PLoS ONE (Jan 2023)

Identifying optimal first-line immune checkpoint inhibitors based regiments for advanced non-small cell lung cancer without oncogenic driver mutations: A systematic review and network meta-analysis.

  • Tingting Liu,
  • Sijia Wu,
  • Weiwei Fang,
  • Hongkai Li,
  • Lili Su,
  • Guiye Qi,
  • Huaichen Li,
  • Yao Liu

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0283719
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 18, no. 4
p. e0283719

Abstract

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BackgroundImmune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have changed the treatment pattern of advanced and metastatic NSCLC. A series of ICI based therapies have emerged in the first-line treatment field, but the comparative efficacy was unclear.MethodWe searched multiple databases and abstracts of major conference proceedings up to Apri1, 2022 for phase III randomised trials of advanced driver-gene wild type NSCLC patients receiving first-line therapy. Outcomes analyzed included progression free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and et al.ResultsThirty-two double-blind RCTs were included, involving 18,656 patients assigned to 22 ICI-based first-line regimens. A series of ICI regiments (including ICI plus chemotherapy), ICI monotherapy, doublet ICIs, doublet ICIs plus chemotherapy) emerged, and showed significant PFS and OS benefit than chemotherapy and chemotherapy + bevacizumab (BEV) for advanced wild-type NSCLC. In comprehensive terms of PFS, chemoimmunotherapy (CIT) were significantly more effective than ICI monotherapy and doublet ICIs. In terms of OS for patients with non-squamous NSCLC, pembrolizumab containing CIT was associated with a median rank of the best regimens, and followed by Atezolizumab+BEV based CIT; while for OS in patients with squamous NSCLC, Cemiplimab and sintilimab based CIT were the most effective regimens. For more than 2 years follow-up, the atezolizumab, pembrolizumab, nivolumab and durvalumab containing ICI therapy all provide a durable long-term OS benefit over chemotherapy and BEV + chemotherapy.ConclusionsThe findings of the present NMA represent the most comprehensive evidence, which might suggest or provide basis for first-line ICI therapy decision for advanced NSCLC patients without oncogenic driver mutations.