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Current Oncology
Special Issues
Immunotherapy in Thoracic Malignancies
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Immunotherapy in Thoracic Malignancies

A special issue of Current Oncology (ISSN 1718-7729). This special issue belongs to the section "Thoracic Oncology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 10 November 2024 | Viewed by 18830

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Cheryl Ho

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
British Columbia Cancer Agency, Vancouver, BC, Canada
Interests: thoracic oncology; head and neck cancers; real-world data; health technology assessment
Dr. Randeep Sangha

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Cross Cancer Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
Interests: thoracic oncology; molecular therapeutics

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Immunotherapy has become a mainstay in the management of thoracic malignancies over the past decade. Moving from the initial phase III studies in last-line metastatic NSCLC to the adjuvant setting, immune checkpoint inhibitors and CTLA4 inhibitors have revolutionized the treatment of disease. Not only has immunotherapy integrated into all stages of management of NSCLC, its benefits are also seen across other thoracic pathologies, including SCLC and mesothelioma. While immunotherapy has been a welcome addition to the therapeutic tool kit for thoracic malignancies, challenges remain in understanding which patients are most likely or least likely to benefit from treatment. Furthermore, there are toxicities to consider with this therapeutic option, both clinically and financially.

For this Special Issue of Current Oncology, submissions that advance the literature on the use of immunotherapy in thoracic malignancies are sought. Although all manuscripts will be considered, priority will be given to manuscripts focusing on:

  • Optimizing patient selection for different therapeutic options;
  • Understanding risk factors for toxicity;
  • Evaluating the cost and resource implications of immunotherapy;
  • Understanding mechanisms of immunotherapy resistance and novel therapies to overcome resistance.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Cheryl Ho
Dr. Randeep Sangha
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Current Oncology is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2200 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • immunotherapy
  • immune checkpoint inhibitors
  • CTLA4 inhibitors
  • predictive factors
  • financial implications
  • toxicity
  • resistance

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Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

