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Smith A, Boby JM, Benny SJ, Ghazali N, Vermeulen E, George M. Immunotherapy in Older Patients with Cancer: A Narrative Review. Int J Gen Med 2024; 17:305-313. [PMID: 38298248 PMCID: PMC10830099 DOI: 10.2147/ijgm.s435001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 02/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Purpose Immunotherapies have revolutionized cancer treatment; however, relatively little is known about their efficacy and toxicity in the elderly, a cohort accounting for more than half of total cancer cases. In this review, we aim to provide insight into the current knowledge base regarding the clinical utility and side effects of immunotherapies in the geriatric population as well as identify key gaps in the literature where further research is essential. Methods We conducted a rapid critical review of available literature, focusing on studies reporting on use of immunotherapy in cancer patients aged ≥65 years. The review assessed studies that included different types of cancer, were of multiple study types (although predominantly retrospective), had different study duration, and reported different outcomes of interest. Owing to this heterogeneity, meta-analysis and a direct comparison between studies were not feasible. Results Overall, the review findings indicate that certain malignancies have shown comparable survival rates in younger and older age groups when managed with immunotherapeutic drugs, the incidence of immunotherapy-related side effects varies only slightly by age groups, and in general there is a lack of studies on the determinants of the clinical outcomes of immunotherapy in or including geriatric patients. Conclusion Enhanced clinical benefits along with better tolerability associated with immunotherapies make it an attractive alternative to conventional chemotherapeutic drugs, especially in elderly patients. There is currently a limited number of studies assessing the clinical outcomes of immunotherapies, particularly in the elderly. Overall, our findings reflect a need for further prospective studies focussing on geriatric patients representative of the real-life population, in order to derive a more precise understanding of the clinical utility, toxicity profile, and cost-effectiveness of immune checkpoint inhibitors in older patients with cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Smith
- Tamworth Hospital, Hunter New England Local Health District (NSW Health), Tamworth, NSW, Australia
| | | | | | | | - Elke Vermeulen
- Tamworth Hospital, Hunter New England Local Health District (NSW Health), Tamworth, NSW, Australia
| | - Mathew George
- Tamworth Hospital, Hunter New England Local Health District (NSW Health), Tamworth, NSW, Australia
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Immunotherapy in Elderly Patients Affected by Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: A Narrative Review. J Clin Med 2023; 12:jcm12051833. [PMID: 36902620 PMCID: PMC10003062 DOI: 10.3390/jcm12051833] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2023] [Revised: 02/19/2023] [Accepted: 02/22/2023] [Indexed: 03/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for approximately 80% of all lung cancers, and most NSCLC is diagnosed in the advanced stage. The advent of immune check point inhibitors (ICIs) changed the therapeutic scenario both in metastatic disease (in first and subsequent lines) and earlier settings. Comorbidities, reduced organ function, cognitive deterioration, and social impairment give reasons for a greater probability of adverse events, making the treatment of elderly patients challenging. The reduced toxicity of ICIs compared to standard chemotherapy makes this approach attractive in this population. The effectiveness of ICIs varies according to age, and patients older than 75 years may benefit less than younger patients. This may be related to the so-called immunosenescence, a phenomenon that refers to the reduced activity of immunity with older age. Elders are often under-represented in clinical trials, even if they are a large part of the patients in a clinical practice. In this review, we aim to explore the biological aspects of immunosenescence and to report and analyze the most relevant and recent literature findings on the role of immunotherapy in elderly patients with NSCLC.
