P3.02c-055 Incidence and Grade of Pneumonitis in Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) Patients Treated with Anti-PD-1 Antibodies: Topic: IT

Abstract

Advanced non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLC) can be treated with anti-PD1 (programmed cell death 1) antibodies. Anti-PD-1 therapy can lead to immune mediated adverse events. This study examines the incidence of pneumonitis, a potentially fatal complication, in patients with advanced NSCLC treated with anti-PD-1 antibodies at 3 large hospitals in Sydney, Australia. NSCLC patients commenced on pembrolizumab (2 mg/kg or 10 mg/kg Q3W) or nivolumab (3 mg/kg Q2W) were assessed for adverse events including pneumonitis. Patient demographics, treatment history and immune mediated complications were collected. Pneumonitis was graded according to the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events Version 4.0. Pneumonitis treatment and clinical outcomes were collected. Serial imaging was reviewed with a blinded radiologist. A total of 104 patients between 2012 and 2016 were treated with anti-PD-1 therapy. Median age for included patients was 67. Fourteen (14%), 35 (34%), and 53 (51%) had anti-PD-1 as first, second, or third and subsequent line treatment respectively. Nine patients (9%) developed pneumonitis. Three patients (4%) developed grade 3 (G3) or higher pneumonitis including one patient (1%) that died due to pneumonitis. All patients with ≥G3 pneumonitis required hospital admission with one requiring admission to a high dependency unit. None of the patients with ≥G3 pneumonitis were retreated with anti-PD1 therapy. All patients with ≥G3 pneumonitis died within 5 weeks of their diagnosis of pneumonitis. Seven patients with pneumonitis were treated with steroids. The median length of treatment with steroid was 29 days. Pneumonitis involved both lungs in 3 patients. Of the remaining 6 patients – 2 had all right lung lobes involved, 2 had two lobes and 1 had one lobe. Fifteen (14%) patients had a history of receiving concurrent chemoradiotherapy prior to anti-PD-1 therapy. A further 6 (6%) had curative intent radiotherapy and 15 (14%) had palliative radiotherapy to the thorax prior to anti-PD1 therapy. One of the patient with G3 pneumonitis had previously received radiotherapy to the chest. No association between prior radiotherapy and pneumonitis was seen. The incidence of pneumonitis is rare but our real-life multi-institutional experience demonstrates an incidence higher than reported in the literature. This complication can be life threatening and onset of ≥G3 pneumonitis is associated with short survival.