Real-World Experience of Nivolumab in Non-small Cell Lung Cancer in Korea

Abstract

Purpose

The introduction of immune checkpoint inhibitors represents a major advance in the treatment of lung cancer, allowing sustained recovery in a significant proportion of patients. Nivolumab is a monoclonal anti–programmed death cell protein 1 antibody licensed for the treatment of locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) after prior chemotherapy. In this study, we describe the demographic and clinical outcomes of patients with advanced NSCLC treated with nivolumab in the Korean expanded access program.

Materials and Methods

Previously treated patients with advanced non-squamous and squamous NSCLC patients received nivolumab at 3 mg/kg every 2 weeks up to 36 months. Efficacy data including investigator-assessed tumor response, progression data, survival, and safety data were collected.

Results

Two hundred ninety-nine patients were treated across 36 Korean centers. The objective response rate and disease control rate were 18% and 49%, respectively; the median progression-free survival was 2.1 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.87 to 3.45), and the overall survival (OS) was 13.2 months (95% CI, 10.6 to 18.9). Patients with smoking history and patients who experienced immune-related adverse events showed a prolonged OS. Cox regression analysis identified smoking history, presence of immune-related adverse events as positive factors associated with OS, while liver metastasis was a negative factor associated with OS. The safety profile was generally comparable to previously reported data.

Conclusion

This real-world analysis supports the use of nivolumab for pretreated NSCLC patients, including those with an older age.

Introduction

The introduction of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) has led to tremendous changes in the treatment of advanced stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), and ICIs have emerged as one of the most effective anticancer agents. ICIs can block inhibitory pathways that control the immune response, restoring and sustaining the immune system against cancer cells. Programmed death cell protein 1 (PD-1) is a promising target of immunotherapy, and tumor expression of programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) has been widely investigated as a predictive marker of response, although its sensitivity and specificity is modest [1]. Recent pivotal studies have assessed the role of immunotherapy in metastatic NSCLCs in both squamous and nonsquamous histology, and three agents (nivolumab, pembrolizumab, atezolizumab) have been investigated for the treatment of previously treated metastatic NSCLC.

Nivolumab is a human IgG4 monoclonal antibody that blocks PD-1, and is now approved in second-line therapy of metastatic NSCLC patients. Nivolumab was tested in the open label, randomized phase 3 trials of CheckMate 017 and 057 [2,3] for previously treated squamous and nonsquamous NSCLC, respectively, and showed significantly improved OS compared to docetaxel in both trials. Recently, 5-year pooled OS rates for CheckMate017 and CheckMate057 were reported to be 13.4% for nivolumab, whereas it was 2.6% for docetaxel [4]. However, these clinical trials have excluded patients with poor performance status, brain metastases, and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)/anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) genomic alterations. About one-third of lung cancer patients present with poor performance status (Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status [ECOG PS] ≥ 2) in the real world, although they have been excluded from most clinical trials [5]. While there is a higher frequency of EGFR and ALK-altered patients in Asia, this subgroup of patients cannot be overlooked in the era of immunotherapy. Moreover, elderly patients are frequently under-represented in clinical trials, despite the growing population worldwide [6].

Nivolumab was provided by Ono Pharmaceuticals through an expanded access program (EAP) from February 2016 to March 2019 for both squamous and nonsquamous NSCLC patients in Korea. The EAP program enrolled 300 advanced NSCLC patients from 36 sites in Korea, and represents the largest nation-wide representation of real-world practice. Here, we present the characteristics of response and toxicity of nivolumab treatment in multiple centers in Korea.

Materials and Methods

1. Patients and data collection

Advanced NSCLC patients were screened and recruited from 36 academic hospitals across the Republic of Korea. Eligibility criteria included locally advanced or metastatic NSCLC that had progressed despite standard therapy, an ECOG PS of 0 to 2, and adequate organ function and laboratory results. Key exclusion criteria included active brain metastases, autoimmune diseases, and patients with a life expectancy of < 6 weeks. Nivolumab was given 3 mg/kg intravenously every 2 weeks for a maximum of 36 months or until disease progression, unacceptable toxicity, or withdrawal of consent. Dose escalation or reduction was not allowed.

2. Efficacy assessment

Baseline tumor assessment was performed before the start of treatment, and response evaluation was performed by computed tomography imaging at least every 3 months, according to the local standard of practice. Tumor size measurement was performed according to RECIST 1.1 criteria [7]. An overall response was defined as a complete response (CR) or partial response (PR). Other efficacy parameters included disease control rate, duration of response, progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS). PFS was defined as the time from the start of nivolumab treatment to disease progression or death from any cause. OS was defined as the time from the start of nivolumab treatment to death from any cause.

