumor PD-L1 levels less than 1%, there was a significant benefit in event-free survival for neoadjuvant chemoimmunotherapy compared with chemotherapy (hazard ratio, 0.74; 95% CI, 0.62-0.89; I2 = 0%).

Conclusion and Relevance

This study found that neoadjuvant chemoimmunotherapy was superior to neoadjuvant chemotherapy across surgical, pathological, and efficacy outcomes. These findings suggest that patients with resectable NSCLC with tumor PD-L1 levels less than 1% may have an event-free survival benefit with neoadjuvant chemoimmunotherapy.

Next-generation sequencing of non-small cell lung cancer at a Quebec health care cancer centre

BACKGROUND

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in both men and women. Quebec has the highest lung cancer mortality out of all provinces in Canada, believed to be caused by higher smoking rates. Molecular testing for lung cancer is standard of care due to the discovery of actionable driver mutations that can be targeted with tyrosine kinase inhibitors. To date, no detailed molecular testing characterization of Quebec patients with lung cancer using next generation sequencing (NGS) has been performed.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The aim of this study was to describe the genomic landscape of patients with lung cancer (n = 997) who underwent NGS molecular testing at a tertiary care center in Quebec and to correlate it with clinical and pathology variables.

RESULTS

Compared to 10 other NGS studies found through a structured search strategy, our cohort had a higher prevalence of KRAS mutations (39.2%) compared to most geographical locations. Additionally, we observed a significant positive association between decreasing age and a higher proportion of KRAS G12C mutations.

CONCLUSION

Overall, it remains important to assess institutional rates of actionable driver mutations to help guide governing bodies, fuel clinical trials and create benchmarks for expected rates as quality metrics.

Approach to Gynecological Adnexal Masses

Gynecological pelvic masses are a common occurrence in women of all ages. The differential diagnosis is extensive and includes masses of all anatomical components of the female reproductive tract. This simple and refined approach leads the reader through the process of narrowing said differential. A thorough history and physical examination are essential steps that can hint to the appropriate investigations such as reproductive hormone levels, serum cancer biomarkers and imaging. Emphasis is put on ultrasound findings, helping differentiate not only diagnoses, but also the benign or malignant character of the mass. It also highlights the Risk of Malignancy Index I, commonly used in clinical practice to assess the risk of malignancy of a mass. Beyond the initial approach, some diagnoses and their management are discussed, from the very common functional cyst to the worrisome ovarian neoplasm, and mentioning more peculiar findings like tubo-ovarian abscess and leiomyoma.

Approach to Gynecological Adnexal Masses

Gynecological pelvic masses are a common occurrence in women of all ages. The differential diagnosis is extensive and includes masses of all anatomical components of the female reproductive tract. This simple and refined approach leads the reader through the process of narrowing said differential. A thorough history and physical examination are essential steps that can hint to the appropriate investigations such as reproductive hormone levels, serum cancer biomarkers and imaging. Emphasis is put on ultrasound findings, helping differentiate not only diagnoses, but also the benign or malignant character of the mass. It also highlights the Risk of Malignancy Index I, commonly used in clinical practice to assess the risk of malignancy of a mass. Beyond the initial approach, some diagnoses and their management are discussed, from the very common functional cyst to the worrisome ovarian neoplasm, and mentioning more peculiar findings like tubo-ovarian abscess and leiomyoma.