Unmet Clinical Need in the Management of Locally Advanced Unresectable Lung Cancer: Treatment Strategies to Improve Patient Outcomes

Three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy with concurrent chemotherapy for stage III non-small cell lung cancer: protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis

INTRODUCTION

Lung cancer continues to be a common form of cancer worldwide and a primary contributor to cancer-related fatalities. Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the most prevalent form, making up 80% to 85% of newly identified malignant lung tumours, and remains a major concern for worldwide health. Surgical resection is the preferred treatment for localised NSCLC, but more than one-third of patients present with locally advanced, unresectable tumours. Concurrent radiation therapy and chemotherapy are believed to offer the potential for prolonged disease-free and overall survival to those patients. However, the results are inconsistent, and systematic meta-analysis is lacking to evaluate its treatment effect comprehensively. Therefore, we will conduct a meta-analysis to evaluate the efficacy and safety of 3D-CRT concurrent chemotherapy in unresectable stage III NSCLC to provide evidence-based medical support for clinical treatment.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

This systematic review and meta-analysis will adhere to the guidelines outlined in the PRISMA statement. Based on the predetermined criteria for inclusion, we will conduct a comprehensive search for randomised controlled trials (RCTs) examining the efficacy and safety of three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy (3D-CRT) concurrent chemotherapy in unresectable stage III NSCLC. The search will be performed across multiple databases including PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, Scopus and Web of Science from inception to 1 November 2024 using terms including NSCLC, 3D-CRT concurrent chemotherapy, radiation therapy, RCT and controlled clinical trial. Furthermore, relevant literature citations will be gathered, and relevant journals will be manually searched. The primary outcomes in the study were overall survival; progression-free survival; 1-, 3- and 5-year survival rates; event-free survival; and median survival time. Secondary outcomes included treatment effectiveness, all adverse events (AEs), all treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs), AEs (grade ≥3) and TRAEs (grade ≥3). Two separate reviewers will be responsible for screening, extracting data and evaluating quality. Our reviewers will perform subgroup analysis, sensitivity analysis and publication bias analysis to evaluate the heterogeneity and robustness. Review Manager 5.4 will be used for the analysis and synthesis process. The risk of bias will be assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool (RoB 2), and the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation will be employed to evaluate the study's overall evidence quality.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

This study is based on a secondary analysis of the literature, so ethical review approval is not required. The final report will be published in a peer-reviewed journal.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

The protocol of the systematic review has been registered on Open Science Framework, with a registration DOI https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/R7WCG.

Budget impact analysis of durvalumab consolidation therapy vs no consolidation therapy after chemoradiotherapy in stage III non-small cell lung cancer in the context of the Chilean health care system

BACKGROUND

Durvalumab, used as consolidation immunotherapy, has shown to improve survival in patients with stage III non-small cell lung cancer who respond to chemoradiotherapy, based on the most recent follow-up of PACIFIC. The Chilean healthcare system provides access to certain immunotherapies for this condition. The present study sought to estimate the budget impact of durvalumab versus standard of care in the context of the Chilean healthcare system.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

A partitioned survival model was adapted to compare two strategies: durvalumab as consolidation therapy and standard of care for treating stage III NSCLC. The number of patients eligible for treatment was estimated using published incidence data and modeled for a 5-year time horizon. Model inputs were based on published literature, and the duration of treatment was estimated using survival curves obtained from PACIFIC. Costs were estimated in Chilean pesos (CLP) and converted to USD dollars using an exchange rate of USD 1  =  CLP 827. Scenario analyses were performed to assess different subsequent therapy splits, variations in the target population and dosage of durvalumab.

RESULTS

Durvalumab uptake projected total costs ranging from USD 1.27 in Year 1 to 8.5 million in Year 5 from the public perspective. From the private perspective, the budget impact for the first year is USD 1.3 million to USD 3 million for 2028. This difference relies mostly on the lower number of patients treated. Both perspectives anticipated cost savings over the time horizon through reduced monitoring, adverse events, and end-of-life expenses.

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrates that the inclusion of Durvalumab for NSCLC in Chile represents an investment in the Chilean health system. The incremental costs align with clinical benefits and potential savings in healthcare resource utilization. However, a comprehensive cost-effectiveness analysis is needed to evaluate its economic value thoroughly.

Survival outcomes of targeted and immune consolidation therapies in locally advanced unresectable lung adenocarcinoma

BACKGROUND

Locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (LA-NSCLC) presents unique challenges due to its progression and tumor heterogeneity. The effectiveness of consolidation therapies, particularly in patients with gene mutations, remains an area of active investigation.

METHODS

In this retrospective cohort study, we examined data from 3,454 patients with unresectable lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD), narrowing our focus to 242 individuals with stage II/III. We gathered patient data, such as demographics, ECOG status, histology, treatment specifics, and gene expression, from patients in China. The study's primary outcome was overall survival (OS), while progression-free survival (PFS) served as the secondary outcome.