3. Safety assessment

Safety was assessed at each patient visit by routine physical examination and laboratory assessment as needed by the physician. Blood tests included hematology, routine chemistry (including liver, kidney function, and pancreatic enzymes) and hormonal measurements (thyroid, adrenal function). Toxicity was classified according to Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events ver. 4 (CTCAE v4.0), and data regarding immune-related adverse events (irAEs) were reported retrospectively by patient chart review and laboratory reports.

4. Statistical analysis

All patients who received at least one dose of nivolumab were included in the intention-to-treat analyses for efficacy and safety. Data were summarized using descriptive statistics or contingency tables for demographic and baseline characteristics, response measurements, and safety measurements. All survival analyses were estimated using KaplanMeier curves and compared using the log-rank test. Hazard ratios and corresponding confidence intervals were estimated with the Cox proportional hazards model. All statistical analyses were performed with SPSS ver. 25.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY).

5. Ethical statement

This program was performed in accordance with the principles of the Good Clinical Practice and was approved by the institutional review board of each hospital. All patients provided written informed consent before participation in the EAP.

Results

1. Baseline characteristics

From February 2016 to September 2016, a total of 334 patients were screened and 300 patients were enrolled in the EAP. One patient did not start the treatment, so a total of 299 patients were evaluated for intention-to-treat analysis (Fig. 1). Median follow up time was 30.1 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 0 to 36.3), and a median of 6 doses of nivolumab were administered (range, 1 to 79). The median age of all patients was 61 (range, 31 to 85 years), and 206 (68.9%) were male patients. Most patients (87.3%) had ECOG PS 0-1, but 38 patients (12.7%) had ECOG PS 2. By histology, 198 (66.2%) patients had adenocarcinoma, 85 (28.4%) had squamous cell carcinoma, 6 (2%) had large cell carcinoma. Distant metastasis was identified in 275 (91.9%) patients, and the most common site of metastasis was bone (27.1%), followed by lung (24.4%) and brain (20.1%). Regarding smoking history, 108 (36.1%) patients were never-smokers, and former or current smokers (63.9%) were more prevalent. Most patients (86.9%) had stage Ⅳ disease and were former or current smokers (63.9%). As previous therapy, 61.5% of patients had surgery, 51.8% had radiotherapy, and 27.1% had received one line of chemotherapy before nivolumab. The majority of patients (72.9%) had received two or more lines of chemotherapy, ranging from 2 to 7 (Table 1).

Fig. 1.

Flow diagram of the study patients. Three hundred thirty-four patients were nominated for treatment in the nivolumab EAP. Thirty-four patients did not meet the study criteria and failed the screening. A total of 300 patients were enrolled, but one patient did not start the treatment. Overall, 299 patients were included in the analysis.

Table 1.

Baseline characteristics of all patients

Characteristic	No. (%) (n=299)
Sex
Male	206 (68.9)
Female	93 (31.1)
Age (yr)
Median (range)	61 (31-85)
ECOG PS
0-1	261 (87.3)
2	38 (12.7)
Histology
Adenocarcinoma	198 (66.2)
Squamous cell carcinoma	85 (28.4)
Large cell carcinoma	6 (2.0)
Other	10 (3.3)
Metastasis site
Adrenal glands	31 (10.4)
Bone	81 (27.1)
Brain	60 (20.1)
Liver	32 (10.7)
Lung ipsilateral	55 (18.4)
Lung contralateral	73 (24.4)
Other	109 (36.5)
Clinical stage
IIIA	2 (0.7)
IIIB	37 (12.4)
IV	260 (87.0)
Smoking history
Never	108 (36.1)
Former	171 (57.2)
Current	20 (6.7)
Previous therapy
Surgery
Yes	115 (38.5)
No	184 (61.5)
Radiotherapy
Yes	144 (48.2)
No	155 (51.8)
Chemotherapy
1	81 (27.1)
≥ 2	218 (72.9)

ECOG PS, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status.

As PD-L1 testing was optional in this program, PD-L1 immunohistochemistry results were available in only 17 patients (5.7%), EGFR mutations were identified in 48 patients (16.1%), and ALK translocations were identified in five patients (1.7%), but EGFR and ALK gene status was not available in 155 (51.8%) and 176 (58.9%) patients, respectively.

