IB-IIIA Non-small Cell Lung Cancer Research Articles

A retrospective analysis of treatment patterns, overall survival, and real-world disease-free survival in early-stage non-small cell lung cancer following complete resection

BackgroundReal-world data regarding patient characteristics, adjuvant treatment patterns, and long-term survival outcomes are needed to better understand unmet needs among patients with completely resected early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).MethodsElectronic medical records from the U.S.-based ConcertAI Patient360™ database were analyzed in patients with stage IB-IIIA NSCLC who underwent complete resection prior to March 1, 2016. Patients were followed until death or July 1, 2021. This study evaluated adjuvant chemotherapy use, and overall survival (OS) and real-world disease-free survival (rwDFS) outcomes using the Kaplan–Meier method. The correlation between OS and rwDFS was assessed using the Kendall rank test. Among patients who did not recur 5 years following surgery, landmark analyses of OS and rwDFS were conducted to understand the subsequent survival impact of remaining disease-free for at least 5 years.ResultsData from 441 patients with completely resected stage IB-IIIA NSCLC were included. About 35% of patients received adjuvant chemotherapy post-resection. Median OS and rwDFS from resection were 83.1 months and 42.4 months, respectively. The 5-year OS and rwDFS rates were 65.7% and 42.1%, respectively. OS and rwDFS were positively correlated (Kendall rank correlation coefficient = 0.67; p < 0.0001). Among patients without recurrence within 5 years after resection, the subsequent 5-year OS and rwDFS survival rates were 52.9% and 36.6%, respectively.ConclusionsUse of adjuvant chemotherapy was low, and the overall 5-year OS rate remained low despite all patients having undergone complete resection. Patients who remained non-recurrent over time had favorable subsequent long-term survival.

A retrospective analysis of treatment patterns, overall survival, and real-world disease-free survival in early-stage non-small cell lung cancer following complete resection

BackgroundReal-world data regarding patient characteristics, adjuvant treatment patterns, and long-term survival outcomes are needed to better understand unmet needs among patients with completely resected early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).MethodsElectronic medical records from the U.S.-based ConcertAI Patient360™ database were analyzed in patients with stage IB-IIIA NSCLC who underwent complete resection prior to March 1, 2016. Patients were followed until death or July 1, 2021. This study evaluated adjuvant chemotherapy use, and overall survival (OS) and real-world disease-free survival (rwDFS) outcomes using the Kaplan–Meier method. The correlation between OS and rwDFS was assessed using the Kendall rank test. Among patients who did not recur 5 years following surgery, landmark analyses of OS and rwDFS were conducted to understand the subsequent survival impact of remaining disease-free for at least 5 years.ResultsData from 441 patients with completely resected stage IB-IIIA NSCLC were included. About 35% of patients received adjuvant chemotherapy post-resection. Median OS and rwDFS from resection were 83.1 months and 42.4 months, respectively. The 5-year OS and rwDFS rates were 65.7% and 42.1%, respectively. OS and rwDFS were positively correlated (Kendall rank correlation coefficient = 0.67; p < 0.0001). Among patients without recurrence within 5 years after resection, the subsequent 5-year OS and rwDFS survival rates were 52.9% and 36.6%, respectively.ConclusionsUse of adjuvant chemotherapy was low, and the overall 5-year OS rate remained low despite all patients having undergone complete resection. Patients who remained non-recurrent over time had favorable subsequent long-term survival.

Molecular residual disease (MRD) analysis from the ADAURA trial of adjuvant (adj) osimertinib in patients (pts) with resected EGFR-mutated (EGFRm) stage IB–IIIA non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

8005 Background: Osimertinib (osi) is a third-generation, central nervous system-active EGFR-TKI, that potently and selectively inhibits EGFR-TKI sensitizing and EGFR T790M resistance mutations. Adj osi (3 years [yrs]) is recommended for resected EGFRm stage IB–IIIA NSCLC, based on significant improvements in disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) in the Phase III ADAURA study (NCT02511106). A trend towards an increased DFS event rate beyond 3 yrs suggests some pts may benefit from longer adj osi treatment (tx). We explored if plasma ctDNA-based, tumor-informed MRD could predict disease recurrence. Methods: Eligible pts (≥18 yrs [≥20 in Japan/Taiwan], WHO PS 0/1 with completely resected EGFRm [Ex19del/L858R] stage IB, II or IIIA [AJCC 7th edition] NSCLC) were randomized 1:1 to osi 80 mg once daily or placebo (pbo) until disease recurrence, tx completion (up to 3 yrs), or a discontinuation criterion was met. Personalized MRD panels (RaDaR, NeoGenomics) were used, comprised of ≤50 tumor-specific variants, based on whole exome sequencing of resected tumor tissue (variants identified in germline DNA removed). Plasma sample collection: baseline (BL; at randomization surgery and adj Ctx, if received), on tx (every 12 weeks [wks]), tx discontinuation, and post-tx completion (wk 12, wk 24, then every 24 wks until 5 yrs). Plasma samples were analyzed for detection of ctDNA (MRD+). Molecular recurrence or DFS (MRD/DFS) was defined as time from randomization to post-BL MRD+, disease recurrence, or death and was compared across arms. DFS was investigator-assessed. Results: Of 682 pts randomized, 245 (36%) had samples required to produce MRD panels, which were evaluable for 220 (32%) pts across both arms. In the osi vs pbo arms, 5/112 (4%) vs 13/108 (12%) pts were MRD+ at BL; 4/5 pts became MRD– during osi tx vs 0/13 pts on pbo. On tx, MRD detection had clinical sensitivity of 65% (62 MRD+/96 DFS+), specificity of 95% (118 MRD–/124 DFS–) and preceded a DFS event by a median (95% CI) of 4.7 (2.2, 5.6) months (mos) across both arms. Median follow-up time from randomization was 44.2 (95% CI 42.4, 49.1) and 19.1 (95% CI 11.1, 28.3) mos for osi and pbo arms, respectively. Overall, 86% (95% CI 78, 92) vs 36% (95% CI 27, 45) pts in the osi vs pbo arms were MRD/DFS event free at 36 mos (HR: 0.23; 95% CI 0.15, 0.36). MRD/DFS events in the osi arm were detected at any time post-BL in 28 (25%) pts, of whom 19/28 (68%) had events post-adj osi. Most (11/19 [58%]) MRD/DFS events detected occurred within 12 mos of osi tx completion. Conclusions: MRD+ preceded DFS events in most pts with a median lead time of 4.7 mos across both arms. MRD– was maintained for most pts during adj osi tx with the majority of MRD/DFS events occurring after osi tx completion. MRD detection could potentially identify a subset of pts likely to benefit from longer adj osi. Clinical trial information: NCT02511106 .

