Perioperative Nivolumab and Chemotherapy Improves Outcomes in Stage III Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer

Strategic Insights -

Researchers from University Hospital Puerta Hierro Majadahonda in Madrid, Spain, have released a new study detailing the effectiveness of perioperative treatment with nivolumab and chemotherapy in patients with stage III non-small-cell lung cancer. According to the study, approximately 20% of patients with non-small-cell lung cancer receive a diagnosis of stage III disease. There is no current consensus regarding the most appropriate treatment for these patients.

Key Takeaways:

  • Approximately 20% of patients with non-small-cell lung cancer receive a diagnosis of stage III disease.
  • Perioperative treatment with nivolumab plus chemotherapy resulted in a higher percentage of patients with a pathological complete response (37% vs. 7%).
  • Patients in the experimental group who received nivolumab plus chemotherapy had longer progression-free survival (67.2% vs. 40.9%) and overall survival (85.0% vs. 63.6%) compared to those receiving chemotherapy alone.
  • The study found that surgery was performed in 93% of the patients in the experimental group and in 69% in the control group.
  • Grade 3 or 4 adverse events occurred in 19% of the patients in the experimental group and 10% in the control group.
  • The study involved 86 patients, with 57 assigned to the experimental group receiving nivolumab plus chemotherapy and 29 assigned to the control group receiving chemotherapy alone.
  • The research was supported by the Bristol-Myers Squibb, European Union Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation program, Spanish Government, European Union, European Social Fund, Sara Borrell fellowship, and Spanish Lung Cancer Group.

Statistics:

  • 20% of patients with non-small-cell lung cancer receive a diagnosis of stage III disease.
  • 37% of patients in the experimental group experienced a pathological complete response compared to 7% in the control group.
  • 67.2% of patients in the experimental group had progression-free survival at 24 months compared to 40.9% in the control group.
  • 85.0% of patients in the experimental group had overall survival at 24 months compared to 63.6% in the control group.
  • 93% of patients in the experimental group underwent surgery compared to 69% in the control group.
  • Grade 3 or 4 adverse events occurred in 19% of patients in the experimental group and 10% in the control group.

Sources:

  • Perioperative Nivolumab and Chemotherapy In Stage Iii Non-small-cell Lung Cancer. New England Journal of Medicine, 2023.
  • NewsRx. Data on Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Detailed by Researchers at University Hospital Puerta Hierro Majadahonda (Perioperative Nivolumab and Chemotherapy In Stage Iii Non-small-cell Lung Cancer). Cancer Weekly. September 19, 2023; p 189.