Immune checkpoint inhibitors in patients with lung cancer having chronic interstitial pneumonia

Abstract

BackgroundIn interstitial pneumonia (IP)-associated lung cancer, immune checkpoint inhibitor pneumonitis (ICIP) is common with immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) treatment. The purpose of the present study was to clarify the safety and efficacy of ICI treatment for patients with lung cancer with IP.MethodsThis multicentre retrospective observational study was conducted from June 2016 to December 2020 in patients with primary lung cancer with IP who received ICI treatment.ResultsA total of 200 patients (median age 70 years; male/female, 176/24) were enrolled from 27 institutions. ICIP occurred in 61 patients (30.5%), pneumonitis grades 3–5 in 32 patients (15.5%) and death in nine patients (4.5%). The common computed tomography pattern of ICIP was organising pneumonia in 29 patients (47.5%). Subsequently, diffuse alveolar damage (DAD) pattern was observed in 19 patients (31.1%) who had a significantly worse prognosis than those with a non-DAD pattern (median progression-free survival (PFS) 115 daysversus226 days, p=0.042; median overall survival (OS) 334 daysversus1316 days, p<0.001). Immune-related adverse events (irAEs) occurred in approximately 50% of patients. Patients with irAEs (n=100) had a better prognosis than those without irAEs (n=100) (median PFS 200 daysversus77 days, p<0.001; median OS 597 daysversus390 days p=0.0074). The objective response rate and disease control rate were 41.3% and 68.5%, respectively.ConclusionsAlthough ICI treatment was effective for patients with lung cancer with IP, ICIP developed in approximately 30% of patients. Patients with irAEs had a significantly better PFS and OS than those without irAEs.