Biomarker testing in early-stage NSCLC: Results from the MYLUNG Consortium.

8047 Background: The Molecularly Informed Lung Cancer Treatment in a Community Cancer Network: A Pragmatic Consortium (MYLUNG) program seeks to identify and resolve barriers to biomarker testing in patients (pts) with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We previously reported prospectively collected molecular testing data in pts with Stage IB-IV NSCLC (Evangelist et al. 2023). Herein we report additional data on molecular testing rates and patterns in the cohort of pts with early-stage (ES) NSCLC. Methods: Pts were enrolled from 12/20-9/22 at 18 community practices (76 sites) across the US Oncology Network. Analyses performed in the ES cohort include rates of molecular testing for targets with approved (PD-L1 , EGFR) or emerging ( ALK) therapies for ES NSCLC and next-generation sequencing (NGS); reasons for not testing; and treatment (Tx) received, including targeted therapy and immunotherapy (IO). Analyses are preliminary as data collection continues over 5-year follow-up. Results: Included in this analysis were 284 pts with newly diagnosed Stage IB-IIIA NSCLC: median age 68y (range 32, 92); 50% female; 54% ECOG 0-1; 61% adenocarcinoma, 36% squamous cell carcinoma. In total, 76% of pts (82% of pts with adenocarcinoma vs 67% with squamous cell carcinoma) had molecular testing ordered prior to or within 12 weeks of initiating first systemic therapy. Rates of testing (either alone or inclusive of other tests) were PD-L1 ,74%; EGFR,71%; ALK, 62%; EGFR + PD-L1, 61%. In total, 52% of pts had NGS testing; overall, 16% received no molecular testing. The most common reasons for not testing were patient and/or provider attitude/perception (34%) and insufficient tumor tissue (25%). Conclusions: New therapeutic options provide a catalyst to increase molecular testing in ES NSCLC. EGFR and PD-L1 testing are now standard for the management of these pts, with other biomarkers emerging. In this study, 54% of pts received testing for PD-L1, EGFR, and ALK, with additional therapy being offered in pts with biomarker-positive tumors; however, 16% still received no molecular testing at all. For pts with EGFRwt/PD-L1+ tumors, prescription of IO increased 1.8-fold post-adjuvant FDA approval. Data from this and future analyses will be used to implement interventions to improve molecular testing rates in NSCLC. [Table: see text]

Abstract 5840: Identifying drug tolerant persister to neoadjuvant osimertinib in resectable non-small cell lung cancer harbouring EGFR mutations (NORA) via single-cell RNA sequencing

Abstract Introduction: Adjuvant osimertinib is the standard of care for resected, stage IB-IIIA non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) harboring activating epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation. Yet, the role of neoadjuvant osimertinib is not clear. In the NORA trial (NCT04816838), we aimed to identify the drug tolerant persister (DTP) after neoadjuvant osimertinib for surgically resectable, EGFR-mutated stage IA-IIIA NSCLC. Methods: Patients harboring EGFR Exon 19 deletion or L858R at clinical stage IA-IIIA were given 80 mg of neoadjuvant osimertinib daily for two 28-day cycles followed by surgical resection and adjuvant osimertinib for 3 years. The key exploratory endpoint was to characterize the DTP via single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) with pre and post-osimertinib samples. Results: We performed scRNA-seq on twenty-five patients enrolled at Yonsei Cancer Center from June 2021 to March 2022. Patients with stage IA (n=8, 32%), IB (n=7, 28%), IIA (n=4, 16%), IIB (n=4, 16%), and IIIA (n=2, 8%) were included. For EGFR mutation, exon 19 del and L858R accounted for 10 (40%) patients and 15 (60%) patients, respectively. The ORR (all partial response) was 44% (n=11), major pathologic response (MPR) rate was 24% (n=6), and pathologic complete response rate was 0%. ScRNA-seq revealed a total of 252,339 cells (60 clusters) annotated as epithelial cells (10 clusters), fibroblasts (7 clusters), immune cells (17 clusters), myeloid (15 clusters), endothelial cells (11 clusters) that showed distinct enrichment in post-osimertinib samples, non-MPR, and L858R subset. We found that a distint epithelial subset, namely EP8-AGER, identified as alveolar type 1 (AT1) cells was enriched in the non-MPR subset showing activation of Wnt, Hippo, and YAP/TAZ pathway. Pseudotemporal ordering of this cluster showed activation of signaling pathway for COL4A2/COL4A3 related to structural consistuent of extracellular matrix, and RTKN2 associated with NF-κB. In the fibroblast subset, the proportion of FB6-CD74 associated with chemokine activity and NF-κB was higher in the non-MPR and L858R group. In the myeloid subset, CD8-C1-GZMK identified as CD8+ T cells with activation/effector and cytotoxic signatures was also enriched in the post-osimertinib samples. Among macrophages, 3 clusters (annotated as SELENOP+, SPP1+, PLXDC2+) showed enrichment of cholesterol metabolism with activation of apolipoprotein E that promotes conversion of proinflammatory macrophages into anti-inflammatory phenotypes. Lastly, the proportion of EC9-LYZ, annotated as scavenging endothelial cells was higher in the non-MPR and L858R group. Conclusion: Neoadjuvant osimertinib resulted in the cellular reprogramming in the tumor microenvironment, notably AT1 epithelial cell which may lead to a loop between cancer cells and fibroblasts for the generation of DTP cells. Citation Format: Jii Bum (Joy) Lee, Su-Jin Choi, Young Joon Park, Kyoung-Ho Park, Seung Hyun Yong, Hyo Sup Shim, Byung Jo Park, Chang Young Lee, Min Hee Hong, Byoung Chul Cho, Sun Min Lim. Identifying drug tolerant persister to neoadjuvant osimertinib in resectable non-small cell lung cancer harbouring EGFR mutations (NORA) via single-cell RNA sequencing [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 5840.

