Systematic review and meta-analysis of outcomes of vaccines for advanced non-small cell lung cancer after first-line therapy

Systematic review and meta-analysis of 11 randomized phase 2 or 3 trial (3228 patients) evaluated efficacy of cancer vaccines among patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer as first-line maintenance therapy, as second-line therapy, or as third-line therapy. In meta-analysis, use of vaccines was associated with significantly improved overall survival (HR 0.85: p<0.001) but not progression-free survival (HR 0.91; p=0.195). Squamous cell carcinoma (HR 0.74; p=0.003) responded better to vaccine therapy than adenocarcinoma (HR 0.83; p=0.377). The pooled OR for treatment-related adverse events was 1.5 (p=0.361). The authors conclude that this meta-analysis demonstrated the clinical efficacy and safety of cancer vaccines in advanced NSCLC patients after first-line therapy.