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12 pages, 1201 KiB  
Article
Durvalumab-Associated Pneumonitis in Patients with Locally Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: A Real-World Population Study
by Chloe Ahryung Lim, Sunita Ghosh, Hali Morrison, Daniel Meyers, Igor Stukalin, Marc Kerba, Desiree Hao and Aliyah Pabani
Curr. Oncol. 2023, 30(12), 10396-10407; https://doi.org/10.3390/curroncol30120757 - 9 Dec 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1585
Abstract
The PACIFIC trial led to a new standard of care for patients with locally advanced lung cancer, but real-world practice has demonstrated that immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) pneumonitis can lead to significant clinical complications. This study aimed to examine the clinical predictors, outcomes, [...] Read more.
The PACIFIC trial led to a new standard of care for patients with locally advanced lung cancer, but real-world practice has demonstrated that immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) pneumonitis can lead to significant clinical complications. This study aimed to examine the clinical predictors, outcomes, and healthcare utilization data in patients who received consolidation durvalumab. Using the Alberta Immunotherapy Database, NSCLC patients who received durvalumab in Alberta, Canada, from January 2018 to December 2021 were retrospectively evaluated. We examined incidence and predictive values of severe pneumonitis, with overall survival (OS) and time-to-treatment failure (TTF) using exploratory multivariate analyses. Of 189 patients, 91% were ECOG 0–1 and 85% had a partial response from chemoradiation prior to durvalumab. Median TTF and OS were not reached; 1-year OS was 82%. An amount of 26% developed any grade of pneumonitis; 9% had ≥grade 3 pneumonitis. Male gender and a pre-existing autoimmune condition were associated with severe pneumonitis. V20 was associated with any grade of pneumonitis. Pneumonitis development was found to be an independent risk factor for worse OS (p = 0.038) and TTF (p = 0.007). Our results suggest clinical and dosimetric predictive factors of durvalumab-associated pneumonitis. These results affirm the importance of careful patient selection for safe completion of consolidation durvalumab in real-world LA-NSCLC population. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Immunotherapy in Thoracic Malignancies)
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17 pages, 968 KiB  
Article
Effects of Acetaminophen Exposure on Outcomes of Patients Receiving Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors for Advanced Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer: A Propensity Score-Matched Analysis
by Fabrizio Nelli, Antonella Virtuoso, Diana Giannarelli, Agnese Fabbri, Julio Rodrigo Giron Berrios, Eleonora Marrucci, Cristina Fiore and Enzo Maria Ruggeri
Curr. Oncol. 2023, 30(9), 8117-8133; https://doi.org/10.3390/curroncol30090589 - 1 Sep 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2176
Abstract
(1) Background: Several studies have investigated potential interactions between immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) and commonly prescribed medications. Although acetaminophen (APAP) has not been considered susceptible to interaction with ICIs, recent research has shown that detectable plasma levels of this drug can hinder the [...] Read more.
(1) Background: Several studies have investigated potential interactions between immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) and commonly prescribed medications. Although acetaminophen (APAP) has not been considered susceptible to interaction with ICIs, recent research has shown that detectable plasma levels of this drug can hinder the efficacy of PD-1/PD-L1 blockade therapies. A reliable assessment of the potential interaction between APAP and ICIs in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients would be worthwhile since it is often prescribed in this condition. We sought to evaluate the impact of the concomitant use of APAP in patients with advanced NSCLC on PD-1/PD-L1 blockade using real-world evidence. (2) Methods: This study included consecutive patients with histologically proven stage IV NSCLC who underwent first-line therapy with pembrolizumab as a single agent or in combination with platinum-based chemotherapy, or second-line therapy with pembrolizumab, nivolumab, or atezolizumab. The intensity of APAP exposure was classified as low (therapeutic intake lasting less than 24 h or a cumulative intake lower than 60 doses of 1000 mg) or high (therapeutic intake lasting more than 24 h or a total intake exceeding 60 doses of 1000 mg). The favorable outcome of anti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapies was defined by durable clinical benefit (DCB). Progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were relevant to our efficacy analysis. Propensity score matching (PSM) methods were applied to adjust for differences between the APAP exposure subgroups. (3) Results: Over the course of April 2018 to October 2022, 80 patients were treated with first-line pembrolizumab either as single-agent therapy or in combination with platinum-based chemotherapy. During the period from June 2015 to November 2022, 145 patients were given anti-PD-1/PD-L1 blockade therapy as second-line treatment. Subsequent efficacy analyses relied on adjusted PSM populations in both treatment settings. Multivariate testing revealed that only the level of APAP and corticosteroid intake had an independent effect on DCB in both treatment lines. Multivariate Cox regression analysis confirmed high exposure to APAP and immunosuppressive corticosteroid therapy as independent predictors of shorter PFS and OS in both treatment settings. (4) Conclusions: Our findings would strengthen the available evidence that concomitant intake of APAP blunts the efficacy of ICIs in patients with advanced NSCLC. The detrimental effects appear to depend on the cumulative dose and duration of exposure to APAP. The inherent shortcomings of the current research warrant confirmation in larger independent series. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Immunotherapy in Thoracic Malignancies)
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10 pages, 936 KiB  
Article
Real-World Outcomes of Stage IV NSCLC with PD-L1 ≥ 50% Treated with First-Line Pembrolizumab: Uptake of Second-Line Systemic Therapy
by Rebekah Rittberg, Bonnie Leung, Aria Shokoohi, Alexandra Pender, Selina Wong, Zamzam Al-Hashami, Ying Wang and Cheryl Ho
Curr. Oncol. 2023, 30(6), 5299-5308; https://doi.org/10.3390/curroncol30060402 - 26 May 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2746
Abstract
Introduction: Platinum-based chemotherapy was compared to single-agent pembrolizumab in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with PDL1 > 50% in KEYNOTE-024. In this trial, it was found that patients who received single-agent pembrolizumab had improved progression-free survival in addition to overall survival (OS). [...] Read more.
Introduction: Platinum-based chemotherapy was compared to single-agent pembrolizumab in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with PDL1 > 50% in KEYNOTE-024. In this trial, it was found that patients who received single-agent pembrolizumab had improved progression-free survival in addition to overall survival (OS). Based on KEYNOTE-024, only 53% of patients treated originally with pembrolizumab received second-line anticancer systemic therapy with an OS of 26.3 months. Based on these results, the objective of this study was to characterize real-world NSCLC patients who received second-line therapy after single-agent pembrolizumab. Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study considering stage IV NSCLC patients diagnosed with BC Cancer between 2018 and 2021 with PD-L1 ≥ 50% who received first-line single agent pembrolizumab. Patient demographics, cancer history, treatment administered, and survival were collected retrospectively. Descriptive statistics were produced. OS was calculated using Kaplan–Meier curves and compared using the log rank test. A multivariate model evaluated characteristics associated with the receipt of second-line therapy. Results: A total of 718 patients were diagnosed with Stage IV NSCLC and received at least one cycle of pembrolizumab. The median duration of treatment was 4.4 months, and the follow-up duration was 16.0 months. There were 567 (79%) patients who had disease progression, of whom 21% received second-line systemic therapy. Within the subset of patients with disease progression, the median duration of treatment was 3.0 months. It would be found that patients who received second-line therapy had better baseline ECOG performance status, were younger at diagnosis, and had a longer duration of pembrolizumab. Within the full population, the OS from the treatment initiation date was 14.0 months. OS was 5.6 months in patients who did not receive additional therapy after progression and 22.2 months in patients who received subsequent therapy. Baseline ECOG performance status was associated with improved OS in multivariate analysis. Conclusion: Based on this real-world Canadian population, 21% of patients received second-line systemic therapy, despite second-line therapy being associated with prolonged survival. In this real-world population, we found that 60% fewer patients received second-line systemic therapy when compared to KEYNOTE-024. Although differences always exist when comparing a clinical and non-clinical trial population, our findings suggest undertreating stage IV NSCLC patients. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Immunotherapy in Thoracic Malignancies)
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12 pages, 1262 KiB  
Article
Descriptive Analysis of First-Line Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Treatment with Pembrolizumab in Tumors Expressing PD-L1 ≥ 50% in Patients Treated in Quebec’s University Teaching Hospitals (DALP-First Study)
by Ghislain Bérard, Chantal Guévremont, Nathalie Marcotte, Coleen Schroeder, Nicole Bouchard and Raghu Rajan
Curr. Oncol. 2023, 30(3), 3251-3262; https://doi.org/10.3390/curroncol30030247 - 11 Mar 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2525
Abstract
Since July 2017, pembrolizumab has been approved as a first-line treatment of metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in patients with a PD-L1 score ≥ 50% in Quebec. Study objectives were to describe and assess the real-world use of pembrolizumab; report progression-free survival [...] Read more.
Since July 2017, pembrolizumab has been approved as a first-line treatment of metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in patients with a PD-L1 score ≥ 50% in Quebec. Study objectives were to describe and assess the real-world use of pembrolizumab; report progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and immune-related adverse events (IRAEs); and compare outcomes between a fixed dose (FD) and a weight-based capped dose (WCD). Medical records of patients treated in one of Quebec’s four adult university teaching hospitals who received pembrolizumab between 1 November 2017 and 31 October 2019 were reviewed and followed until 29 February 2020. Two hundred and seventy-nine patients were included. The median real-world PFS and OS were 9.4 (95% CI, 6.6 to 11.2) and 17.3 months (95% CI, 12.9 to not reached), respectively. IRAEs causing delays or treatment interruptions were seen in 34.4% of patients. Initiating treatment with a FD (49 patients) or using a WCD (230 patients) does not appear to affect PFS, OS, or the occurrence of IRAEs. The use of a WCD strategy allowed approximately CAD 5.8 million in savings during the course of our study. These findings support the effectiveness and safety of pembrolizumab in a real-world setting. The use of a WCD does not appear to have a negative impact on patient outcomes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Immunotherapy in Thoracic Malignancies)
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Review

