Factors related to rapid progression of non-small cell lung cancer in Chinese patients treated using single-agent immune checkpoint inhibitor treatment.

BACKGROUND: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have revolutionized the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). While rapid progression (RP) has been proposed as a non-negligible pattern of response to ICIs, its definition and related factors remain unclear. This study aimed to develop a clinical definition of RP and to identify related factors. METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated Chinese patients who had received an ICI as second-line or later treatment for locally advanced or metastatic NSCLC at a single center. We defined RP as radiological progression at the first response assessment (<2 months after starting the ICI), as well as confirmation of progressive disease or cancer-related death occurring at <3 months. The clinical outcomes were compared for patients with RP or non-RP to identify prognostic factors. RESULTS: The study evaluated 74 eligible patients with detailed records regarding their ICI therapy, including 25 patients (33.8%) who had experienced RP. Relative to patients with non-RP, patients with RP had significantly shorter median progression-free survival (1.7 months [95% CI: 1.4-2.0 months] vs. 6.3 months [95% CI 5.2-7.3 months], P < 0.001; hazard ratio: 0.14, 95% CI: 0.08-0.25) and significantly shorter median overall survival (8.2 months [95% CI 3.0-13.4 months] vs. 22.6 months [95% CI 17.0-28.1 months], P < 0.001; hazard ratio: 0.27, 95% CI: 0.15-0.49). Multivariate analysis revealed that RP was independently predicted by the presence of ≥3 metastatic sites (P = 0.039) and a neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio of ≥3 (P = 0.044). CONCLUSIONS: Among NSCLC patients, RP was a common response to ICI monotherapy and was associated with dramatically reduced progression-free and overall survival. Care is needed when selecting ICI monotherapy for these patients, especially if they have ≥3 metastatic sites or a neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio of ≥3. KEY POINTS: Significant findings of the study: Patients with rapid progression after immune checkpoint inhibitor monotherapy had poor survival outcomes. The number of metastatic sites and the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio may independently predict treatment response in this setting. WHAT THIS STUDY ADDS: This is the first study to evaluate rapid progression after second-line or later single-agent immunotherapy in a Chinese population. Our findings may help establish effective immunotherapy strategies for NSCLC.

[Analysis of the Choice of Operation Mode and Prognosis Factors of Patients with Tumors of the Lung Metastasis].

BACKGROUND: Concept of treatment for pulmonary metastatic tumor has been changed. The aim of this study is to analysis of the choice of operation mode and prognosis factors of patients with tumors of the lung metastasis. METHODS: The clinical data of 57 patients with pulmonary metastases who underwent operations from January 2006 to December 2009 were retrospectively analyzed. Difference of conventional open thoracic surgery and thoracoscope surgery was compared. The relationship between gender, age, type of surgery, disease-free interval (DFI), the number of metastatic tumor, the size of tumor, chemotherapy and prognosis was explored. RESULTS: Among the patients, there was no perioperative mortality. Postoperative 1-, 3-, 5-year survival rates were 81.3%, 46.5% and 29.2%, the median survival time was 33.8 months. Multivariate analysis showed that DFI, the number and diameter of metastasis tumor were independent prognostic factors. CONCLUSIONS: Reasonable choice of surgical treatment can improve the survival of pulmonary metastatic tumor patient. Thoracoscopic surgery method is preferred. Operation effect of patients with tumor diameter less than 4 cm in solitary pulmonary metastasis has better effect.