Predictors and Outcomes of Non-Small Cell Lung Carcinoma Patients Following Severe Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Toxicity: A Real-World UK Multi-Centre Study.

PURPOSE

Evaluation of predictors and outcomes in NSCLC patients treated with an immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) following a severe immune-related adverse event (irAE).

METHODS

We included all NSCLC patients receiving ≥1 ICI cycle and corticosteroids for CTCAE Grade ≥3 irAEs between 2017 and 2023 from three UK NHS teaching hospitals. Progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) after the 1st irAE, best overall response (BOR) to ICI, and predictors of clinical benefit were evaluated. Kaplan-Meier, Cox and logistic regression models, and Wilcoxon tests were used.

RESULTS

We screened 1658 NSCLC patients and identified 80 eligible subjects. The majority of patients had metastatic ( = 50, 63%) vs. localized ( = 30, 37%) NSCLC. Most patients developed a single ≥Grade 3 irAE on 1st line ICI ( = 71, 89%). Overall, 14 (18%) patients developed 2nd irAEs, 7 after rechallenge with ICIs. In the complete cohort, median OS after 1st irAE was 15.84 months (95% CI, 12.45-26.91). Lower neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), patients receiving >4 cycles of ICI or median duration of ICI of >2.76 months before 1st irAE were associated with improved OS ( < 0.05), the latter two with PFS ( < 0.05). Age, gender, stage, mutation, PD-L1 and ICI type were not associated with PFS or OS. Pneumonitis as 1st irAE had the worst PFS and OS ( < 0.05). Median starting corticosteroid dose of ≤60 mg for 1st irAE had an improved OS ( = 0.04). Post 1st irAE response associated with better PFS and OS ( < 0.05). Number and duration of irAEs and additional immunosuppressive agents (14% of patients) were not associated with PFS or OS.

CONCLUSIONS

In ≥Grade 3 irAEs patients managed with corticosteroids, lower baseline NLR, longer ICI use, response to ICI after 1st irAE, and a ≤60 mg corticosteroid dose had promising outcomes.