Abstract 1211: Biomarker analysis of pembrolizumab and ramucirumab neoadjuvant therapy for PD-L1-positive stage IB-IIIA lung cancer: EAST ENERGY trial

Abstract Background: Neoadjuvant treatments with novel combination immunotherapies for resectable non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) are being developed. Combination therapy with antiangiogenic agents and anti-PD-1/PD-L1 antibody has shown enhanced antitumor effects. EAST ENERGY is a single-arm multicenter phase 2 trial of neoadjuvant pembrolizumab and ramucirumab in patients with PD-L1-positive stage IB-IIIA NSCLC (NCT04040361). In this study, we aimed to identify biomarkers that predicts the efficacy of the neoadjuvant therapy. Furthermore, we aimed to elucidate the effect of the neoadjuvant therapy on the tumor microenvironment (TME). Methods: Patients enrolled in the EAST ENERGY trial (n=24) for whom pre- and post-treatment specimens were available (n=20) were included in this study. RNA-sequencing and multiplex immunohistochemistry (mIHC) were used to examine the association between the immunological phenotype of the TME and major pathological response (MPR), and changes in the TME before and after treatment. Results: MPR was achieved in 50.0% (12/24) of patients. Biomarker analyses with RNA-sequencing revealed that high expression of cancer-associated genes, and upregulation of interferon-gamma and interferon-alpha response in pre-treatment tumor were associated with MPR (q value&amp;lt;0.001). mIHC in pre-treatment samples revealed that abundance of CD8+ T cells in the pre-treatment TME was associated with MPR (p=0.039). On the other hand, infiltration of immunosuppressive cells such as Treg or M2-macrophages were not associated with resistance for the treatment (p=0.836, 0.639, respectively). Next, to clarify the effect of the neoadjuvant therapy on the TME, comparative analyses of pre- and post-treatment samples was performed. In gene set enrichment analysis, the neoadjuvant therapy enhanced gene set associated with interferon-gamma response (q value=0.051). Furthermore, angiogenesis-related gene set were downregulated after the treatment (q value=0.090). mIHC analyses revealed that the number of CD8+ T cells in the TME was significantly increased after the neoadjuvant therapy (p&amp;lt;0.001). Notably, Tregs/CD8+ T cells ratio and the number of M2-macrophage in the TME were significantly decreased after the neoadjuvant therapy (p=0.032, 0.003, respectively). Conclusion: In the neoadjuvant therapy with pembrolizumab and ramucirumab, immune-activated status before treatment serves as a potential biomarker for predicting treatment response. Moreover, combining ramucirumab with pembrolizumab reduced immunosuppressive cells in the TME and inhibited tumor angiogenesis. These results suggest that this combination therapy modifies the TME and augments antitumor immunity. Larger clinical trial is warranted to assess the efficacy of neoadjuvant therapy with ramucirumab and pembrolizumab in patients with PD-L1-positive NSCLC. Citation Format: Kotaro Nomura, Shogo Kumagai, Shohei Koyama, Keiju Aokage, Yoshihisa Shimada, Kiyotaka Yoh, Masashi Wakabayashi, Miki Fukutani, Hideki Furuya, Tomohiro Miyoshi, Kenta Tane, Joji Samejima, Tetsuro Taki, Takuo Hayashi, Jun Matsubayashi, Genichiro Ishii, Norihiko Ikeda, Hiroyoshi Nishikawa, Masahiro Tsuboi. Biomarker analysis of pembrolizumab and ramucirumab neoadjuvant therapy for PD-L1-positive stage IB-IIIA lung cancer: EAST ENERGY trial [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 1211.

EGFR-mutation testing, treatment patterns and clinical outcomes in patients with stage IB–IIIA non-small cell lung cancer in Norway–a nationwide cohort study

IntroductionTesting for mutations of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is crucial to identify non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients eligible for treatment with EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs); This study aims to describe EGFR-mutation testing, treatment patterns, and overall survival (OS) in localized NSCLC patients. Materials and MethodsPatients with localized (Stage IB–IIIA) NSCLC registered in the Norwegian Cancer Registry during 2010–2017 were followed from diagnosis until emigration, death, or end of study in 2018. The cohort was linked to data from the Norwegian Patient Registry, the Prescription Database, and the Cause of Death Registry. ResultsOf 2367 patients identified with localized NSCLC, 52 % were females and median age at diagnosis was 69 years. Most (66 %) were treated with surgery, while 16 % received curatively-intended radiotherapy (RT). EGFR-mutation testing increased significantly from 58 to 84 % during the study period. Testing frequencies varied across regions and comorbidity levels. Nine-percent of tested patients were EGFR-mutation positive (EGFRm+), of whom 27 % were treated with EGFR-TKIs. There was no correlation between initial treatment with either surgery or RT and EGFR-TKI use. The 3-year OS did not vary considerably by EGFR-mutation testing, but EGFRm+ patients had a higher 3-year OS (78.8 %) than wild-type EGFR (EGFRwt) patients (65.9 %). DiscussionAlthough EGFR-mutation testing is increasingly being implemented in the early-stage setting in line with national recommendations, some patients are still not being tested for molecular markers as part of their diagnostic workup–a prerequisite for providing equal access to effective targeted treatments, such as EGFR-TKIs, to eligible patients.

