The rest period between chemotherapy and immunotherapy influences the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors in lung cancer. Issue 16 (11th July 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kang, Da Hyun; Choi, Seong‐woo; Sun, Pureum; Chung, Chaeuk; Park, Dongil; Lee, Song‐I; Koh, Jeong Suk; Kim, Yoonjoo; Lee, Jeong Eun
• Is Part Of: Thoracic cancer. Volume 13:Issue 16(2022)
• Page Start: 2346
• Page End: 2354
• Publication Date: 2022-07-11
• Subjects: chemotherapy -- immunotherapy -- lung cancer -- PD‐1/PD‐L1 inhibitor -- time interval; Chest -- Cancer -- Periodicals; Chest -- Cancer -- Treatment -- Periodicals; Chest -- Surgery -- Periodicals; 616.99494005
• DOI: 10.1111/1759-7714.14568
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1759-7706

Abstract

Abstract: Background: The use of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) as first‐line treatment rather than as second‐line treatment makes a big difference in the drug efficacy and progression‐free survival. However, the mechanism for this is still not clear. This study aimed to analyze the effects of the rest period between chemotherapy and immunotherapy on the efficacy of ICIs. Methods: This study included 100 patients with advanced NSCLC treated with PD‐1/PD‐L1 inhibitors at Chungnam National University Hospital (CNUH) between May 2016 and August 2019. The rest period was defined from the last dose of cytotoxic chemotherapy to the first dose of ICIs. We retrospectively reviewed patients' clinical data and blood test records and analyzed lymphocyte subsets using flow cytometry. Results: The median rest period was 64 days. The long rest period group (≥36 days) showed significantly higher clinical benefits than the short rest period group (<36 days) (69.4% vs. 39.5%, p = 0.003). White blood cell (WBC) count, absolute neutrophil count (ANC), absolute lymphocyte count (ALC), and neutrophil‐lymphocyte ratio (NLR) just before chemotherapy were not different between the two groups. However, the blood test after chemotherapy immediately before immunotherapy showed significantly higher ANC and NLR in the short rest period group than in the long rest period group. The frequency of the Th1 subset and PD‐1 + CD8 + T cells were significantly higher in the long rest period group than in the short rest period group. Conclusion: Time interval from chemotherapy to immunotherapy may affect immune cell status and efficacy of ICIs. Abstract : This is the first study to demonstrate that the rest period between chemotherapy and immunotherapy affects the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors. Time interval from chemotherapy to immunotherapy may affect immune cell status, efficacy, progression‐free survival, and overall survival in lung cancer patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors.