Curr. Oncol. 2025, 32(11), 612; https://doi.org/10.3390/curroncol32110612 (registering DOI) - 1 Nov 2025
Abstract
Background: A combination of docetaxel and ramucirumab represents a standard of care in second-line treatment for patients with advanced NSCLC. Evidence of the regimen’s efficacy is based on the results of the REVEL trial conducted in the pre-immunotherapy (immune checkpoint inhibitors–ICIs) era.
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Background: A combination of docetaxel and ramucirumab represents a standard of care in second-line treatment for patients with advanced NSCLC. Evidence of the regimen’s efficacy is based on the results of the REVEL trial conducted in the pre-immunotherapy (immune checkpoint inhibitors–ICIs) era. Given the lack of randomized trials after the use of ICIs in front-line therapy, a question remains regarding the impact of the combination when disease progresses after ICI-based therapy. Methods: From 1 January 2018 to 31 December 2024, 55 patients from three oncology centers who had documented progression on ICI-based therapy subsequently received docetaxel/ramucirumab, and we reviewed their outcomes. Results: The studied group’s median progression-free survival (PFS) was 5.8 months, while the median overall survival (OS) was 11.1 months. The objective response rate (ORR) and disease control rate (DCR) were 42% and 76%, respectively. Patients who had received ICI-based therapy for ≥6 months had a numerically better median PFS and statistically significant OS compared to those who had experienced progression on ICI-based therapy in <6 months. Regarding adverse events (AEs), 92.7% of patients experienced Grade 1–2 AEs, whereas 54.5% experienced Grade ≥ 3 AEs. One death due to GI bleeding was also recorded. Conclusion: Docetaxel/ramucirumab is an acceptable regimen for patients progressing on first-line ICI-based therapies. Our results are in concordance with the REVEL study and other retrospective studies of this combination after ICIs.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hype or Hope—Combination Therapies for Lung Cancer)
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