Immune checkpoint inhibitors as adjuvant therapy in patients with completely resected nonsmall cell lung cancer.

The purpose of the review is to summarize the current status of immune checkpoint inhibitors as adjuvant therapy in patients with resected nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The IMpower010 phase 3 trial demonstrated improved disease-free survival and, in case of PD-L1 at least 50%, also improved overall survival for atezolizumab compared to best supportive care among patients with completely resected stage II-IIIA NSCLC. The PEARLS/KEYNOTE-091 trial showed increased disease-free survival for pembrolizumab among patients with stage IB-IIIA NSCLC. Trials with nivolumab and durvalumab are ongoing. Atezolizumab or pembrolizumab have become options for adjuvant therapy in patients with completely resected NSCLC.

Adjuvant Therapy-Free Strategy for Stage IB to IIIA Non–Small-Cell Lung Cancer Patients After Radical Resection Based on Longitudinal Undetectable Molecular Residual Disease: Prospective, Multicenter, Single-Arm Study (CTONG 2201)

BackgroundThe utility of circulating tumor DNA to monitor molecular residual disease (MRD) has been clinically confirmed to predict disease recurrence in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients after radical resection. Patients with longitudinal undetectable MRD show a favorable prognosis and might not benefit from adjuvant therapy. Patients and MethodsThe CTONG 2201 trial is a prospective, multicenter, single-arm study (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier, NCT05457049), designed to evaluate the hypothesis that no adjuvant therapy is needed for patients with longitudinal undetectable MRD. Pathologically confirmed stage IB-IIIA NSCLC patients who have undergone radical resection will be screened. Only patients with 2 consecutive rounds of undetectable MRD will be enrolled (first at days 3-10, second at days 30 ± 7 after surgery), and admitted for imaging and MRD monitoring every 3 months without adjuvant therapy. The primary endpoint is the 2-year disease-free survival rate for those with longitudinal undetectable MRD. The recruitment phase began in August 2022 and 180 patients will be enrolled. ConclusionsThis prospective trial will contribute data to confirm the negative predictive value of MRD on adjuvant therapy for NSCLC patients. Clinical Trial RegistrationNCT05457049 (CTONG 2201).

Economic burden of early-stage non-small-cell lung cancer: an assessment of healthcare resource utilization and medical costs.

Aim: To quantify the economic burden of early-stage non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) among patients with and without adjuvant therapy. Methods: All-cause and NSCLC-related healthcare resource utilization and medical costs were assessed among patients with resected stage IB-IIIA NSCLC in the SEER-Medicare database (1 January2011-31 December2019), from NSCLC diagnosis to death, end of continuous enrollment, or end of data availability (whichever occurred first). Results: Patients receiving adjuvant therapy had the lowest mean NSCLC-related medical costs (adjuvant [n=1776]: $3738; neoadjuvant [n=56]: $5793; both [n=47]: $4818; surgery alone [n=3478]: $4892, per-person-per-month), driven by lower NSCLC-related hospitalization rates. Conclusion: Post-surgical management of early-stage NSCLC was associated with high economic burden. Adjuvant therapy was associated with numerically lower medical costs over surgical resection alone.

Rational application of EGFR-TKI adjuvant therapy in patients with completely resected stage IB-IIIA EGFR-mutant NSCLC: a systematic review and meta-analysis of 11 randomized controlled trials

PurposeTo determine the role and rational application of epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor (EGFR-TKI) adjuvant therapy in patients with completely resected stage IB-IIIA EGFR-mutant non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC).MethodRandomized controlled trials (RCTs) that compared the survival outcomes between adjuvant EGFR-TKIs and adjuvant chemotherapy or a placebo, or between different EGFR-TKI treatment durations for resected NSCLC, were eligible for inclusion. Disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) with hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated as effective measures using random-effect or fixed-effect models. Subgroup analysis was also performed.ResultsEleven RCTs involving 2102 EGFR-mutant NSCLC patients with or without EGFR-TKI adjuvant therapy were included. For all stage IB-IIIA NSCLC patients, EGFR-TKIs adjuvant therapy could not only significantly improve DFS (HR 0.43, 95% CI 0.30–0.63, P < 0.001) and 2- and 3-year DFS rates, but also improve OS (HR 0.72, 95% CI, 0.54–0.96, P = 0.024), compared with chemotherapy or the placebo. Further subgroup analyses indicated prolonged OS from first-generation EGFR-TKI adjuvant therapy in stage III patients, compared with chemotherapy or the placebo (HR for OS, 0.34; 95% CI, 0.18–0.63; P = 0.001). Of note, osimertinib adjuvant therapy led to the OS benefit expanding from stage III to stage II-III patients, with significantly improved DFS and a lower risk of brain recurrence, compared with the placebo. A 2-year treatment duration with EGFR-TKI adjuvant therapy showed a significantly lower recurrence risk than a ≤ 1-year duration.ConclusionThe DFS advantage from first-generation EGFR-TKI adjuvant therapy can translate into an OS benefit in stage III NSCLC patients. Osimertinib might be more suitable for adjuvant therapy than first-generation EGFR-TKIs, because of the lower recurrence rate and the potential OS benefit even in early-stage patients. The optimal treatment duration for EGFR-TKIs at different stages of disease needs to be validated.