2. Efficacy

Response evaluation was available in 256 patients, and 43 patients (14%) had missing evaluation scans due to progressive disease or death before first evaluation (Table 2). Best objective overall response (ORR) in the evaluable population was: CR in four patients (2%), PR in 49 patients (16%), stable disease in 92 patients (31%), and progressive disease in 111 (37%) patients. The ORR was 18%, and disease control rate (DCR) was 49%. The median time to response was 1.8 months (range, 1.3 to 18.2 months), and the median duration of response in those who achieved objective response was 21.0 months (range, 0.8+ to 33.2+ months). We compared ORR according to histology (squamous cell carcinoma vs. adenocarcinoma) and smoking status (never vs. former/current). The ORR (24.7% vs. 13.6%, p=0.023) and DCR (56.5% vs. 42.9%, p=0.036) in squamous cell carcinoma patients were both significantly higher than adenocarcinoma patients, while the ORR and DCR did not differ between neversmokers and former/current smokers. The Kaplan-Meier estimates for PFS and OS are reported in Fig. 2A and B. The median PFS was 2.1 months (95% CI, 1.87 to 3.45), and the median OS was 13.2 months (95% CI, 10.6 to 18.9). The 1-year and 2-year PFS rate was 18.2% and 11.7% and, 1-year and 2-year OS rate was 54.5%, 40.1%, respectively. Next, PFS and OS were compared between specific patient subgroups. Former or current smokers showed significantly longer OS, but not PFS, compared to never-smokers (Fig. 3A and B). PFS and OS were not significantly different according to tumor histology (Fig. 3C and D).

Table 2.

Overall objective response

	Total (n=299)	Histology		Smoking
		Squamous (n=85)	Adenocarcinoma (n=198)	Never (n=108)	Former or current (n=191)
Objective response ratea)	53 (18)	21 (25)	27 (14)	13 (12)	40 (21)
Disease control rateb)	145 (49)	48 (56)	85 (43)	45 (42)	100 (52)
Best overall response
CR	4 (2)	2 (2)	2 (1)	1 (1)	3 (2)
PR	49 (16)	19 (22)	25 (13)	12 (11)	37 (19)
SD	92 (31)	27 (32)	58 (29)	32 (30)	60 (31)
PD	111 (37)	28 (33)	79 (40)	43 (40)	68 (36)
NE	43 (14)	1 (1)	0	0	1 (1)
Duration of responsec) (mo)	21.03 (0.79+ to 33.15+)	16.9 (1.94 to 33.08+)	26.8 (0.79+ to 32.85+)	20.4 (2.43 to 32.39+)	26.8 (0.79+to 33.15+)

Values are presented as number (%) or median (range). CR, complete response; PR, partial response; SD, stable disease; PD, progressive disease; NE, not evaluable. ^a)Best overall response is CR or PR, ^b)Best overall response is CR or PR or SD, ^c)The duration of response was defined as the time from the date of first response (CR/PR) to the date of first documented disease progression/death (event), or last tumor assessment (censored).

Fig. 2.

Kaplan-Meier curves of progression-free survival and overall survival in non-small cell lung cancer patients treated with nivolumab. (A) Progression-free survival of all patients. (B) Overall survival of all patients.

Fig. 3.

Kaplan-Meier curves. (A) Comparison of progression-free survival between former or current smokers versus never-smokers. (B) Comparison of overall survival between former or current smokers versus never-smokers. (C) Comparison of progression-free survival between squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma. (D) Comparison of overall survival between squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma. HR, hazard ratio; CI, confidence interval.

3. Efficacy in specific patients’ subgroups

We compared ORR according to different clinical parameters including metastatic site, ECOG PS, prior treatment line, presence of immune-related AE (irAE), and EGFR mutation status (S1 Table). We noted a significantly higher ORR in patients who presented with irAE than those who did not (32% vs. 11%, p < 0.001). In addition, patients who received one prior therapy showed higher ORR than those who received two or more prior therapies (27% vs. 14%, p=0.009). However, there were no significant differences in ORR according site of metastasis, ECOG PS or EGFR mutation status.

When PFS and OS were compared between specific patient subgroups, we noted that patients who were aged 75 or older showed a significantly prolonged PFS (p=0.046) compared to patients under 75 years (S2A Fig.), while OS was not different (S2B Fig.). There were no differences in PFS or OS according to ECOG PS (S2C and S2D Fig.). Patients who experienced irAEs showed a significantly prolonged PFS and OS compared to those who did not (p < 0.001) (S2E and S2F Fig.). On the other hand, patients who presented with concomitant brain and liver metastases showed the shortest PFS and OS compared to those with brain, liver, or other metastases (data not shown).

