Pembrolizumab frontline monotherapy in patients with NSCLC and high PD-L1 expression: Real-world data from a European Cohort with focus on subgroups of interest

Abstract

Background: Real-world data regarding clinical outcomes associated with first-line pembrolizumab (pembro) monotherapy among specific subgroups of NSCLC patients are lacking. Methods: A comprehensive clinicopathological database of patients with NSCLC and PD-L1>50% treated with frontline pembro in 14 centers in Italy, Spain, Greece and Switzerland was retrospectively created. Post-progression outcomes have been previously reported. Clinical outcomes in specific subgroups of interest are presented in the current report. Analysis was performed using the SAS 9.3 software. Multivariate analysis was performed with the Cox regression model. Results: Among 173 eligible patients, median age at diagnosis was 68 years, 65% were male, 88% were current or former smokers, 25% had an ECOG PS > =2, histology was 67% adeno, 21% squamous, 20% had brain mets, 15% had liver mets at diagnosis and 28% received steroids at the beginning and/or during treatment. Thirty patients (17.4%) received pembro despite having non-metastatic disease (stage I-IIIC), as deemed medically inoperable or ineligible for definite chemo-radiotherapy. Hazard Ratios for OS, with corresponding 95% CIs and p-values for specific subgroups were as follows: Elderly patients ( >70 years): HR = 0.85 (0.52-1.38), p = 0.51; Brain mets: HR = 1.17 (0.63-2.18), p = 0.63; Stage I-IIIC: HR = 0.56 (0.22-1.39), p = 0.21; PS > =2: HR = 1.73 (1.55-1.84), p < 0.0001; Steroid use: HR = 3.27 (1.95-5.50), p < 0.0001; Platinum-based doublet 2nd line : HR = 0.65 (0.29-1.47), p = 0.30. In multivariate analysis, PS and the use of steroids remained independent predictors of survival. Conclusions: Real-world data in a large retrospective cohort of patients with NSCLC and PD-L1>50% indicate that 1) Pembro frontline is also active in inoperable stage I-IIIC patients, 2) Elderly patients (>70 years) derive similar survival benefit to younger ones, except from those with PS > =2, 3) Steroid use at the beginning and/or during treatment is associated with a three-fold increase in the risk of death. Legal entity responsible for the study: The authors. Funding: Has not received any funding. Disclosure: G. Mountzios: Honoraria (self), Advisory / Consultancy, Speaker Bureau / Expert testimony, Travel / Accommodation / Expenses: AstraZeneca Greece; Honoraria (self), Advisory / Consultancy, Speaker Bureau / Expert testimony, Travel / Accommodation / Expenses: Roche Hellas; Honoraria (self), Advisory / Consultancy, Speaker Bureau / Expert testimony, Travel / Accommodation / Expenses: Boehringer Greece; Honoraria (self), Travel / Accommodation / Expenses: Pfizer Hellas; Honoraria (self), Advisory / Consultancy, Speaker Bureau / Expert testimony, Travel / Accommodation / Expenses: Bristol-Myers Squibb; Honoraria (self), Advisory / Consultancy, Speaker Bureau / Expert testimony, Travel / Accommodation / Expenses: MSD Hellas; Travel / Accommodation / Expenses: Astellas; Honoraria (self), Advisory / Consultancy, Research grant / Funding (institution), Travel / Accommodation / Expenses: Novartis Greece. G. Banna: Advisory / Consultancy: Janssen; Advisory / Consultancy: Boehringer; Advisory / Consultancy: Roche; Travel / Accommodation / Expenses: BMS; Travel / Accommodation / Expenses: AstraZeneca; Travel / Accommodation / Expenses: Pierre Fabre; Travel / Accommodation / Expenses: Ipsen. A. Christopoulou: Honoraria (institution), Advisory / Consultancy, Travel / Accommodation / Expenses: Roche; Honoraria (self), Advisory / Consultancy, Travel / Accommodation / Expenses: MSD; Honoraria (self), Advisory / Consultancy, Travel / Accommodation / Expenses: PFIZER; Honoraria (self), Advisory / Consultancy: Sanofi; Honoraria (self), Advisory / Consultancy, Travel / Accommodation / Expenses: BMS; Honoraria (self), Advisory / Consultancy, Travel / Accommodation / Expenses: NOVARTIS. H. Linardou: Honoraria (self), Speaker Bureau / Expert testimony, Travel / Accommodation / Expenses: AstraZeneca; Honoraria (self): Boehringer; Honoraria (self), Advisory / Consultancy, Travel / Accommodation / Expenses: BMS; Honoraria (self), Travel / Accommodation / Expenses: Merck; Honoraria (self), Advisory / Consultancy, Travel / Accommodation / Expenses: MSD; Honoraria (self), Advisory / Consultancy, Travel / Accommodation / Expenses: Novartis; Honoraria (self), Advisory / Consultancy, Travel / Accommodation / Expenses: Roche. A. Calles: Honoraria (self), Advisory / Consultancy: AstraZeneca; Honoraria (self), Advisory / Consultancy: Boehringer; Honoraria (self), Advisory / Consultancy: Pfizer; Honoraria (self), Advisory / Consultancy: Roche; Honoraria (self), Advisory / Consultancy: Lilly; Honoraria (self), Advisory / Consultancy: Novartis; Honoraria (self), Advisory / Consultancy: MSD; Honoraria (self), Advisory / Consultancy: BMS. A. Addeo: Honoraria (self), Advisory / Consultancy: MSD; Honoraria (self), Advisory / Consultancy: Roche; Honoraria (self), Advisory / Consultancy: AstraZeneca; Honoraria (self), Advisory / Consultancy: Takeda; Honoraria (self), Advisory / Consultancy: BMS. P.A. Kosmidis: Honoraria (self), Advisory / Consultancy, Travel / Accommodation / Expenses: Pfizer; Honoraria (self), Advisory / Consultancy, Travel / Accommodation / Expenses: MSD; Honoraria (self), Advisory / Consultancy, Travel / Accommodation / Expenses: BMS; Honoraria (self), Advisory / Consultancy, Travel / Accommodation / Expenses: Novartis; Honoraria (self), Advisory / Consultancy: Leo. M.C. Garassino: Honoraria (self), Advisory / Consultancy: Lilly; Honoraria (self), Advisory / Consultancy, Research grant / Funding (institution): Roche; Honoraria (self), Advisory / Consultancy: PFIZER; Honoraria (self): MEDSCAPE; Honoraria (self), Advisory / Consultancy, Research grant / Funding (institution): AstraZeneca; Honoraria (self), Advisory / Consultancy, Research grant / Funding (institution): MSD Hellas; Honoraria (self), Advisory / Consultancy, Research grant / Funding (institution): BMS; Research grant / Funding (institution): Clovis; Research grant / Funding (institution): Merck; Research grant / Funding (institution): Otsuka; Research grant / Funding (institution): Bayer; Research grant / Funding (institution): Novartis; Research grant / Funding (institution): Boehringer; Research grant / Funding (institution): GSK. All other authors have declared no conflicts of interest.