Comedication with corticosteroids and nonsteroidal antiphlogistics does not affect PD-L1 expression in non-small cell lung cancer

Background

Programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression is a standard predictor in the selection of immunotherapy for locally advanced/advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, comedication with corticosteroids or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may influence the effectiveness of this treatment as documented in several previous studies. Due to certain molecular linkages between PD-L1 and corticosteroids or NSAIDs, we therefore addressed the question of whether there is a relationship between PD-L1 expression in NSCLC and the use of this comedication.

Methods

This is a retrospective study using the Czech tumor registry LUng CAncer focuS (LUCAS), from which patient data were drawn. Independence of two categorical parameters was tested by Pearson’s chi-square test.

Results

In our group of 1,148 patients, we observed no significant relationship between PD-L1 expression and the use of corticosteroids or NSAIDs.

Conclusions

According to our data, treatment with corticosteroids or NSAIDs during biopsy does not affect the expression of PD-L1 and it is therefore not necessary to take this treatment into account in this regard.

Lung Cancer in Non-smokers in Czech Republic: Data from LUCAS Lung Cancer Clinical Registry

BACKGROUND/AIM

LUCAS is a clinical lung cancer registry (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier is NCT04228237), prospectively collecting data from newly diagnosed lung cancer patients in seven pneumooncology centers in the Czech Republic, since June 1, 2018. The aim of the study was to assess the stage of the disease at the time of diagnosis, percentage of morphological types, survival, percentage of driving mutations, eligibility for radical surgery, and percentage of patients who undergo radical surgery, in the non-smoking population in comparison with smokers and former smokers.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The total number of patients in the registry at the time of the analysis was 2,743. Only 2,439 patients with complete records (smoking status, stage, and type of tumor) were included in this study.

RESULTS

The analysis indicated that non-smokers are diagnosed at a later stage of the disease but they have a better survival rate than smokers. Fewer smokers with stage III disease who are eligible for radical surgery will undergo surgery compared to non-smokers with the same clinical stage. Driving mutations are more common in non-smokers, even after adjustment for the more frequent occurrence of adenocarcinoma in the group of non-smokers.

CONCLUSION

The data from LUCAS registry are consistent with already known facts, suggesting that the LUCAS registry is a useful clinical tool.