RESULTS

In this study, 50 % of the 242 patients underwent only radical chemoradiotherapy, with 45.87 % (111/242) exhibiting driver gene mutations, predominantly EGFR (58.57 %), followed by KRAS and ALK. Patients with mutations who received either targeted or immune consolidation therapy demonstrated a significantly longer median PFS (42.97 months vs. 24.87 months, p = 0.014) and improved OS (not reached vs. 24.37 months, p = 0.006), compared to those without consolidation therapy. Targeted therapy in mutant patients resulted in an extended median PFS (42.87 months) compared to immune therapy (27.03 months, p = 0.029), with no significant difference in OS. Median PFS and OS were similar between mutant and wild-type patients receiving immune therapy (p = 0.380 and p = 0.928, respectively).

CONCLUSION

This study underscores the efficacy of targeted consolidation therapy in enhancing PFS in LUAD patients with genetic mutations. It also shows that immune consolidation therapy provides similar survival benefits to mutant and wild-type patients. Future research should focus on optimizing these therapies for improved patient outcomes.

Locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer: current issues and recent trends

The focus of this paper was to review and summarise the current issues and recent trends within the framework of locally advanced (LA) non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The recently proposed 8^th tumour-node-metastases (TNM) staging system exhibited significant amendments in the distribution of the T and M descriptors. Every revision to the TNM classification should contribute to clinical improvement. This is particularly necessary regarding LA NSCLC stratification, therapy and outcomes. While several studies reported the superiority of the 8^th TNM edition in comparison to the previous 7^th TNM edition, in terms of both the discrimination ability among the various T subgroups and clinical outcomes, others argued against this interpretation. Synergistic cytotoxic chemotherapy with radiotherapy is most prevalent in treating LA NSCLC. Clinical trial experience from multiple references has reported that the risk of locoregional relapse and distant metastasis was less evident for patients treated with concomitant radiochemotherapy than radiotherapy alone. Nevertheless, concern persists as to whether major incidences of toxicity may occur due to the addition of chemotherapy. Cutting-edge technologies such as four-dimensional computed tomography (4D-CT) and volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) should yield therapeutic gains due to their capability to conform radiation doses to tumours. On the basis of the preceding notion, the optimum radiotherapy technique for LA NSCLC has been a controversial and much-disputed subject within the field of radiation oncology. Notably, no single-perspective research has been undertaken to determine the optimum radiotherapy modality for LA NSCLC. The landscape of immunotherapy in lung cancer is rapidly expanding. Currently, the standard of care for patients with inoperable LA NSCLC is concurrent chemoradiotherapy followed by maintenance durvalumab according to clinical outcomes from the PACIFIC trial. An estimated 42.9% of patients randomly assigned to durvalumab remained alive at five years, and free of disease progression, thereby establishing a new benchmark for the standard of care in this setting.

Chemoradiation-induced pneumonitis in patients with unresectable stage III non-small cell lung cancer: A systematic literature review and meta-analysis

INTRODUCTION

High-grade pneumonitis is a severe and potentially life-threatening adverse event associated with concurrent chemoradiation (cCRT) in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The aim of this study was to summarize and quantify the incidence of severe (grade 3-5) cCRT-induced pneumonitis in unresectable stage III NSCLC patients.

METHODS

A systematic literature review and meta-analysis were performed in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. Published literature was searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs), observational studies, and non-randomized trials from 2014 to April 2020. The primary outcome of interest was incidence of grade 3-5 pneumonitis.

RESULTS

Included were 17 studies for the review and 11 for the meta-analysis (1,788 participants); all studies examined radiation-related pneumonitis (RP). The pooled incidence of cCRT-induced grade 3-5 RP in unresectable stage III NSCLC patients was estimated to be 3.62% [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.65-6.21] in RCTs, 5.98% [95% CI: 2.26-12.91] in observational studies, and 7.85% [95% CI: 4.08-13.10] in observational studies using platinum-based doublet chemotherapies.

CONCLUSION

These results suggest the incidence of severe and fatal RP in patients with unresectable stage III NSCLC treated with cCRT ranges from 3.62% to 7.85%, with incidence varying by study design and chemotherapy regimen. Estimates of RP incidence were higher in the real-world setting compared to RCTs. These results can be used to contextualize the baseline risk of cCRT-induced pneumonitis in unresectable stage III NSCLC to better understand the adverse event of pneumonitis associated with novel immunotherapy treatments indicated for concomitant use with this modality.