Ninety-three patients were treated beyond progression, and of these patients, two (2%) achieved objective response beyond progression, and disease control was achieved in 18 (19%) patients. The median OS of patients who received nivolumab beyond PD was 13.2 months (95% CI, 9.59 to 23.95), which was significantly longer from those who withdrew after PD (8.28 months; 95% CI, 6.05 to 12.35; p=0.048).

When we compared clinical or tumor characteristics between early progressors (< 4 cycles) and long-term responders (≥ 48 cycles), no baseline clinical or tumor characteristics clearly distinguished long-term survivors (data not shown). There was a trend toward long-term efficacy in patients with squamous histology and patients with smoking history.

4. Univariate and multivariate analyses

We next performed univariate and multivariate analyses to assess the role of each clinical parameter on OS and PFS. Cox regression analysis identified smoking history, presence of irAE as positive factors associated with OS, and liver metastasis was negative factor associated with OS. At multivariate analysis, all three factors maintained their independent prognostic role (Table 3). In addition, the presence of irAEs was also a positive factor associated with PFS (S3 Table).

Table 3.

Cox proportional hazard model for overall survival

Variable	Reference	Univariate analysis			Multivariate analysis
		Hazard ratio	95% CI	p-value	Hazard ratio	95% CI	p-value
Age
≥ 75 yr	< 75 yr	0.62	0.31-1.23	0.172	-	-	-
Smoking history
Former or current	Never	0.66	0.46-0.96	0.028	0.65	0.44-0.94	0.024
Histology
Squamous cell carcinoma	Adenocarcinoma	0.92	0.62-1.38	0.697	-	-	-
Brain metastasis
Yes	No	1.40	0.93-2.11	0.110	-	-	-
Liver metastasis
Yes	No	2.38	1.52-3.75	< 0.001	2.18	1.37-3.47	0.001
ECOG PS
2	0-1	1.60	0.97-2.65	0.067	-	-	-
Previous treatment line
≥ 2	1	1.42	0.94-2.15	0.094	-	-	-
Immune-related AE
Yes	No	0.44	0.29-0.67	< 0.001	0.50	0.33-0.76	0.001
AE
Yes	No	0.77	0.44-1.35	0.360	-	-	-
EGFR
Positive	Negative	0.94	0.52-1.72	0.854	-	-	-

CI, confidence interval; ECOG PS, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status; AE, adverse effect; EGFR, epidermal growth factor receptor.

5. Safety

Treatment-related AE of any grade, and treatment-related AE of grade 3-4 events were reported in 63% and 18% of patients, respectively. The discontinuation rate due to treatment-related AEs was 8%. No treatment-related deaths were reported. IrAEs were reported in 32% of patients (S4 Table). The most common treatment-related AEs were decreased appetite (9.7%), pruritus (8.0%), pneumonia (7.0%), fatigue (7.0%) and diarrhea (7.0%). The most common treatment-related grade 3-4 AEs were dyspnea (1.7%), hepatotoxicity (1.3%), and pleural effusion (1%) (S5 Table). The most common irAEs was skin toxicity, occurring in 11% of patients, followed by endocrine (8%) and gastrointestinal (7%) (S6 Table). The following treatmentrelated grade 3/4 irAEs were notable: skin toxicity presenting as erythematous skin rash (n=1) and rash acneiform (n=1), pulmonary toxicity presenting as pneumonitis (n=2), hepatotoxicity presenting as aspartate aminotransferase/alanine transaminase increased (n=2), musculoskeletal toxicity presenting as myalgia (n=1), and endocrine toxicity presenting as thyroid-stimulating hormone increase (n=1).

Discussion

In this real-world analysis, efficacy and safety of nivolumab were comparable to previous phase 3 results. ORR, PFS, and OS in our population were similar to the observations in the CheckMate017 and CheckMate057 studies [2,3]. In addition, 3-year OS was 20.4% in our study, while it was 17.1% in the pooled phase 3 analyses [4]. There were no new safety signals identified in our study. Unlike clinical trials, we included patients with ECOG PS 2 and those who were previously heavily treated, thus this EAP represents a sizeable real-world experience with nivolumab.

Subgroup analyses showed that patients who experienced irAEs showed significantly higher ORR, PFS, and OS. The correlation between irAEs and efficacy has been previously reported [8-12]. In a recent study conducted in Spain, the probability of having a clinical response was 23 times higher in those patients who showed an irAE [8]. In a series of cases from clinical trials at MD Anderson, patients who were treated with ICIs showed better ORR and PFS if they experienced severe irAEs [10]. In a Japanese lung cancer cohort treated with nivolumab, patients with early irAEs showed improved ORR and PFS compared with those without [12]. However, these reports were retrospective in nature, similar to ours, and whether or not the presence of irAEs could be a novel predictor of response should be further validated in prospective trials. One possibility is that the longer exposure to nivolumab increases the risk of developing irAEs. Still, the association between irAEs and the efficacy of ICIs highlights the need for better management of irAEs so that patients can continue treatment as long as possible.

