Efficacy of subsequent treatment for unresectable locally-advanced non-small cell lung cancer after relapse of concurrent chemoradiotherapy with durvalumab consolidation therapy: A single-center retrospective study

Abstract

Objectives: The current standard treatment for locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (LA-NSCLC) is concurrent chemoradiation therapy (CCRT) followed by durvalumab consolidation therapy. Although the trial revealed the survival benefit of adding an immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) to the population, the optimal treatment strategy and efficacy of subsequent treatment after relapse remain unclear.

Materials and methods: We retrospectively collected data from patients with unresectable LA-NSCLC who completed platinum-based CCRT as first-line treatment. Patients who received molecular-targeted therapy for driver gene alterations or did not receive durvalumab as consolidation therapy following the approval were excluded. We assessed differences in regimen and efficacy of subsequent treatment in patients who underwent durvalumab consolidation therapy (D group) and those who did not (CR group).

Results: Among the 62 eligible patients, 32 were assigned to the D group and 30 to the CR group. Patients in the CR group were more frequently treated with an immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI)-containing regimen than those in the D group (57 % vs. 13 %, p < 0.001). The median overall survival from initiation of subsequent treatment was shorter in the D group than in the CR group (13.0 months vs. 26.7 months, hazard ratio 2.60; 95 % confidence interval: 1.28-2.56, p = 0.008).

Conclusions: Patients with unresectable LA-NSCLC who relapsed after durvalumab consolidation therapy received an ICI-containing regimen less frequently, and the efficacy of the subsequent treatment was limited.

Keywords: Chemoradiation therapy; Durvalumab; Non-small cell lung cancer; Subsequent treatment.