Real-world trends in EU4 and the UK in frontline (1L) maintenance (MT) for nonsquamous (NSQ) advanced non-small cell lung cancer (aNSCLC) without actionable mutations after introduction of immune checkpoint inhibitors.

Abstract

296 Background: Immune checkpoint (PD-1, PD-L1) inhibitors are important in the treatment (Tx) of aNSCLC, as reflected in European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) guidelines. Pembrolizumab (pembro) combined with pemetrexed and platinum-based chemotherapy is a standard induction option in 1L Tx of NSQ aNSCLC. Decisions about 1L maintenance consider response and toxicity after induction, performance status, and patient preference. This study documents recent real-world 1L MT patient characteristics and Tx in EU4 (France, Germany, Italy, Spain) and UK. Methods: This retrospective analysis used patient chart review completed by treating physicians in EU4 and UK between 1 Jan 2018 and 31 Dec 2020 in the IQVIA Oncology Dynamics (OD) database. Adults (≥21 years) with confirmed NSQ aNSCLC (stage IIIB/C or IV) without actionable oncogenic driver mutations and with Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) status of 0 or 1 were included. 1L MT and Tx characteristics and trends over time were evaluated overall and by country. Results: In total, 1,814 NSQ aNSCLC patients receiving 1L MT Tx met the inclusion criteria; 29% of patients entered the analysis in 2018, 40% in 2019, and 31% in 2020. Most patients were male (61%), in the 46–65 age group (51%), current/ex-smokers (87%), and treated in the UK (29%) or Germany (24%); 94% were metastatic (stage IV), 10% presented with CNS/brain metastases, and 77% had ECOG score of 1. Overall, 91% were tested for PD-L1; of these, 47% had tumor proportion score (TPS) of ≥1% to 49%, 22% had TPS of ≥50%, and 21% tested negative. Baseline demographic and clinical characteristics were generally similar among countries. The top two Tx in 1L MT were pemetrexed (40%; range: 12% in Germany to 66% in Italy) and pembro (28%; range: 14% in Spain to 49% in Germany) monotherapies. Overall use of pemetrexed-based Tx in 1L MT decreased from 68% in 2018 Q1 to 56% in 2020 Q4, while pembro-based Tx increased from 18% in 2018 Q1 to 73% in 2020 Q4 in 1L MT. Conclusions: Despite ESMO guidelines, this real-world data suggests notable differences between European countries in 1L MT Tx for NSQ aNSCLC, with trends over time likely reflecting introduction and adoption of pembro regardless of PD-L1 status. Awareness of country and time-variability in clinical practice are critical for implementing clinical trials and updating clinical practice guidelines to maximize Tx benefits with improved tolerability.[Table: see text]

Real‐world treatment patterns and clinical outcomes after introduction of immune checkpoint inhibitors: Results from a retrospective chart review of patients with advanced/metastatic non‐small cell lung cancer in the EU5

“…In this study, 1LM therapy was consistent across all 5 countries, with pembrolizumab monotherapy the most used regimen regardless of tumor histology or PD‐L1 status, and docetaxel monotherapy the most common 2L regimen in all but Germany, which had equal usage of docetaxel + nintedanib. Since the introduction of ICIs in 2018, there have been limited real‐world studies of 1LM treatment patterns in advanced/metastatic NSCLC; however, increased adoption of pembrolizumab‐based regimens and decreased use of pemetrexed‐based regimens, regardless of 1L therapy, has been reported, 5 reflecting the 2018 update of ESMO guidelines 2 . Similarly, a retrospective analysis of clinical data from China between September 2018 and May 2021 reported that for patients with nonsquamous NSCLC who received pemetrexed + platinum‐based chemotherapy as 1L treatment, 17.7% went on to receive ICI monotherapy as 1LM while 38.1% received ICIs + pemetrexed 6 …”