We noted that elderly patients demonstrated similar benefits compared to those in the overall population. Efficacy was similar among patients aged < 65, 65 to < 75, ≥ 75 years, and safety profiles were also similar. When age group was divided into < 75, and ≥ 75 years, patients who were aged ≥ 75 showed a significantly longer PFS, although this was no longer significant in Cox proportional hazard models. While elderly patients are often under-represented in clinical trials [13], recent real-world data suggests that the efficacy of ICIs does not deteriorate in elderly patients [14,15]. In a large French study, advanced NSCLC patients aged 80 years or over showed similar median OS compared to patients under 80 years, suggesting that no specific tolerability issue arose in this age group [15]. In an Italian EAP study, tumor response was similar across patients aged < 65, 65 to < 75, and ≥ 75 years [14]. Therefore, we cautiously suggest that old age alone should not be a barrier to anti–PD-1/PD-L1 treatment, but further study of larger elderly populations is warranted.

In our study, squamous histology seemed associated with higher ORR, although it did not lead to improved survival outcomes. This could be explained by the higher prevalence of oncogenic driver mutations in adenocarcinomas, which are reported to be less responsive to anti–PD-1/PD-L1 therapy [16,17]. Similarly, former or current smokers had a prolonged OS compared to never-smokers, and smoking status maintained significant after multivariate analysis. This is in line with a recent meta-analysis that PD-1 and PD-L1 inhibitors significantly prolonged the OS in smoking patients [18].

Liver metastasis was associated with poor survival outcome in our study. The presence of liver metastasis significantly increased the likelihood of death (hazard ratio, 2.18; p=0.001) in multivariate analysis. A recent study which explored the association of liver metastasis and response in patients with melanoma and lung cancer also suggested that liver metastasis was associated with reduced response and shorter PFS [19]. In this study, reduced CD8+ T cell density at the invasive tumor margin was observed in liver biopsies, providing a possible background for poor survival. Multiple mechanisms have been suggested to explain liver-induced immune tolerance, such as poor CD4+ T cell activation [20], and Kupffer cells activating regulatory T cells [21]. Further mechanistic studies may aid to explain factors influencing response to ICIs.

The presence of EGFR mutation in tumor is known to be poorly responsive to ICIs. In a meta-analysis by Lee et al. [22], ICIs were not superior to docetaxel in EGFR-mutant subset, and in another meta-analysis, the PFS was in fact worse in patients with EGFR-mutant subset treated with PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors versus docetaxel [23]. In our study, ORR, PFS, and OS were not different according to EGFR mutation status, but this may be due to small number of EGFR-mutant patients and EGFR mutation status was largely unavailable in most patients.

Thirty-eight patients (12.7%) with ECOG PS 2 were enrolled in our study, and efficacy results showed that ORR, PFS, and OS were not significantly inferior in ECOG PS 2 patients. This indicates that, unlike clinical trials, ECOG PS 2 patients can also benefit from ICIs in the real-world setting.

Our study has some limitations. The EAP did not require the PD-L1 status of tumor tissue for enrollment, so our data lacks analysis on the PD-L1 status and efficacy. Furthermore, there were no data on brain response evaluation to evaluate intracranial efficacy.

In conclusion, the efficacy of nivolumab in real-world patients seems to be comparable to that of clinical trials, and nivolumab is a viable option in the previously treated NSCLC patients.

Electronic Supplementary Material

Supplementary materials are available at Cancer Research and Treatment website (https://www.e-crt.org).

S1 Table.

Objective responses according to different clinical parameters

S2 Fig.

Kaplan-Meier curves showing (A) Comparison of progression-free survival (PFS) between patients aged ≥ 75 years versus aged < 75 years. (B) Comparison of overall survival (OS) between patients aged ≥ 75 years versus aged < 75 years. (C) Comparison of PFS between patients with Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status (PS) 0-1 versus 2. (D) Comparison of OS between patients with ECOG PS 0-1 versus 2. (E) Comparison of PFS between patients who experienced immune-related adverse effects (AEs) versus who did not (F) Comparison of OS between patients who experienced immune-related AEs versus who did not.

S3 Table.

Cox proportional hazard model for progression-free survival

S4 Table.

Toxicity incidences

S5 Table.

Treatment-related adverse event profiles (≥ 5%)

S6 Table.

Incidence of immune-related adverse event