Updated Findings of the Phase II LCMC3 Trial of Lung Cancer Patients

Lung Cancer: Lung CancerResults from an exploratory analysis of the Phase II LCMC3 trial showed that patients with resectable Stage IB-IIIB non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who received adjuvant atezolizumab following neoadjuvant atezolizumab and resection had improved disease-free survival compared with those who were not administered adjuvant atezolizumab. These findings, presented during the 2023 European Lung Cancer Congress, also demonstrated a trend toward improved overall survival among patients who underwent adjuvant atezolizumab (Abstract 145MO). “Neoadjuvant chemoimmunotherapy (IO) treatment without adjuvant treatment in CheckMate 816 has shown to improve pathologic responses and event-free survival outcomes,” noted study author David P. Carbone, MD, PhD, the Barbara J. Bonner Chair in Lung Cancer Research and Director of the James Thoracic Center at The James Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center. “However, it is completely unclear what the role of adjuvant immunotherapy is after neoadjuvant immunotherapy and there is no current study testing the role of adjuvant IO.” LCMC3 (NCT02927301) is an open-label, single-arm, Phase II study of neoadjuvant followed by optional adjuvant atezolizumab (anti-PD-L1) in resectable NSCLC. The primary endpoint—major pathological response (MPR)—was met with an observed MPR rate of 20 percent after neoadjuvant atezolizumab in patients without EGFR or ALK alterations who underwent surgery (Nature Med 2022; doi: 10.1038/s41591-022-01962-5). Carbone and colleagues report updated disease-free survival, overall survival, and safety data from patients who received adjuvant atezolizumab versus those who did not. Methods & Findings Patients eligible for this study included those 18 years or older who had Stage IB-IIIA or select IIIB NSCLC, as well as an ECOG performance status of 0-1. The primary endpoint was major pathologic response (≤10% viable tumor cells). Secondary endpoints included pathologic response by PD-L1 and radiographic response by PD-L1, TMB, neoantigen, and GEP. Disease-free survival, overall survival, and biomarkers were exploratory endpoints. Safety was also examined during the adjuvant phase. Study participants received neoadjuvant atezolizumab (1,200 mg IV for ≤2 cycles) followed by surgery. Individuals without disease progression had the option to undergo adjuvant atezolizumab every 3 weeks for ≤12 months. With a data cutoff of October 21, 2022, the primary efficacy population included 137 patients without EGFR/ALK alterations who had surgery and MPR assessment. Of those, 53 (39%) received adjuvant atezolizumab and 84 (61%) did not. The baseline characteristics between these two groups were generally well-balanced, according to Carbone. However, he did note that patients who received adjuvant atezolizumab had a higher rate of squamous NSCLC (47% vs. 31%). They were also more likely to have a PD-L1 tumor proportion score (TPS) of 50 percent or higher (40% vs. 27%) and MPR status (42% vs. 8%) when compared to their counterparts who did not receive adjuvant atezolizumab. Study authors reported an updated 3-year disease-free survival and overall survival rate for the entire cohort of 72 percent and 82 percent, respectively. Disease-free and overall survival rates for Stage I/II were 75 percent and 82 percent, and 68 percent and 81 percent for Stage III. In the MPR-evaluable population, the 3-year disease-free survival rate was 83 percent for those who were given adjuvant atezolizumab versus 64 percent for those who did not receive this treatment. Among patients without MPR (n=108), Carbone reported a 3-year disease-free survival of 80 percent for individuals who underwent adjuvant atezolizumab compared with 62 percent for those who did not. Three-year overall survival was 87 percent and 75 percent, respectively. Carbone reported no unexpected safety findings. Among patients in the adjuvant atezolizumab safety population (n=57), any-grade adverse events (AEs) were observed in 96 percent of patients, including Grade 3/4 (40%) and Grade 5 (5%) adverse events. Treatment-related adverse events of any grade were reported in 63 percent of patients. Twenty-one percent had a Grade 3 treatment-related adverse event. Study authors reported that 23 percent of patients experienced any-grade AEs that led to treatment discontinuation, including 19 percent with Grade 3/4 (19%) and Grade 5 (2%) adverse events. Immune-mediated adverse events were seen in 46 percent of patients treated with adjuvant atezolizumab. This included 16 percent with a Grade 3/4 event. Study authors reported that 33 percent of patients experienced any-grade immune-mediated treatment-related adverse events with 16 percent being Grade 3/4. Significance & Implications This exploratory analysis suggests that LCMC3 patients with resectable NSCLC who received adjuvant atezolizumab may have improved disease-free survival and showed a trend toward improved overall survival when compared with those who did not receive adjuvant atezolizumab, according to Carbone. “The non-MPR subgroup also showed a trend toward improved disease-free survival and overall survival in patients who received adjuvant atezolizumab,” he said, while also emphasizing that adjuvant atezolizumab was well-tolerated with no new safety concerns. “This single-arm study showed that outcomes were better than anticipated in patients who received adjuvant atezolizumab, which may prompt further studies of IO monotherapy,” Carbone concluded. Catlin Nalley is a contributing writer.

Overall survival analysis from the ADAURA trial of adjuvant osimertinib in patients with resected EGFR-mutated (EGFRm) stage IB–IIIA non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

