Two-center retrospective study of factors associated with disease progression after discontinuation of ICIs due to irAEs in patients with advanced NSCLC

A retrospective study at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (Boston, MA) and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (New York, NY) investigated factor associated with disease control after discontinuation of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) due to immune-related adverse events (irAEs) among patients with advanced non-small lung cancer (aNSCLC). Among 2,794 patients receiving ICIs for aNSCLC, 271 patients (10%) discontinued ICIs because of irAE, after median 5.9 months of ICI treatment. Factors associated with improved post-discontinuation outcomes were longer treatment duration before discontinuation, a best objective response of complete response or partial response, PD-L1 ≥ 50%, and non squamous histology. The authors conclude that these factors may help clinicians to identify aNSCLC patients who may experience long-term disease control after discontinuation of ICIs for irAEs.