Long-term effectiveness and treatment sequences in patients with extensive stage small cell lung cancer receiving atezolizumab plus chemotherapy: Results of the IFCT-1905 CLINATEZO real-world study

Clinical Outcomes of Chemo-Immunotherapy for Extensive Stage Small Cell Lung Cancer: A Real-World Single Centre Study in Portugal

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is an aggressive type of lung cancer. Recent studies have provided a new hope by adding atezolizumab to the standard treatment of extensive disease SCLC (E-SCLC). The aim of our study was to evaluate the real-life performance of atezolizumab plus chemotherapy in extensive stage SCLC in a Portuguese setting. Data was collected on twenty patients (70% were male with a mean age of 66.9 years) in treatment at a tertiary hospital in Portugal with E-SCLC treated with chemotherapy and atezolizumab between July 2022 and February 2024. All patients received a carboplatin plus etoposide regimen in combination with atezolizumab. The overall response rate was 55% (95% CI: 31.5 - 76.9) and the disease control rate was 70% (95% CI: 45.7 - 88.1). The median overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) was 9.7 (95% CI:5.08 - 14.32) and 7.17 (95% CI:3.28 - 11.05) months, respectively. In total, 13 (65%) patients experienced disease progression and 10 (50%) died during follow-up from events related to the disease. Patients with a performance status score ≥ 2 had lower PFS (p = 0.003) and OS (p = 0.001). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first real-world clinical study in Portugal to evaluate real life outcomes for this combination therapy.

Efficacy of second line and subsequent treatments of small cell lung cancer with and without immune checkpoint inhibitor combination therapy

BACKGROUND

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) combined with platinum-doublet chemotherapy (ICI-chemo) have become the standard of care for extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC). However, the effect of ICI-chemo on the efficacy of subsequent chemotherapy remains unknown. This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of second and subsequent treatments of SCLC with and without ICI combination therapy.

METHODS

We performed an analysis of patients with ES-SCLC between January 2015 and June 2023. The ICI-chemo groups were defined as patients who received ICI-chemo as first-line therapy between September 2019 and June 2023, after ICI-chemo was reimbursed in Japan. The non-ICI-chemo groups were defined as patients who received platinum-doublet therapy between January 2015 and August 2019 and were considered eligible for ICI-chemo.

RESULTS

In total, 224 patients were included (91 and 133 patients who received ICI-chemo and non-ICI-chemo, respectively). There were no significant differences in patient characteristics between the groups. There was no significant difference in progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) for first-line treatment between the two groups. The median PFS and OS periods for second-line treatment were 3.9 and 3.9 months and 10.3 and 10.7 months in the ICI-chemo and non-ICI-chemo groups, respectively, without significant difference. Most patients in both groups received amrubicin as the second-line treatment. Moreover, the PFS and OS periods for third-line treatment were not significantly different between the ICI-chemo and non-ICI-chemo groups.

CONCLUSIONS

In ES-SCLC, there is no significant additive effect on PFS and OS of second- and subsequent line treatments following ICI-chemo at first-line treatment.

Benefit of Consolidation Thoracic Radiotherapy in Extensive-Stage Small-Cell Lung Cancer Patients Treated with Immunotherapy: Data from Slovenian Cohort

Chemoimmunotherapy (CT/IO) with immune checkpoint inhibitors has recently become the standard of care for extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC). Given the uncertain role of consolidation thoracic radiotherapy (cTRT) in this setting, we conducted a real-world study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of cTRT in ES-SCLC patients receiving first-line CT/IO. We performed a retrospective analysis of ES-SCLC patients treated with first-line CT/IO in Slovenia from December 2019 to June 2024. Patient characteristics, treatment patterns, survival outcomes, and adverse events were analyzed, with subgroup comparisons based on cTRT administration. Among 208 patients (median age: 66 years), median overall survival was 12.1 months (95% CI: 10.6-13.7). cTRT was administered to 46 patients (22.1%), who had fewer metastases. cTRT was associated with improved OS (17.0 vs. 10.8 months; p < 0.001) and was an independent OS predictor (HR = 0.58, p = 0.035). Grade ≥ 3 adverse events were similar (26.1% vs. 21.3%), though pneumonitis occurred more frequently with cTRT (6.5% vs. 0%, p = 0.001). cTRT may improve survival in ES-SCLC patients treated with CT/IO, with no significant increase in toxicity apart from pneumonitis. Further prospective studies are needed.