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Borghaei H, Ciuleanu TE, Lee JS, Pluzanski A, Caro RB, Gutierrez M, Ohe Y, Nishio M, Goldman J, Ready N, Spigel DR, Ramalingam SS, Paz-Ares LG, Gainor JF, Ahmed S, Reck M, Maio M, O'Byrne KJ, Memaj A, Nathan F, Tran P, Hellmann MD, Brahmer JR. Long-term survival with first-line nivolumab plus ipilimumab in patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer: a pooled analysis. Ann Oncol 2023; 34:173-185. [PMID: 36414192 DOI: 10.1016/j.annonc.2022.11.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2022] [Revised: 09/22/2022] [Accepted: 11/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND First-line nivolumab plus ipilimumab prolongs survival versus chemotherapy in advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We further characterized clinical benefit with this regimen in a large pooled patient population and assessed the effect of response on survival. PATIENTS AND METHODS Data were pooled from four studies of first-line nivolumab plus ipilimumab in advanced NSCLC (CheckMate 227 Part 1, 817 cohort A, 568 Part 1, and 012). Overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), objective response rate, duration of response, and safety were assessed. Landmark analyses of OS by response status at 6 months and by tumor burden reduction in responders to nivolumab plus ipilimumab were also assessed. RESULTS In the pooled population (N = 1332) with a minimum follow-up of 29.1-58.9 months, median OS was 18.6 months, with a 3-year OS rate of 35%; median PFS was 5.4 months (3-year PFS rate, 17%). Objective response rate was 36%; median duration of response was 23.7 months, with 38% of responders having an ongoing response at 3 years. In patients with tumor programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) <1%, ≥1%, 1%-49%, or ≥50%, 3-year OS rates were 30%, 38%, 30%, and 48%. Three-year OS rates were 30% and 38% in patients with squamous or non-squamous histology. Efficacy outcomes in patients aged ≥75 years were similar to the overall pooled population (median OS, 20.1 months; 3-year OS rate, 34%). In the pooled population, responders to nivolumab plus ipilimumab at 6 months had longer post-landmark OS than those with stable or progressive disease; 3-year OS rates were 66%, 22%, and 14%, respectively. Greater depth of response was associated with prolonged survival; in patients with tumor burden reduction ≥80%, 50% to <80%, or 30% to <50%, 3-year OS rates were 85%, 72%, and 44%, respectively. No new safety signals were identified in the pooled population. CONCLUSION Long-term survival benefit and durable response with nivolumab plus ipilimumab in this large patient population further support this first-line treatment option for advanced NSCLC.
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Affiliation(s)
- H Borghaei
- Hematology and Oncology Department, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, USA.
| | - T-E Ciuleanu
- Department of Medical Oncology, Institutul Oncologic Prof Dr Ion Chiricuta, Cluj-Napoca; Department of Medical Oncology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy Iuliu Hatieganu, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - J-S Lee
- Department of Hematology/Oncology, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Republic of Korea
| | - A Pluzanski
- Department of Lung Cancer and Chest Tumours, Maria Sklodowska-Curie National Research Institute of Oncology, Warsaw, Poland
| | - R Bernabe Caro
- Medical Oncology Department, Hospital Universitario Virgen Del Rocio, Instituto de Biomedicina de Seville, Seville, Spain
| | - M Gutierrez
- John Theurer Cancer Center, Hackensack University Medical Center, Hackensack, USA
| | - Y Ohe
- Department of Thoracic Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo
| | - M Nishio
- Department of Thoracic Medical Oncology Cancer Institute Hospital of Japanese Foundation for Cancer Research, Tokyo, Japan
| | - J Goldman
- David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles
| | - N Ready
- Department of Medicine, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham
| | - D R Spigel
- Thoracic Medical Oncology, Sarah Cannon Research Institute/Tennessee Oncology PLCC, Nashville
| | - S S Ramalingam
- Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University, Atlanta, USA
