2022 World Conference on Lung Cancer (ePosters)-EP08.01-074. 'Long Responders' Compared to 'Non-Responders' to a First Line Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor in Incurable Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

EP08.01-074. 'Long Responders' Compared to 'Non-Responders' to a First Line Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor in Incurable Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

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This study examined the response to pembrolizumab, a first-line immune checkpoint inhibitor, in patients with incurable non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The study aimed to identify patients who showed durable clinical benefit from pembrolizumab and compare their characteristics to those who did not respond well to the drug.<br /><br />The study included a retrospective cohort of 718 patients diagnosed with incurable NSCLC and a PDL1 level of 50% or greater. The patients were treated with pembrolizumab as their first-line therapy. Durable clinical benefit was defined as receiving at least 35 cycles of pembrolizumab or 2 years of treatment, while immune checkpoint inhibitor resistance was defined as receiving at least 2 cycles of pembrolizumab but less than 3 months of treatment.<br /><br />The results showed that 10% of patients demonstrated durable clinical benefit, while 27% showed resistance to pembrolizumab. Patients with durable clinical benefit were more likely to have a good baseline performance status, higher smoking pack years, and KRAS mutations compared to patients who were resistant to the drug.<br /><br />The study also found that patients with durable clinical benefit had higher overall survival rates compared to resistant patients. Mutations, particularly in the KRAS gene, were more common in long responders.<br /><br />In conclusion, a small percentage of NSCLC patients with a high PDL1 level showed durable clinical benefit from first-line pembrolizumab treatment. These patients were more likely to have certain characteristics, such as a good performance status, higher smoking pack years, and KRAS mutations. Understanding these factors can help identify patients who are more likely to respond well to immune checkpoint inhibitors and improve treatment selection for NSCLC patients.

Asset Subtitle

Rebekah Rittberg

Meta Tag

Speaker Rebekah Rittberg

Topic Metastatic Non-small Cell Lung Cancer - Immunotherapy

Keywords

pembrolizumab

immune checkpoint inhibitor

NSCLC

durable clinical benefit

retrospective cohort

PDL1 level

baseline performance status

smoking pack years

KRAS mutations

overall survival rates