Ramucirumab plus atezolizumab for stage IV non-small cell lung cancer after failure of immune checkpoint inhibitors

Treatment options for stage IV non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) after failure of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are limited. The combination of ICI with VEGFR inhibitor had promising results in previously untreated patients. A phase 2 study at Washington University (St. Louis, MO) evaluated ramucirumab plus atezolizumab for advanced stage NSCLC previously treated with at least one line including ICI. Although the primary end point of objective response rate was not met, the overall survival was better than expected in heavily pretreated patients. The authors conclude that further investigation with ICI plus VEGF inhibition is warranted.