Bridging the gap: unlocking the potential of emerging drug therapies for brain metastasis

Brain metastasis remains an unmet clinical need in advanced cancers with an increasing incidence and poor prognosis. The limited response to various treatments is mainly derived from the presence of the substantive barrier, blood-brain barrier (BBB) and brain-tumour barrier (BTB), which hinders the access of potentially effective therapeutics to the metastatic tumour of the brain. Recently, the understanding of the structural and molecular features of the BBB/BTB has led to the development of efficient strategies to enhance BBB/BTB permeability and deliver drugs across the BBB/BTB to elicit the anti-tumour response against brain metastasis. Meanwhile, novel agents capable of penetrating the BBB have rapidly developed and been evaluated in preclinical studies and clinical trials, with both targeted therapies and immunotherapies demonstrating impressive intracranial activity against brain metastasis. In this review, we summarize the recent advances in the biological properties of the BBB/BTB and the emerging strategies for BBB/BTB permeabilization and drug delivery across the BBB/BTB. We also discuss the emerging targeted therapies and immunotherapies against brain metastasis tested in clinical trials. Additionally, we provide our viewpoints on accelerating clinical translation of novel drugs into clinic for patients of brain metastasis. Although still challenging, we expect this review to benefit the future development of novel therapeutics, specifically from a clinical perspective.

Real-world evidence in extensive disease small cell lung cancer: The missing piece of the puzzle

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is a highly aggressive disease, often diagnosed at an advanced stage and with limited treatment options. In recent years, immunotherapy has been approved in combination with chemotherapy in the first line setting of extensive stage disease (ES-SCLC). However, only 10-15 % of patients with ES-SCLC treated with chemoimmunotherapy (CT-IO) experience a long-term benefit. In addition, patients are often clinically frail due to advanced age, comorbidities, and disease-related symptoms, making SCLC a challenging condition. Real-world evidence (RWE) becomes particularly valuable in this scenario, not only to confirm the results of pivotal trials, but also to evaluate the outcomes of CT-IO in populations that are generally excluded from clinical trials. RWE could also define the role of integrative treatments such as thoracic consolidation radiotherapy and prophylactic cranial irradiation, which are used in selected patients in the clinical practice but were scarcely applied in pivotal trials. In this review, we focused on RWE in ES-SCLC, with the aim of improving clinical decision making. Notably, real-world data have largely confirmed the efficacy and safety of CT-IO observed in pivotal clinical trials, with a possible benefit even in more fragile patients. However, these studies also highlight that a significant proportion of the ES-SCLC population remains untreated due to poor clinical conditions.

Lurbinectedin in extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer: a brief report of the IFCT-2105 LURBICLIN study

BACKGROUND

Small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) is a highly aggressive type of lung cancer. Lurbinectedin is recommended as second-/third-line treatment for advanced, previously treated SCLC.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

LURBICLIN is a nationwide, non-interventional, retrospective chart review study, based on the cohort of consecutive patients enrolled in the named patient use for lurbinectedin in France.

RESULTS

A total of 312 patients were included. Lurbinectedin was delivered as second-line therapy in 138 (44%) patients. Grade 3-4 treatment-related adverse events were observed in 28 (9%) and 15 (5%) patients, respectively. Objective response rate (ORR) to lurbinectedin was 22% in the intention-to-treat population. After a median follow-up of 20.8 months, median progression-free survival (PFS) was 1.9 months [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.8-2.0 months]. At multivariate analysis, chemotherapy-free interval (CTFI) ≥ 90 days was an independent predictor of higher PFS [hazard ratio (HR) = 0.64, 95% CI 0.50-0.84, P < 0.0001]. The median overall survival (OS) was 4.7 months (95% CI 4.0-5.4 months). At multivariate analysis, performance status < 2 and CTFI ≥ 90 days were independent predictors of higher OS (HR = 0.71, 95% CI 0.53-0.95, P = 0.03; and HR = 0.58, 95% CI 0.44-0.76, P < 0.0001, respectively). Overall, 147 (47%) patients had initiated subsequent systemic treatments.

