Real-world outcomes of immunotherapy with or without chemotherapy in first-line treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer

Pelicon, Veronika (author), Čufer, Tanja (author), Knez, Lea (author)

Background: Immunotherapy alone (mono-IT) or combined with chemotherapy (chemo-IT) has recently become the cornerstone of first-line treatment for advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. Here, real-world outcomes of first-line mono-IT and chemo-IT of advanced NSCLC treated within routine clinical practice at a single academic center in the Central Eastern European (CEE) region are presented. Materials and methods: A total of 176 consecutive patients with advanced NSCLC treated with mono-IT (118 patients) or chemo-IT (58 patients) were included. At the participating institution, all medical data relevant for providing oncology care are collected prospectively and in a standardized manner using purposely created pro-forms. Adverse events (AEs) were recorded and graded according to Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE). The Kaplan−Meier method was used to estimate median overall survival (mOS) and median duration of treatment (mDOT). Results: The 118 patients in the mono-IT cohort had a median age of 64 years, most were male (59%), 20% had ECOG PS ≥2, and 14% had controlled CNS metastases at baseline. With a median follow-up time (mFU) of 24.1 months, the mOS was 19.4 months (95% CI, 11.1-27.6), and the mDOT was 5.0 months (95% CI, 3.5-6.5). The 1-year OS was 62%. The 58 patients in the chemo-IT cohort had a median age of 64 years, most were male (64%), 9% had ECOG PS ≥2, and 7% had controlled CNS metastases at baseline. With a mFU of 15.5 months, the mOS was 21.3 months (95% CI, 15.9-26.7), and the mDOT was 12.0 months (95% CI, 8.3-15.6). The 1-year OS was 75%. Adverse events of severe grade were recorded in 18% and 26% of patients, and immunotherapy discontinuation due to AEs occurred in 19% and 9% in the mono-IT and chemo-IT groups, respectively. No treatment-related deaths were recorded. Conclusion: The results from the present real-world observational study from a CEE country suggest similar effectiveness and safety of first-line mono-IT and chemo-IT in patients with advanced NSCLC to those observed in randomized clinical trials. However, continuous follow-up will offer better insight into the magnitude of long-term benefits in routine clinical practice.

• Language: English
• Keywords: non-small cell lung cancer, immunotherapy, chemo-immunotherapy, realworld outcomes, first line
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: FFA - Faculty of Pharmacy; MF - Faculty of Medicine
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2023
• Number of pages: 11 str.
• Numbering: Vol. 13, art. 1182748
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-147298
• UDC: 616-085.37:616.24-006
• ISSN on article: 2234-943X
• DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1182748
• COBISS.SI-ID: 157113347
• Publication date in RUL: 29.06.2023

PELICON, Veronika, ČUFER, Tanja and KNEZ, Lea, 2023, Real-world outcomes of immunotherapy with or without chemotherapy in first-line treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer. Frontiers in oncology [online]. 2023. Vol. 13,  1182748. [Accessed 18 September 2025]. DOI 10.3389/fonc.2023.1182748. Retrieved from: https://repozitorij.uni-lj.si/IzpisGradiva.php?lang=eng&id=147298

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Frontiers in oncology
• Shortened title: Front. oncol.
• Publisher: Frontiers Editorial Office
• ISSN: 2234-943X
• COBISS.SI-ID: 1601583

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: nedrobnocelični pljučni rak, kemo-imunoterapija, realni rezultati, prva linija, imunoterapija, kemoterapija, rak (medicina)

Projects

• Funder: ARRS - Slovenian Research Agency
• Project number: P1-0189
• Name: Farmacevtska tehnologija: od dostavnih sistemov učinkovin do terapijskih izidov zdravil pri otrocih in starostnikih

• Funder: ARRS - Slovenian Research Agency
• Project number: P3-0360
• Name: Celostna obravnava alergijskih bolezni in astme v Sloveniji: od epidemiologije do genetike