LBA3 Background: Osimertinib is a third-generation, central nervous system (CNS) active EGFR-TKI, that potently and selectively inhibits EGFR-TKI sensitizing and EGFR T790M resistance mutations. In the primary analysis from the Phase III ADAURA study (NCT02511106), adjuvant osimertinib demonstrated a clinically meaningful, statistically significant, and practice-changing disease-free survival (DFS) benefit vs placebo in patients with completely resected EGFRm (ex19del/L858R) NSCLC ± adjuvant chemotherapy. In an updated DFS analysis, with 2 years additional follow-up, DFS and CNS DFS benefit with adjuvant osimertinib were sustained (stage II–IIIA DFS hazard ratio [HR] 0.23; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.18, 0.30; stage IB–IIIA DFS HR 0.27; 95% CI 0.21, 0.34; stage II–IIIA CNS DFS HR 0.24; 95% CI 0.14, 0.42), with a tolerable safety profile observed over the extended treatment duration. Here, we report the planned final overall survival (OS) analysis from ADAURA. Methods: Eligible patients (aged ≥18 years [≥20 in Japan and Taiwan], WHO PS 0/1 with completely resected EGFRm (ex19del/L858R) stage IB, II or IIIA [AJCC/UICC 7th edition] NSCLC; adjuvant chemotherapy allowed) were randomized 1:1 to osimertinib 80 mg once daily or placebo until disease recurrence, treatment completion (3 years), or a discontinuation criterion was met. The primary endpoint was investigator-assessed DFS in stage II–IIIA. Key secondary endpoints: DFS in stage IB–IIIA, OS and safety. Data cut-off: January 27, 2023. Results: Globally, 682 patients were randomized; osimertinib n=339, placebo n=343. Adjuvant osimertinib significantly improved OS vs placebo. In patients with stage II–IIIA disease, OS HR was 0.49 (95% CI 0.33, 0.73; p=0.0004; 100/470 events, 21% maturity); 5-year OS rate was 85% with osimertinib vs 73% with placebo. Median follow-up for OS in stage II–IIIA was 59.9 months (osimertinib) and 56.2 months (placebo). In the overall population (stage IB–IIIA), OS HR was 0.49 (95% CI 0.34, 0.70; p&lt;0.0001; 124/682 events, 18% maturity); 5-year OS rate was 88% with osimertinib vs 78% with placebo, with a median follow-up for OS of 60.4 months (osimertinib) and 59.4 months (placebo). Median OS was not reached in either population or treatment group. Conclusions: Adjuvant osimertinib demonstrated an unprecedented, highly statistically significant and clinically meaningful OS benefit in patients with EGFRm stage IB–IIIA NSCLC after complete tumor resection, with or without adjuvant chemotherapy. ADAURA is the first global Phase III study to demonstrate a statistically significant DFS and OS benefit with targeted treatment for patients with EGFRm stage IB–IIIA NSCLC. Clinical trial information: NCT02511106 .

Prevalence of EGFR and PDL1 testing in a population-based lung cancer surgical resection cohort from 2018-2022.

e20585 Background: Most long-term survivors of lung cancer had surgery for early stage disease, but long-term survival rates are about 50%. In 2020 and 2021 the ADAURA and IMpower010 trials established adjuvant Osimertinib and Atezolizumab therapy for stage IB-IIIA non-small cell lung cancer. Eligibility for these treatments depends on specific biomarkers. We evaluated biomarker testing patterns and prevalence in a population based surgical resection cohort. Methods: In the prospective observational Mid-South Quality of Surgical Resection cohort, we evaluated EGFR and PDL1 testing from 2018-2022, spanning time before (2018-2020) and after (2021-2022) FDA approval of adjuvant Osimertinib and Atezolizumab therapy. We estimated the prevalence of EGFR mutations and PDL1 expression ( &gt; 0%) using the binomial distribution with exact 95% confidence intervals (CI). We compared demographic characteristics using Wilcoxon and Fishers Exact tests. Results: From 2018-2022, 1687 patients had surgical resection across 12 institutions (1045 from 2018-2020; 642 from 2021-2022). They were 21% black and 77% white, 49% male and 51% female, with a median age of 69 years. From 2018-2020 11% had EGFR testing, compared to 38% in 2021-2022 (p &lt; 0.0001). There were no differences in testing by age (p = 0.79), sex (p = 0.99), race (p = 0.69), or insurance type (p = 0.45). In 132 ADAURA eligible individuals (stage IB-IIIA, non-squamous, R0, &gt; 4cm tumor), EGFR was tested in 13% in 2018-2020 and 56% in 2021-2022 (p &lt; 0.0001) with no differences by demographic factors (all p &gt; 0.20). 15% (53 of 360) of EGFR tests were next-generation sequencing, increasing from 4% in 2018-2020 to 20% in 2021-2022 (p &lt; 0.0001). The prevalence of EGFR mutations was 8.1% (95% CI: 5.5% to 11.4%) overall; 9% in males vs. 7% in females (p = 0.57); 12% in black persons vs. 7% in white persons (p = 0.40). From 2018-2020 8% of patients received PDL1 testing, compared to 20% in 2021-2022 (p &lt; 0.0001). There were no differences in testing by age (p = 0.47), sex (p = 0.41), and race (p = 0.51), but a trend for insurance type (p = 0.07). In 791 Impower010 eligible patients (Stage IB-IIIA, R0), PDL1 was tested in 8% in 2018-2020 and 23% in 2021-2022 (p &lt; 0.0001) with no significant differences by demographic factors (all p &gt; 0.10). Among all 207 PDL1 tests, PDL1 was &gt; 0% in 143, for a prevalence of 69% (95% CI: 62% to 75%). It was 69% in males, 70% in females (p = 0.88); 68% in black persons, 69% in white persons (p = 0.99). Testing differed significantly by institution for both EGFR and PDL1 testing (p &lt; 0.001). When EGFR was not evaluated, PDL1 was evaluated 2% of the time but when EGFR was evaluated, PDL1 was evaluated 51% of the time. Conclusions: With the advent of biomarker-directed adjuvant therapy, EGFR and PDL1 testing are rising but testing levels are sub-optimal. Institutional factors influence testing.

Pembrolizumab and ramucirumab neoadjuvant therapy for PD-L1-positive stage IB-IIIA lung cancer (EAST ENERGY).