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18 pages, 308 KiB  
Review
Immunotherapy in Patients with Advanced Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer Under-Represented by Clinical Trials
by Daniel E. Meyers, Rebekah Rittberg, David E. Dawe and Shantanu Banerji
Curr. Oncol. 2024, 31(9), 5498-5515; https://doi.org/10.3390/curroncol31090407 - 14 Sep 2024
Viewed by 830
Abstract
Since the initial US FDA approval of an immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) for the treatment of non-oncogene-driven non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) nine years ago, this therapeutic strategy has been cemented as a crucial component of treatment for most of these patients. However, there [...] Read more.
Since the initial US FDA approval of an immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) for the treatment of non-oncogene-driven non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) nine years ago, this therapeutic strategy has been cemented as a crucial component of treatment for most of these patients. However, there is a clear efficacy–effectiveness gap whereby patients in the ‘real world’ seem to have more modest clinical outcomes compared to those enrolled in landmark clinical trials. This gap may be driven by the under-representation of important patient populations, including populations defined by clinical or molecular characteristics. In this review, we summarize the data outlining the evidence of ICIs in patients with poor Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (ECOG PS), underlying autoimmune disease (AID), older age, active brain metastases (BMs), and molecular aberrations such as EGFR mutations, ALK fusions, BRAF mutations and ROS1 fusions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Immunotherapy in Thoracic Malignancies)
24 pages, 3349 KiB  
Review
Overcoming Resistance Mechanisms to Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors: Leveraging the Anti-Tumor Immune Response
by Courtney H. Coschi and Rosalyn A. Juergens
Curr. Oncol. 2024, 31(1), 1-23; https://doi.org/10.3390/curroncol31010001 - 19 Dec 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2267
Abstract
As far back as 3000 years ago, the immune system was observed to play a role in mediating tumor regression. Since then, many strategies have been developed to leverage the anti-tumor immune response. However, while many patients respond to ICIs up front some [...] Read more.
As far back as 3000 years ago, the immune system was observed to play a role in mediating tumor regression. Since then, many strategies have been developed to leverage the anti-tumor immune response. However, while many patients respond to ICIs up front some do not, and many of those that do eventually experience tumor progression. Currently, there are several predictive biomarkers of the immune checkpoint inhibitor response; however, no one test appears to be universally predictive and their application varies by disease site. There are many ways in which cancer cells develop primary or acquired resistance to immune checkpoint inhibitors. Efforts to reverse resistance include ways to combat T cell exhaustion, reprogram the tumor microenvironment, increase the availability of tumor neo-antigens, target alternative immune checkpoints, restore a normal/healthy patient gut microbiome, oncolytic viruses and tumor vaccines. The most studied and most promising methods include combining ICIs with therapies targeting alternative immune checkpoints and restoring a normal/healthy patient gut microbiome. This review will discuss T cell-mediated immunity, how this is leveraged by modern immunotherapy to treat cancer and mechanisms of immune checkpoint inhibitor resistance, while highlighting strategies to overcome primary and secondary resistance mechanisms. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Immunotherapy in Thoracic Malignancies)
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13 pages, 802 KiB  
Review
Immunotherapy in Early-Stage Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC): Current Evidence and Perspectives
by Chiara Lazzari, Calogera Claudia Spagnolo, Giuliana Ciappina, Martina Di Pietro, Andrea Squeri, Maria Ilenia Passalacqua, Silvia Marchesi, Vanesa Gregorc and Mariacarmela Santarpia
Curr. Oncol. 2023, 30(4), 3684-3696; https://doi.org/10.3390/curroncol30040280 - 27 Mar 2023
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 5830
Abstract
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in the world. Surgery is the most potentially curative therapeutic option for patients with early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The five-year survival for these patients remains poor and variable, depending on the stage [...] Read more.
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in the world. Surgery is the most potentially curative therapeutic option for patients with early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The five-year survival for these patients remains poor and variable, depending on the stage of disease at diagnosis, and the risk of recurrence following tumor resection is high. During the last 20 years, there has been a modest improvement in the therapeutic strategies for resectable NSCLC. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), alone or in combination with chemotherapy, have become the cornerstone for the treatment of metastatic NSCLC patients. Recently, their clinical development has been shifted in the neoadjuvant and adjuvant settings where they have demonstrated remarkable efficacy, leading to improved clinical outcomes. Based on the positive results from phase III trials, ICIs have become a therapeutic option in neoadjuvant and adjuvant settings. On October 2021 the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved atezolizumab as an adjuvant treatment following surgery and platinum-based chemotherapy for patients with NSCLC whose tumors express PD-L1 ≥ 1%. In March 2022, nivolumab in combination with platinum-doublet chemotherapy was approved for adult patients with resectable NSCLC in the neoadjuvant setting. The current review provides an updated overview of the clinical trials exploring the role of immunotherapy in patients with early-stage NSCLC, focusing on the biological rationale for their use in the perioperative setting. We will also discuss the role of potential predictive biomarkers to personalize therapy and optimize the incorporation of immunotherapy into the multimodality management of stage I-III NSCLC. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Immunotherapy in Thoracic Malignancies)
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