The prognostic value of 18F-FDG PET/CT taken immediately after completion of radiotherapy for lung cancer treated with concurrent chemoradiotherapy: A pilot study

PURPOSE

The prognostic value of F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) taken immediately after completion of radiotherapy in lung cancer patients is not well known. The purpose of this study is to assess the prognostic value of PET/CT taken immediately after completion of radiotherapy in lung cancer patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Patients with primary lung cancer planned to undergo concurrent chemoradiotherapy were enrolled. Patients underwent PET/CT scans at 3 time points: before radiotherapy, within 24hours of completing radiotherapy (im-PET/CT), and 2-9 months after radiotherapy (post-PET/CT). Maximum standardized uptake value (SUV_max) was obtained. A post-PET/CT-SUV_max cut-off of 2.5 was determined as radiotherapy success.

RESULTS

Nineteen patients were enrolled. im-PET/CT-SUV_max for patients in the high post-PET/CT-SUV_max group was significantly higher than that of the low group (P=0.004). Receiver operator curve analysis indicated that im-PET/CT-SUV_max of 4.35 was an optimal cut-off value to discriminate between the two groups. Multivariable analysis showed that a high im-PET/CT-SUV_max was significantly associated with a high post-PET/CT-SUV_max (P=0.003).

CONCLUSION

PET/CT-SUV_max taken immediately following radiotherapy was associated with that evaluated 2-9 months after radiotherapy.

Artificial Intelligence Applications to Improve the Treatment of Locally Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancers

Locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer patients represent around one third of newly diagnosed lung cancer patients. There remains a large unmet need to find treatment strategies that can improve the survival of these patients while minimizing therapeutical side effects. Increasing the availability of patients' data (imaging, electronic health records, patients' reported outcomes, and genomics) will enable the application of AI algorithms to improve therapy selections. In this review, we discuss how artificial intelligence (AI) can be integral to improving clinical decision support systems. To realize this, a roadmap for AI must be defined. We define six milestones involving a broad spectrum of stakeholders, from physicians to patients, that we feel are necessary for an optimal transition of AI into the clinic.

New developments in locally advanced nonsmall cell lung cancer

Locally advanced nonsmall cell lung cancer, due to its varying prognosis, is grouped according to TNM stage IIIA, IIIB and IIIC. Developments over the last 3 years have been focused on the integration of immunotherapy into the combination treatment of a locally definitive therapy (surgery or radiotherapy) and chemotherapy. For concurrent chemoradiotherapy, consolidation therapy with durvalumab was established. Adjuvant targeted therapy has again gained increasing interest. In order to adapt treatment to the specific stage subgroup and its prognosis, fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography and pathological evaluation of the mediastinum are important. Tumours should be investigated for immunological features and driver mutations. Regarding toxicity, evaluation of pulmonary and cardiac function, as well as symptoms and quality of life, is of increasing importance. To improve the management and prognosis of this heterogeneous entity, clinical trials and registries should take these factors into account.

Prognostic Factor and Clinical Outcome in Stage III Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: A Study Based on Real-World Clinical Data in the Korean Population

Purpose

The optimal treatment for patients with stage III non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains controversial. This study aimed to investigate prognostic factors and clinical outcome in stage III NSCLC using real-world clinical data in the Korean population.

Materials and Methods

Among 8,110 patients with lung cancer selected from 52 hospitals in Korea during 2014–2016, only patients with stage III NSCLC were recruited and analyzed. A standardized protocol was used to collect clinical information and Cox proportional hazards models were used to identify risk factors for mortality.

Results

A total of 1,383 patients (46.5% had squamous cell carcinoma and 40.9% had adenocarcinoma) with stage III NSCLC were enrolled, and their median age was 70 years. Regarding clinical stage, 548 patients (39.6%) had stage IIIA, 517 (37.4%) had stage IIIB, and 318 (23.0%) had stage IIIC. Pertaining to the initial treatment method, the surgery group (median survival period, 36 months) showed better survival outcomes than the non-surgical treatment group (median survival period, 18 months; p=0.001) in patients with stage IIIA. Moreover, among patients with stage IIIB and stage IIIC, those who received concurrent chemotherapy and radiation therapy (CCRT; median survival period, 24 months) showed better survival outcomes than those who received chemotherapy (median survival period, 11 months), or radiation therapy (median survival period, 10 months; p < 0.001).

Conclusion

While surgery might be feasible as the initial treatment option in patients with stage IIIA NSCLC, CCRT showed a beneficial role in patients with stage IIIB and IIIC NSCLC.

Erlotinib Versus Etoposide/Cisplatin With Radiation Therapy in Unresectable Stage III Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Mutation-Positive Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: A Multicenter, Randomized, Open-Label, Phase 2 Trial

PURPOSE

This study aimed to compare erlotinib (E) and etoposide/cisplatin (EP) with concurrent radiation therapy (RT) for patients with stage IIIA/B unresectable advanced non-small cell lung cancer with activating epidermal growth factor receptor mutation (EGFRm+).

