scholarly journals Challenges of Immunotherapy in Stage IV Non–Small-Cell Lung Cancer

2021 ◽  
pp. OP.20.00949
Author(s):  
Sophie Stock-Martineau ◽  
Kate Magner ◽  
Kevin Jao ◽  
Paul Wheatley-Price

Treatment for metastatic non–small-cell lung carcinoma has seen important advances in recent years with the introduction of targeted therapies and immunotherapy. Immune checkpoint inhibitors, which target the programmed death 1 receptor and programmed death ligand-1, alone or in combination with platinum-based chemotherapy, have become standard of care in the first-line setting for patients with advanced non–small-cell lung carcinoma without targetable driver mutations. However, several clinical questions have now since emerged. Physicians treating lung cancer lack guidance when treating patients who have a poor performance status, patients who are receiving corticosteroids, and those known for pre-existing autoimmune disorders. Furthermore, data are scarce on rechallenging a patient with immune checkpoint inhibitors after the occurrence of a significant immune-related adverse event. In this review, we aim to shed light on these topics.

2020 ◽  
Vol 31 (6) ◽  
pp. 637-645 ◽  
Author(s):  
Li-ting Lai ◽  
Zheng-yu Zhan ◽  
Miao Feng ◽  
Fan Li ◽  
Lin-feng Lai ◽  
...  

2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Navdeep Singh ◽  
Sandeep Singh Lubana ◽  
George Constantinou ◽  
Andrea N. Leaf

Immunocheckpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy has provided significant clinical improvements in the treatment of several malignancies. The purpose of this report is to increase awareness of hypereosinophilia associated with checkpoint inhibitors, a topic that has been rarely reported. Hypereosinophilia may need to be addressed especially if eosinophil counts increase to levels where hypereosinophilic visceral complications can occur. We are presenting a case of a 57-year-old male with hypereosinophilia that was seen in the setting of progression of metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer during and after nivolumab treatment.


Author(s):  
Laura QM Chow

Because of dramatic tumor regressions reported with the anti-programmed death-1 (PD-1) and anti-programmed death ligand-1 (PDL-1) antibodies inhibiting the PD-1 immune checkpoint, non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is now recognized as an immune-modifiable disease. As responses were observed in smaller numbers in phase I trials, the immunologic profiles and unique toxicities of these agents have not been fully established in NSCLC. Moreover, PD-1 checkpoint inhibitors in development by different companies may demonstrate diverse spectrums of activity and toxicity. Although the cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen-4 (CTLA-4) checkpoint inhibitors in earlier phase studies appeared to have less impressive responses in NSCLC, their safety profile has been more broadly defined. The anti-CTLA-4 antibody, ipilimumab, has the best characterized immune-related toxicities (predominantly skin, gastrointestinal, hepatic, and endocrine) and management strategies in melanoma. Despite the lack of studies directly comparing these agents, toxicities from PD-1 inhibition seem milder than those of CTLA-4 inhibition, with distinct toxicities of pneumonitis infrequently observed with the BMS-936558 anti-PD-1 antibody, nivolumamb, and frequent mild infusion reactions reported with the BMS-936559 anti-PDL-1 antibody. As lungs are critical organs often already compromised in NSCLC patients, immune-mediated pneumonitis can cause worrisome morbidity and mortality. Even though immune checkpoint inhibitors are being rapidly developed in a multitude of trials, optimal immune-mediated toxicity management has not been determined, is evolving, and will be further explored. Early diagnosis and symptom management with corticosteroids form the basis of treatment. Assessment of new immune-response criteria and use of primary endpoints of overall survival (OS) will be important in the development of these immunotherapies in NSCLC.


2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. e000971
Author(s):  
Alex Friedlaender ◽  
Stephen V Liu ◽  
Alfredo Addeo

Immune-checkpoint inhibitors have deeply changed the therapeutic landscape of advanced non-small cell lung cancer without actionable genomic alterations. Immune-checkpoint inhibitors have become standard front-line therapy, especially among patients with tumours expressing high levels of programmed death ligand-1; yet, many patients do not respond to therapy. This has led to the adoption of front-line combination therapies, administering programmed death-1 inhibitors concomitantly either with other checkpoint inhibitors, chemotherapy or both. Today’s approved standard of care includes options with chemoimmunotherapy or dual checkpoint blockade, but each combination has only been compared to chemotherapy alone and no head-to-head trials exist. In cross-trial comparisons, combinations trials appear to show numerically superior responses to single-agent checkpoint inhibitors but the question is whether they ultimately offer a survival advantage. In this manuscript, we summarize and analyse all currently available front-line immune-checkpoint inhibitor trials in non-small cell lung cancer, whether as monotherapy or in combination with chemotherapy, second immunotherapy agents or both. Should standards of care change given the current data? While we ponder this question, we illustrate current data and conclude that the answer lies in tracking the tail of the survival curves.


2005 ◽  
Vol 102 (Special_Supplement) ◽  
pp. 247-254 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jason Sheehan ◽  
Douglas Kondziolka ◽  
John Flickinger ◽  
L. Dade Lunsford

Object. Lung carcinoma is the leading cause of death from cancer. More than 50% of those with small cell lung cancer develop a brain metastasis. Corticosteroid agents, radiotherapy, and resection have been the mainstays of treatment. Nonetheless, median survival for patients with small cell lung carcinoma metastasis is approximately 4 to 5 months after cranial irradiation. In this study the authors examine the efficacy of gamma knife surgery for treating recurrent small cell lung carcinoma metastases to the brain following tumor growth in patients who have previously undergone radiation therapy, and they evaluate factors affecting survival. Methods. A retrospective review of 27 patients (47 recurrent small cell lung cancer brain metastases) undergoing radiosurgery was performed. Clinical and radiographic data obtained during a 14-year treatment period were collected. Multivariate analysis was utilized to determine significant prognostic factors influencing survival. The overall median survival was 18 months after the diagnosis of brain metastases. In multivariate analysis, factors significantly affecting survival included: 1) tumor volume (p = 0.0042); 2) preoperative Karnofsky Performance Scale score (p = 0.0035); and 3) time between initial lung cancer diagnosis and development of brain metastasis (p = 0.0127). Postradiosurgical imaging of the brain metastases revealed that 62% decreased, 19% remained stable, and 19% eventually increased in size. One patient later underwent a craniotomy and tumor resection for a tumor refractory to radiosurgery and radiation therapy. In three patients new brain metastases were demonstrating on follow-up imaging. Conclusions. Stereotactic radiosurgery for recurrent small cell lung carcinoma metastases provided effective local tumor control in the majority of patients. Early detection of brain metastases, aggressive treatment of systemic disease, and a therapeutic strategy including radiosurgery can extend survival.


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