8509 Background: Neoadjuvant treatments for resectable non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) using novel combination therapies are being developed. Angiogenesis inhibitors have been reported to modify tumor immunity, and the efficacy and safety of treatments added to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have been investigated in advanced NSCLC. In this multi-institutional phase II study, we evaluated the efficacy and feasibility of neoadjuvant therapy with pembrolizumab and ramucirumab, a direct vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) receptor-2 antagonist, followed by surgery, in patients with PD-L1 positive, clinical stage IB-IIIA NSCLC. Methods: Patients (aged ≥20) with pathologically proven NSCLC harboring PD-L1 expression ≥1% (22C3), resectable clinical stage IB-IIIA NSCLC, and performance status of 0 to 1 were eligible. Patients received two cycles of pembrolizumab (200 mg/body) and ramucirumab (10 mg/kg) every three weeks. Surgery was scheduled 4-8 weeks after the last dose. The primary endpoint was to determine the major pathologic response (MPR) rate. The sample size was calculated based on the exact binomial distribution, considering a threshold MPR rate of 20%, an expected MPR rate of 45%, a one-side alpha of 5%, and a desired power of 80%. Results: A total of 24 eligible patients, with a median age of 75 years (range 50-78), were enrolled between July 2019 and April 2022; 18 patients were male. The histological subtype was adenocarcinoma in 12 patients, and the clinical stage was IB, IIA, IIB, and IIIA in 1, 4, 9, and 10 patients, respectively. PD-L1 was ≥50% in nine patients (37.5%). The MPR rate by the blinded independent central review of three pathologists was 50.0% (90% confidence interval, 31.9-68.1%); therefore, the primary endpoint was met. Six of the 12 patients who achieved MPR showed pathological complete response. One patient developed pneumonia before neoadjuvant treatment and one patient showed progressed disease after neoadjuvant treatment. Grade 3 adverse events (AEs) occurred in nine of 24 patients (37.5%) during the protocol treatment. Postoperative complications of grade 3 AEs, including postoperative hematoma, pulmonary fistula, and intraoperative arterial injury, were observed in three patients. Immune-related AEs related to protocol treatment were thyroid dysfunction, acute tubulointerstitial nephritis, and hepatic dysfunction in three, two, and two patients, respectively; however, no grade 3 or high AEs were observed. Twenty-one patients achieved R0 resection and one patient underwent R1 resection. There were no wound-healing adverse events of concern due to the anti-VEGF action of ramucirumab. Conclusions: The results of this study demonstrated that this new neoadjuvant combination of ICI and anti-VEGF agent (pembrolizumab and ramucirumab) is feasible and showed encouraging results. Clinical trial information: NCT04040361 .

Clinical and economic impact of recurrence in early-stage non-small-cell lung cancer following complete resection.

Aim: Real-world data on outcomes for early-stage non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) are needed to better understand the benefits of new therapies. Methods: In this retrospective study using the ConcertAI Patient360™ database, overall survivaland healthcare resource utilizationwere compared among patients with recurrent and non-recurrent completely resected stage IB-IIIA NSCLC. Results: Recurrence was associated with a shorter median overall survival compared with non-recurrence (31.5months vs 75.6months, respectively), lower survival probability 5-years post-resection, and higher healthcare resource utilization. Patients with late recurrence had a longer restricted mean survival time versus patients with early recurrence. Conclusion: Results from this real-world study highlight the potential value of preventing or delaying recurrence in patients with early-stage NSCLC.

Heterogeneity in intracranial relapses after complete resection of lung adenocarcinoma: Distinct features of brain-only relapse versus synchronous extracranial relapse.

Patients with brain oligometastases have better prognosis than those with synchronous extracranial metastases in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, studies focusing on intracranial-only recurrence after curative surgery remained scarce. This study aimed to explore distinct features of patients with exclusive brain relapse after resection of lung adenocarcinoma. Records were retrospectively reviewed of 2809 patients who had complete resection and pathologically confirmed stage IB-IIIA NSCLC in our hospital from October 2012 to September 2019. Patients were enrolled if they were adenocarcinoma and developed intracranial recurrence thereafter. They were divided into two groups depending on whether they had synchronous extracranial metastases. Clinical and pathological features of patients enrolled were collected and compared between groups. Ninety-seven lung adenocarcinoma patients with intracranial recurrences were enrolled. The median follow-up time was 40 months. Fifty patients (51.5%) had brain oligometastases and 47 patients had synchronous extracranial metastases (ECM). Multivariate logistic regression suggested EGFR-sensitive mutation and male sex were positively correlated to brain-only recurrence (OR = 2.59, 95%CI 1.04-6.84 and OR = 2.58, 95% CI 1.05-6.75), while higher clinical stage was associated with synchronous ECM (stage II (OR = 0.33, 95%CI 0.09-1.14) or stage IIIA (OR = 0.54, 95%CI 0.20-1.38) versus stage I). No other pathological feature (lymphovascular invasion, visceral pleural invasion, low tumor differentiation, etc.) or adjuvant chemotherapy was associated with intracranial-only relapse after complete resection of primary tumor. Among patients with brain relapse after resection of lung adenocarcinoma, patients with EGFR mutations might have intracranial relapse only without synchronous extracranial metastases. Further prospective studies are warranted to verify this.

Abstract CT215: Efficacy and safety of adjuvant (adj) atezolizumab (atezo) from the Phase 2 LCMC3 study