METHODS AND PATIENTS

This was a multicenter, randomized, open-label, phase 2 trial conducted across 19 institutions in China (December 2012 to January 2016). Enrolled patients were randomized (1:1) to E + RT (oral erlotinib 150 mg/d for 2 years or until disease progression or intolerable toxicity and RT 200 cGy/d, 5 d/wk for 6 weeks from the first day of erlotinib) or EP + RT (etoposide 50 mg/m² intravenously on days 1-5 and 29-33; cisplatin 50 mg/m² intravenously on days 1, 8, 29 and 36; and RT as for E + RT). The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS). Secondary endpoints included objective response rate and safety.

RESULTS

Two hundred fifty-two patients were screened, and 20 patients with EGFRm+ in each group received the allocated E + RT or EP + RT treatment. Patient characteristics were well balanced between groups. Compared with EP + RT, median PFS with E + RT was significantly longer (24.5 vs 9.0 months [hazard ratio, 0.104; 95% confidence interval, 0.028-0.389; P < .001]). Objective response rate in the E + RT and EP + RT groups was 70% and 61.9%, respectively (P = .744). The incidence of adverse events (any grade) was similar between E + RT and EP + RT groups (88.9% and 84.2%).

CONCLUSIONS

The primary endpoint of PFS was met, and the data showed that E + RT might provide PFS improvement compared with EP + RT, with similar tolerability. However, definitive statements regarding the efficacy of concurrent E + RT in patients with unresectable stage III non-small cell lung cancer with activating EGFRm+ cannot be made, and slow patient accrual will likely make it infeasible to conduct a phase 3 study.

Endobronchial ultrasound-guided injection of NBTXR3 radio-enhancing nanoparticles into mediastinal and hilar lymph nodes: a swine model to evaluate feasibility, injection technique, safety, nanoparticle retention and dispersion

Background

Loco-regionally advanced lung cancer is typically treated with a combination of chemotherapy and radiation therapy, but overall survival and local control remain poor. Radio-enhancing nanoparticles such as NBTXR3 activated by radiotherapy results in increased cell death and potentially an anti-tumor immune response. The goal of this study was to assess the feasibility and safety of endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS)-guided injection of NBTXR3 into mediastinal and hilar lymph nodes (LN), as well as assess nanoparticle retention in the LN post-injection.

Methods

Animals underwent bronchoscopy under general anesthesia with EBUS-guided injection of NBTXR3 into hilar and mediastinal LN. LN and injection volumes were calculated based on pre-injection computed tomography (CT) scans. CT scans were repeated at 5 min, 30 min, and 8 days post-injection. Blood-draws were also obtained at baseline and post-injection. Animals were then housed, monitored, and sacrificed 8 days post-injection. Necropsy was then performed with gross and histologic analysis of LN.

Results

A total of 20 LN were injected in 5 pigs (4 LN per animal). Nanoparticles were retained in 100% of LN at 30 min, and 90% of LN at 8 days. Extravasation of nanoparticles was seen in 4 out of the 20 LN. There were no cases of nanoparticle embolization visible by CT in distant organs. Small air-bubbles were introduced in the targets and surrounding tissue in 3 out of 20 LN. Of note, at 8 days, none of these air-bubbles were present on CT scan. There were no intra-procedural or post-procedural complications in either CT scans or necropsy findings. Pigs remained clinically stable and neither laboratory values nor necropsy showed evidence of inflammation.

Conclusions

EBUS-guided injection of NBTXR3 radio-enhancing nanoparticles can be safely performed achieving a high rate of nanoparticle retention, low extravasation, and no visible nanoparticle embolization.

Pan-Asian adapted ESMO Clinical Practice Guidelines for the management of patients with locally-advanced unresectable non-small-cell lung cancer: a KSMO-ESMO initiative endorsed by CSCO, ISMPO, JSMO, MOS, SSO and TOS

The most recent version of the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Clinical Practice Guidelines for the diagnosis, treatment and follow-up of early and locally-advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) was published in 2017, and covered the diagnosis, staging, management and treatment of both early stage I and II disease and locally-advanced stage III disease. At the ESMO Asia Meeting in November 2018, it was decided by both the ESMO and the Korean Society of Medical Oncology (KSMO) to convene a special face-to-face guidelines meeting in 2019 in Seoul. The aim was to adapt the ESMO 2017 guidelines to take into account potential differences related to ethnicity, cancer biology and standard practices associated with the treatment of locally-advanced, unresectable NSCLC in Asian patients. These guidelines represent the consensus opinions reached by those experts in the treatment of patients with lung cancer who represented the oncology societies of Korea (KSMO), China (CSCO), India (ISMPO), Japan (JSMO), Malaysia (MOS), Singapore (SSO) and Taiwan (TOS). The voting was based on scientific evidence, and it was independent of both local current treatment practices and the treatment availability and reimbursement situations in the individual participating Asian countries.