Multicenter phase 2 trial of second-line docetaxel-ramucirumab after platinum-based chemotherapy plus immune checkpoint inhibitor for mNSCLC

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) plus platinum-based chemotherapy is a standard first-line therapy for patients with metastatic non-smal cell lung cancer (mNSCLC). The optimal therapy after progression after this therapy is not clear. The phase 2 SCORPION trial, at 8 centers in Japan, evaluated docetaxel plus ramucirumab (DTX-RAM) as second-line therapy for these patients. The trial met its primary end point, with objective response rate 34.4%. The median progression-free and overall survival were 6.5 months and 17.5 months, respectively. The safety profile was manageable, with no treatment-related deaths and no new safety signals. The authors conclude that DTX-RAM demonstrated encouraging antitumor activity for mNSCLC with progression after first-line ICI plus platinum-based chemotherapy.