| | - L G Paz-Ares
- Medical Oncology Department, Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - J F Gainor
- Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, USA
| | - S Ahmed
- Department of Medical Oncology, University Hospitals of Leicester, Leicester, UK
| | - M Reck
- Department of Thoracic Oncology, Airway Research Center North, German Center for Lung Research, Lung Clinic, Grosshansdorf, Germany
| | - M Maio
- Center for Immuno-Oncology, University Hospital of Siena and University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - K J O'Byrne
- Princess Alexandra Hospital, Translational Research Institute and Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia
| | - A Memaj
- Global Biometrics and Data Sciences, Bristol Myers Squibb, Princeton
| | - F Nathan
- OneClinical, Bristol Myers Squibb, Princeton
| | - P Tran
- WW Medical Oncology Department, Bristol Myers Squibb, Princeton
| | - M D Hellmann
- Department of Medical Oncology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York
| | - J R Brahmer
- Bloomberg-Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center, Baltimore, USA
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Paz-Ares LG, Ciuleanu TE, Pluzanski A, Lee JS, Gainor JF, Otterson GA, Audigier-Valette C, Ready N, Schenker M, Linardou H, Caro RB, Provencio M, Zurawski B, Lee KH, Kim SW, Caserta C, Ramalingam SS, Spigel DR, Brahmer JR, Reck M, O'Byrne KJ, Girard N, Popat S, Peters S, Memaj A, Nathan F, Aanur N, Borghaei H. Safety of First-Line Nivolumab Plus Ipilimumab in Patients With Metastatic NSCLC: A Pooled Analysis of CheckMate 227, CheckMate 568, and CheckMate 817. J Thorac Oncol 2023; 18:79-92. [PMID: 36049658 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtho.2022.08.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2022] [Revised: 08/10/2022] [Accepted: 08/21/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION We characterized the safety of first-line nivolumab plus ipilimumab (NIVO+IPI) in a large patient population with metastatic NSCLC and efficacy outcomes after NIVO+IPI discontinuation owing to treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs). METHODS We pooled data from three first-line NIVO+IPI studies (NIVO, 3 mg/kg or 240 mg every 2 wk; IPI, 1 mg/kg every 6 wk) in metastatic NSCLC (CheckMate 227 part 1, CheckMate 817 cohort A, CheckMate 568 part 1). Safety end points included TRAEs and immune-mediated adverse events (IMAEs) in the pooled population and patients aged 75 years or older. RESULTS In the pooled population (N = 1255), any-grade TRAEs occurred in 78% of the patients, grade 3 or 4 TRAEs in 34%, and discontinuation of any regimen component owing to TRAEs in 21%. The most frequent TRAE and IMAE were diarrhea (20%; grade 3 or 4, 2%) and rash (17%; grade 3 or 4, 3%), respectively. The most common grade 3 or 4 IMAEs were hepatitis (5%) and diarrhea/colitis and pneumonitis (4% each). Pneumonitis was the most common cause of treatment-related death (5 of 16). Safety in patients aged 75 years or older (n = 174) was generally similar to the overall population, but discontinuation of any regimen component owing to TRAEs was more common (29%). In patients discontinuing NIVO+IPI owing to TRAEs (n = 225), 3-year overall survival was 50% (95% confidence interval: 42.6-56.0), and 42% (31.2-52.4) of 130 responders remained in response 2 years after discontinuation. CONCLUSIONS First-line NIVO+IPI was well tolerated in this large population with metastatic NSCLC and in patients aged 75 years or older. Discontinuation owing to TRAEs did not reduce long-term survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luis G Paz-Ares
- Medical Oncology Department, Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Tudor-Eliade Ciuleanu
- Department of Medical Oncology, Institutul Oncologic Prof. Dr. Ion Chiricuta and University of Medicine and Pharmacy Iulia Hatieganu, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Adam Pluzanski
- Department of Lung Cancer and Chest Tumours, Maria Sklodowska-Curie National Research Institute of Oncology, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Jong-Seok Lee
- Department of Hematology/Oncology, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Republic of Korea
| | - Justin F Gainor
- Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Gregory A Otterson
- The Ohio State University-James Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
| | | | - Neal Ready
- Department of Medicine, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Michael Schenker
- Department of Medical Oncology, Sf Nectarie Oncology Center, Craiova, Romania
| | - Helena Linardou
- Fourth Oncology Department and Comprehensive Clinical Trials Center, Metropolitan Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Reyes Bernabe Caro
- Medical Oncology Department, Hospital Universitario Virgen Del Rocio, Instituto de Biomedicina de Seville, Seville, Spain
| | - Mariano Provencio
- Medical Oncology Department, Hospital Universitario Puerta de Hierro, Madrid, Spain
| | - Bogdan Zurawski
- Chemotherapy Department, Ambulatorium Chemioterapii, Bydgoszcz, Poland
| | - Ki Hyeong Lee
- Medical Oncology, Chungbuk National University Hospital, Cheongju-si, Republic of Korea
| | - Sang-We Kim
- Department of Oncology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Claudia Caserta
- Medical Oncology Department, Santa Maria Hospital, Terni, Italy
| | - Suresh S Ramalingam
- Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - David R Spigel
- Thoracic Medical Oncology, Sarah Cannon Research Institute/Tennessee Oncology PLLC, Nashville, Tennessee
| | - Julie R Brahmer
- Bloomberg-Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Martin Reck
- Department of Thoracic Oncology, Airway Research Center North, German Center for Lung Research, LungClinic, Grosshansdorf, Germany
| | - Kenneth J O'Byrne
- Princess Alexandra Hospital, Translational Research Institute and Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Nicolas Girard
- Institut du Thorax Curie-Montsouris, Institut Curie, Paris, France
| | - Sanjay Popat
- Lung Unit, Royal Marsden Hospital, London, United Kingdom; The Institute of Cancer Research, University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Solange Peters
- Oncology Department, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Arteid Memaj
- Global Biometrics and Data Sciences, Bristol Myers Squibb, Princeton, New Jersey
| | - Faith Nathan
- Medical Oncology Department, Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain; Medical Oncology Department, Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Nivedita Aanur
- OneClinical, Bristol Myers Squibb, Princeton, New Jersey
| | - Hossein Borghaei
- Hematology and Oncology Department, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Temple Health System, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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Gomes F, Wong M, Battisti NML, Kordbacheh T, Kiderlen M, Greystoke A, Luciani A. Immunotherapy in older patients with non-small cell lung cancer: Young International Society of Geriatric Oncology position paper. Br J Cancer 2020; 123:874-884. [PMID: 32694695 PMCID: PMC7492214 DOI: 10.1038/s41416-020-0986-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2020] [Revised: 05/31/2020] [Accepted: 06/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Immunotherapy with checkpoint inhibitors against programmed cell death receptor (PD-1) and programmed cell death ligand (PD-L1) has been implemented in the treatment pathway of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) from locally advanced disease to the metastatic setting. This approach has resulted in improved survival and a more favourable toxicity profile when compared with chemotherapy. Following the successful introduction of single-agent immunotherapy, current clinical trials are focusing on combination treatments with chemotherapy or radiotherapy or even other immunotherapeutic agents. However, most of the data available from these trials are derived from, and therefore might be more applicable to younger and fitter patients rather than older and often frail lung cancer real-world patients. This article provides a detailed review of these immunotherapy agents with a focus on the data available regarding older NSCLC patients and makes recommendations to fill evidence gaps in this patient population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabio Gomes
- Medical Oncology, The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK.
