Background: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have become the standard treatment for patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, the safety and efficacy of ICIs in severe advanced NSCLC patients with poor performance status (PS) are still unclear.
Methods: In the current study, we report a retrospective case series of three critically ill NSCLC patients with poor PS treated with immunotherapy in our hospital, and discussed these cases with reference to the existing literature and guidelines.
Results: Before treatment, the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) PS scores of all three patients were 4, while programmed cell death protein ligand-1 (PD-L1) was strongly expressed (over 50%). After initiating anti-programmed cell death 1 (PD-1)/PD-L1 agents, the PS score of the three patients improved rapidly to 0-1 in a short time. A Lazarus type response was observed in all patients. There were no grade 3-4 immune-related adverse events (irAEs) in any of the patients, and only one patient developed rash (grade 2 irAE) and hypothyroidism (grade 2 irAE). The best response across all three patients was partial response (PR). As of the latest follow-up date on June 10, 2020, two patients are still alive, with the other having died on January 14, 2020, whose progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were 11 and 16 months, respectively.
Conclusions: Immunotherapy is still an effective and low-toxicity option for severe advanced NSCLC patients with poor PS. Lazarus type response may occur, especially in patients whose PD-L1 is strongly expressed (≥50%). However, a greater amount of real-world data or randomized clinical trials are needed in this setting.
Keywords: Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC); immunotherapy; poor performance status (poor PS); programmed cell death 1 inhibitor (PD-1 inhibitor); programmed cell death protein ligand-1 (PD-L1).