CONCLUSIONS

LURBICLIN confirms the activity of lurbinectedin in patients with SCLC with a manageable safety profile. Lurbinectedin monotherapy provides an alternative option for SCLC patients.

Comparison of the efficacy and safety of anlotinib monotherapy or anlotinib plus immune checkpoint inhibitor for advanced small cell lung cancer with brain metastases

BACKGROUND

Anlotinib, as a salvage treatment for patients after failure of third-line or later-line treatments for small cell lung cancer (SCLC), has shown efficacy in patients with brain metastases (BMs). However, the efficacy and safety of anlotinib alone or in combination with immunotherapy for SCLC with BMs remain unclear.

METHOD

Patients treated with anlotinib alone or in combination with an immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) at the Zhejiang Cancer Hospital between April 2019 and February 2023 were identified. Kaplan-Meier curves were used to describe the progression-free survival (PFS) and intracranial PFS (iPFS). A waterfall diagram was used to indicate changes in intracranial lesions.

RESULTS

A total of 48 patients were included; 29 received anlotinib alone, and 19 were administered anlotinib plus ICI. Combination therapy, compared with anlotinib, was associated with significantly longer PFS and iPFS (PFS: 8.1 months vs. 2.5 months, P < 0.001; iPFS: 8.1 months vs. 2.5 months, P = 0.004). Similar results were observed in patients with multiple BMs (PFS: 8.1 months vs. 1.9 months, P = 0.001; iPFS: 8.1 months vs. 1.9 months, P = 0.002). After third-line or later-line treatments, patients treated with ICI plus anlotinib also achieved significant PFS and iPFS benefits (PFS: 8.4 months vs. 2.1 months, P < 0.001; iPFS: 9.2 months vs. 2.1 months, P = 0.002). No new or severe adverse events were observed with combination therapy.

CONCLUSION

The combination of anlotinib and ICI has promising intracranial and extracranial efficacy with tolerable toxicity, and may be a therapeutic option for SCLC patients with BMs.

Real-life clinical management patterns in extensive-stage small cell lung cancer across France: a multi-method study

BACKGROUND

We designed this study based on both a physician practice survey and real-world patient data to: (1) evaluate clinical management practices in extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC) among medical centers located across France; and (2) describe first-line treatment patterns among patients with ES-SCLC following the introduction of immunotherapy into clinical practice.

METHODS

A 50-item questionnaire was completed by physicians from 45 medical centers specialized in SCLC management. Responses were collected from June 2022 to January 2023. The survey questions addressed diagnostic workup of ES-SCLC, chemoimmunotherapy in first-line and second-line settings, and use of prophylactic cranial irradiation (PCI) and radiotherapy. In parallel, using a chart review approach, we retrospectively analyzed aggregated information from 548 adults with confirmed ES-SCLC receiving first-line treatment in the same centers.

RESULTS

In ES-SCLC, treatment planning is based on chest computed tomography (CT) (as declared by 100% of surveyed centers). Mean time between diagnosis and treatment initiation was 2-7 days, as declared by 82% of centers. For detection of brain metastases, the most common imaging test was brain CT (84%). The main exclusion criteria for first-line immunotherapy in the centers were autoimmune disease (87%), corticosteroid therapy (69%), interstitial lung disease (69%), and performance status ≥ 2 (69%). Overall, 53% and 36% of centers considered that patients are chemotherapy-sensitive if they relapse within ≥ 3 months or ≥ 6 months after first-line chemoimmunotherapy, respectively. Among the 548 analyzed patients, 409 (75%) received chemoimmunotherapy as a first-line treatment, 374 (91%) of whom received carboplatin plus etoposide and 35 (9%) cisplatin plus etoposide. Overall, 340/548 patients (62%) received maintenance immunotherapy. Most patients (68%) did not receive radiotherapy or PCI.

CONCLUSIONS

There is an overall alignment of practices reflecting recent clinical guidelines among medical centers managing ES-SCLC across France, and a high prescription rate of immunotherapy in the first-line setting.