| | - Melisa Wong
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | | | - Tiana Kordbacheh
- Division of Cancer Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Mandy Kiderlen
- Radiation Oncology, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Alastair Greystoke
- Medical Oncology, Newcastle-upon-Tyne NHS Foundation trust, Newcastle, UK
| | - Andrea Luciani
- Medical Oncology, Ospedale S. Paolo University Hospital, Milan, Italy
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Mariniello A, Novello S, Scagliotti GV, Ramalingam SS. Double immune checkpoint blockade in advanced NSCLC. Crit Rev Oncol Hematol 2020; 152:102980. [PMID: 32516722 DOI: 10.1016/j.critrevonc.2020.102980] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2020] [Revised: 04/28/2020] [Accepted: 05/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Immunotherapy-based options for patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) are increasing at an unprecedented pace, carrying the promise to prolong survival of this deadly disease. To maximize responses and extend benefit to a larger portion of patients, immunotherapy combination strategies are currently under investigation, with chemo-immunotherapy already in use. Combinations of programmed death-1/ligand-1 (PD-1/L1) and cytotoxic T lymphocytes antigen-4 (CTLA-4) were developed with the rationale of targeting complementary pathways involved in T cell activation, and already showed to be highly active in other malignancies. Recently, the phase III Checkmate 227 trial showed that combination of nivolumab and ipilimumab provided survival benefit in untreated advanced NSCLC patients. However, accurate patients' selection and appropriate sequencing of different immunotherapy-based approaches remain unsolved. In this review, we provide an overview of the currently available evidence on double immune checkpoint inhibition (ICI) for NSCLC treatment and discuss current issues and future perspectives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annapaola Mariniello
- Department of Oncology, University of Turin, San Luigi Gonzaga Hospital, Orbassano, TO, Italy; Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.
| | - Silvia Novello
- Department of Oncology, University of Turin, San Luigi Gonzaga Hospital, Orbassano, TO, Italy
| | - Giorgio V Scagliotti
- Department of Oncology, University of Turin, San Luigi Gonzaga Hospital, Orbassano, TO, Italy
| | - Suresh S Ramalingam
- Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
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Remon J, Ahn MJ, Girard N, Johnson M, Kim DW, Lopes G, Pillai RN, Solomon B, Villacampa G, Zhou Q. Advanced-Stage Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Advances in Thoracic Oncology 2018. J Thorac Oncol 2019; 14:1134-1155. [PMID: 31002952 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtho.2019.03.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2019] [Revised: 03/22/2019] [Accepted: 03/22/2019] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
In 2018 research in the field of advanced NSCLCs led to an expanded reach and impact of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) as part of a frontline treatment strategy, regardless of histologic subtype, with ICI use extended to include stage III disease, shifting the prognosis of all these patients. This new standard first-line approach opens a gap in standard second-line treatment, and older combinations may again become standard of care after progression during treatment with an ICI. The characterization of predictive biomarkers, patient selection, the definition of strategies with ICI combinations upon progression during treatment with ICIs, as well as prospective evaluation of the efficacy of ICIs in subpopulations (such as patients with poor performance status or brain metastases) represent upcoming challenges in advanced thoracic malignancies. In oncogene-addicted NSCLC three major steps were taken during 2018: next-generation tyrosine kinase inhibitors have overtaken more established agents as the new standard of care in EGFR and ALK receptor tyrosine kinase gene (ALK)-positive tumors. Mechanisms of acquired resistance have been reported among patients treated with next-generation EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors, reflecting the diversity of the landscape. One major step forward was the approval of personalized treatment in very uncommon genomic alterations, mainly fusions. This raises a new question about the challenge of implementation of next-generation sequencing in daily clinical practice to detect new and uncommon genomic alterations and to capture the heterogeneity of the mechanisms of acquired resistance during treatment, as well as the need to extend research into new therapeutic strategies to overcome them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jordi Remon
- Medical Oncology Department, Centro Integral Oncología Clara Campal Barcelona-HM Delfos, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Myung-Ju Ahn
- Section of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | | | | | - Dong-Wan Kim
- Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Gilberto Lopes
- Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miami, Florida; Department of Medicine, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miami, Florida
| | - Rathi N Pillai
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
| | | | - Guillermo Villacampa
- Oncology Data Science Group, Vall d'Hebron Institute of Oncology, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Qing Zhou
- Guangdong Lung Cancer Institute, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital and Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
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