Adverse events and clinical outcomes in patients treated with PD-(L)1 blockade for advanced non-small-cell lung cancer.

Aims: To describe, in patients with advanced/metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer, the relationship between baseline immunosuppressive drug (ISD)/corticosteroid (CS) use, as well as the incidence of mild/moderate adverse events (AEs), and the clinical effectiveness of PD (L)-1 blockade. Patients & methods: This was a retrospective cohort study of patients with no evidence (n = 131) or positive evidence (n = 269) of ISD/CS use. Results: Duration of treatment, time to next treatment, progression-free survival and overall survival were significantly reduced for patients with evidence of prior ISD/CS use. Occurrence of mild/moderate AEs did not affect any clinical outcomes. Conclusion: Prior ISD/CS use was associated with a poorer prognosis in advanced/metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer patients treated with PD-(L)1 inhibitors, but the occurrence of AEs had no effect.