Prognostic significance of immunotherapy in postoperative recurrent non-small cell lung cancer without EGFR mutations or ALK rearrangements.

BACKGROUND: Limited reports exist regarding postoperative recurrent non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) without major driver mutations [epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations or anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) rearrangements] treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) when programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) is expressed in a real-world setting. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of ICIs for those NSCLC.

METHODS: We enrolled 255 patients with postoperative recurrent NSCLC lacking EGFR mutations or ALK rearrangements who underwent lobectomy or more extensive resection between 2012 and 2021. Factors associated with post-recurrence survival (PRS) were determined using the Cox proportional hazards model. PRS was analyzed using Kaplan-Meier curves and compared using the log-rank test.

RESULTS: Multivariable analysis demonstrated that squamous cell carcinoma, pathological stage III, and an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status ≥2 were significantly associated with worse PRS. Conversely, ICI use at first line was associated with improved PRS. Patients who used ICIs during the first line and subsequent therapies had better PRS than those who received chemotherapy alone. Among patients who used ICIs, there was no significant difference in response rate at the first line, nor in PRS among those with PD-L1 expression ≥50%, 1-49%, and <1% in surgically resected specimens.

CONCLUSIONS: ICI use at any treatment line improved the PRS of NSCLC patients without major driver mutations, irrespective of PD-L1 expression, in a real-world setting.