Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors after Radiation Therapy Improve Overall Survival Rates in Patients with Stage IV Lung Cancer

Abstract

This exploratory and retrospective study aimed to evaluate whether there is a difference in the overall survival (OS) rates of patients with stage IV lung cancer who underwent radiation therapy (RT) depending on the presence or absence of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) and the timing of their use. Eighty patients with histologically confirmed stage IV lung cancer were enrolled, and ICIs were administered to thirty (37.5%). ICIs were administered before RT and after RT in 11 and 20 patients, respectively. The median follow-up period was 6 (range: 1–37) months. Patients treated with ICIs had significantly better OS rates than those not treated with ICIs (p p p = 0.032 and p < 0.001, respectively). Our results suggest that ICI administration after RT may prolong the OS of patients with stage IV lung cancer.

Keywords

• radiation therapy
• immune checkpoint inhibitor
• lung cancer
• stage IV