Frontiers in Oncology (Apr 2024)

Beyond clinical trials: real-world impact of immunotherapy on NSCLC in Jordan

  • Taher Abu Hejleh,
  • Taher Abu Hejleh,
  • Karim AlSawalha,
  • Sufian Abdel Hafiz,
  • Tamer Al-Batsh,
  • Roaa Abu Hejleh,
  • Sameer Yaser,
  • Husam Abu Jazar,
  • Jamal Khader,
  • Anoud Alnsour,
  • Issa Mohamad,
  • Riad Abdel Jalil,
  • Ahmad Abu-Shanab,
  • Azza Gharaibeh,
  • Mohammad Abu Shattal,
  • Akram Alibraheem,
  • Hussam Haddad,
  • Naser Mahmoud,
  • Shadi Obeidat,
  • Mohammed J. Al-Jaghbeer,
  • Muhammad Furqan,
  • Alessio Cortellini,
  • Alessio Cortellini,
  • Vamsidhar Velcheti,
  • Kamal Al-rabi,
  • Kamal Al-rabi

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fonc.2024.1369126
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 14

Abstract

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BackgroundThis study aims to evaluate real-world (rw) outcomes of immunotherapy (IO) for advanced stage NSCLC at King Hussein Cancer Center (KHCC) in Jordan.MethodsAdvanced stage NSCLC patients who received IO at KHCC between 2017 and 2022 were included. The data were retrospectively collected. PFS and OS were estimated for patients with ECOG performance status (ECOG PS) 0-1. Cox regression analyzed predictors of OS in first-line (1L) IO, regardless of performance status.ResultsThe total number of patients included was 244. Out of those, 160 (65%), 67 (28%), and 17 (7%) patients received IO as 1L, second-line (2L), or third-line or beyond (3L or beyond), respectively. The median age for all patients was 59 years. Male were 88%, and 77% were smokers. The median follow-up time was 12.5 months. The median PFS and OS for 1L IO were 7 [95% CI 5.8 – 10.3] and 11.8 [95% CI 8.8 – 14.4], months, respectively. In the first 3 months after starting 1L IO, 34/160 (21%) patients had died. For those who survived beyond 3 months after starting 1L IO, the median PFS and OS were 11.3 [95% CI 8.3 – 16.5] and 15.4 [95% CI 13.2 – 21] months, respectively. In the Cox regression model of 1L IO patients with any performance status, ECOG PS 2 was predictive of worse OS compared to ECOG PS 0-1 (p= 0.005).ConclusionThis real-world study of advanced-stage NSCLC patients treated with immunotherapy at KHCC reveals outcomes that fall short of those anticipated from clinical trials. The inclusion of Middle Eastern patients in lung cancer trials is essential to ensure adequate representation of various ethnicities in clinical research.

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