2024 World Conference on Lung Cancer (WCLC) - ePosters-EP.11A.22 Comparing Outcomes and Adverse Events in Lung Cancer Immunotherapy: The Impact of Smoking Status

Pdf Summary

This study investigates the impact of smoking status on the outcomes and adverse events in lung cancer patients undergoing immunotherapy. Lung cancer remains a critical health issue as the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. While immunotherapy has been revolutionary for lung cancer treatment, its effectiveness can vary based on patients' smoking history. The study conducted a retrospective analysis on patients with lung cancer receiving immunotherapy from January 2020 to December 2022, focusing on the correlation between smoking and treatment outcome and adverse events.<br /><br />The results challenge some previous findings that indicated better outcomes in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with a history of smoking. In this study, current smokers had higher rates of disease progression during immunotherapy treatment. Additionally, a notable 81 out of 122 patients discontinued their treatments earlier than planned, with current smokers having significantly higher early discontinuation rates (60%) compared to former or non-smokers (49%). This early discontinuation was primarily due to disease progression or transitioning to hospice care.<br /><br />Immunotherapy-related adverse events were explicitly documented in 31 patients. Severe fatigue and dermatitis were the most common issues noted. Interestingly, former or non-smokers had a higher incidence (77%) of experiencing adverse events compared to current smokers. Additionally, topical steroid usage was observed among some patients without documented dermatological conditions, suggesting possible underreporting of skin-related side effects.<br /><br />Overall, the study highlights that while smoking status does affect immunotherapy outcomes and adverse events, the response pattern is more complex than initially thought, indicating the necessity for personalized treatment approaches in managing lung cancer.

Asset Subtitle

Maha Zafar

Meta Tag

Speaker Maha Zafar

Topic Metastatic Non-small Cell Lung Cancer – Immunotherapy

Keywords

lung cancer

immunotherapy

smoking status

treatment outcomes

adverse events

non-small cell lung cancer

disease progression

early discontinuation

severe fatigue

personalized treatment