Abstract Background LCMC3 (NCT02927301), an open-label, single-arm Phase 2 study to investigate neoadjuvant (neoadj) and adj atezo (anti-PD-L1) in patients (pts) with early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), met its primary endpoint with a 20% major pathological response (MPR) rate after neoadj atezo. Here we report efficacy and safety from the adj phase. Methods Eligible pts aged ≥18 y had resectable stage IB-IIIA or select IIIB NSCLC and ECOG PS of 0 or 1. Pts received neoadj atezo 1200 mg IV for ≤2 cycles (Days 1 and 22) followed by surgery (Day 40±10). Pts deemed to have clinical benefit were offered the option to receive adj atezo every 3 weeks for up to 12 months. The primary endpoint was MPR rate (≤10% viable tumor cells at surgery) in pts without EGFR/ALK mutations. Exploratory endpoints included DFS and OS. Safety was assessed during the adj phase. Results Data cutoff was Oct 21, 2022. The primary efficacy population (PEP) was 137 pts without EGFR/ALK alterations who had surgery and MPR assessment. In the PEP, 53 pts (39%) received adj atezo and 84 (61%) did not. The 3-y DFS rate was 83% with adj atezo vs 64% without (HR, 0.43; 95% CI: 0.21, 0.90; P=0.025). 3-y OS and results by MPR status are provided in the table. In the adj atezo safety population (n=57), treatment-related (TR) AEs after adj atezo occurred in 55 pts (97%; Gr 3/4, 40%), including 11 TRAEs (19%; Gr 3/4, 16%) leading to discontinuation of adj atezo. No Gr 5 TRAEs were seen in the adj phase. Multivariate analysis also showed a trend toward better DFS for pts receiving adj atezo vs those with no adj atezo (HR, 0.52; 95% CI: 0.22, 1.21; P=0.126). Conclusions This exploratory analysis revealed that LCMC3 pts with resectable stage IB-IIIA or select IIIB NSCLC who received adj atezo had improved DFS and showed a trend toward improved OS vs pts who did not receive adj atezo. Furthermore, the non-MPR subgroup had the same trend toward improved DFS and OS with adj atezo vs pts who did not receive adj atezo. Adj atezo was well tolerated, with no new safety concerns. Table Adj atezoa n=53 No adj atezob n=84 Tx patterns Adj atezo + adj chemo, n (%) 17 (32) 0 Adj atezo, n (%) 36 (68) 0 Adj chemo, n (%) 0 36 (43) None, n (%) 0 48 (57) Tx cycles Adj atezo, n, median (range) 53, 16 (1-18) 0 Adj chemo, n, median (range) 16, 3 (0-4.2) 35, 3 (0-4.1) HR (95% CI) P PEP (N=137) 3-y DFS, % 83 64 0.43 (0.21, 0.90) 0.025 3-y OS, % 89 77 0.48 (0.19, 1.21) 0.118 MPR (n=29) n=22 n=7 3-y DFS, % 86 86 0.93 (0.10, 8.92) 0.948 Non-MPR (n=108) n=31 n=77 3-y DFS, % 80 62 0.48 (0.20, 1.12) 0.088 3-y OS, % 87 75 0.49 (0.17, 1.46) 0.202 Multivariable Cox regression (n=114)c MPR vs non-MPR 0.37 (0.11, 1.31) 0.125 Adj atezo vs no adj atezo 0.52 (0.22, 1.21) 0.126 Adj chemo vs no adj chemo 0.57 (0.27, 1.19) 0.133 Stage I/II vs III 0.71 (0.35, 1.43) 0.338 PD-L1 tumor proportion score ≥1% vs &amp;lt;1% 1.09 (0.54, 2.21) 0.805 Tx, treatment. aReceived adj atezo or adj atezo + adj chemo. bReceived adj chemo or no adj treatment. cOverall likelihood ratio test P=0.097 for the model. Citation Format: David Paul Carbone, Saiama N. Waqar, Jamie E. Chaft, Mark G. Kris, Bruce E. Johnson, Jay M. Lee, Ignacio I. Wistuba, David Kwiatkowski, Paul Bunn, Katja Schulze, Ann Johnson, Evelise Brandao, Mark Awad, Karen L. Reckamp, Anne C. Chiang, Alan Nicholas, Valerie Rusch. Efficacy and safety of adjuvant (adj) atezolizumab (atezo) from the Phase 2 LCMC3 study [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2023; Part 2 (Clinical Trials and Late-Breaking Research); 2023 Apr 14-19; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2023;83(8_Suppl):Abstract nr CT215.

Adjuvant therapies in stages I-III epidermal growth factor receptor-mutated lung cancer: current and future perspectives.

Surgical resection followed by adjuvant cisplatin-based chemotherapy is the recommended treatment for patients with completely resected stage IB-IIIA non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Even with the best management, recurrence is common and increases with disease stage (stage I: 26-45%; stage II: 42-62%; stage III: 70-77%). For patients with metastatic lung cancer and tumours that harbour epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations, EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) have improved survival. Their effectiveness in advanced stages of NSCLC raises the possibility that these agents may improve outcomes for patients with resectable EGFR-mutated lung cancer. In the ADAURA study, adjuvant osimertinib provided a significant improvement in disease-free survival (DFS) and reduced central nervous system (CNS) disease recurrence in patients with resected stage IB-IIIA EGFR-mutated NSCLC, with or without prior adjuvant chemotherapy. To reap the maximum benefits of EGFR-TKIs for patients with lung cancer, the early and rapid identification of EGFR mutations [and other oncogenic drivers, such as programmed cell death-ligand 1 (PD-L1), with matched targeted therapies] in diagnostic pathologic specimens has become essential. To ensure patients receive the most appropriate treatment, routine, comprehensive histological, immunohistochemical, and molecular analyses (with multiplex next generation sequencing) should be undertaken at the time of diagnosis. The potential for personalised treatments to cure more patients with early-stage lung cancer can only be realised if all therapies are considered when the care plan is formulated, by the multi-specialty experts managing patients. In this review, we discuss the progress and prospects for adjuvant treatments as part of a comprehensive plan of care for patients with resected stages I-III EGFR-mutated lung cancer, and explore how the field could go beyond DFS and overall survival to make cure a more frequent outcome of treatment in patients with resected EGFR-mutated lung cancer.

OA01.09 Adjuvant Osimertinib in Resected EGFR-Mutated Stage IB–IIIA Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Updated ADAURA Results

OA01.09 Adjuvant Osimertinib in Resected EGFR-Mutated Stage IB–IIIA Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Updated ADAURA Results