Purpose: The rise of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in recent years has coincided with unusual clinical response patterns. Modification of the sum of longest diameters (SLD)-based threshold that reflecting dynamic change of the tumor burden and predicting response to ICIs, may markedly improve current treatment regimens.
Methods: The baseline and post-treatment SLD of target lesion was recorded and the maximum percent change of the SLD from baseline was designated as SLD-change score. The optimal cut-off value was obtained using the X-tile program. The relationship between SLD-change score and survival outcome (PFS, OS) was evaluated.
Results: 10% cut-off value of SLD-change score was found to be most distinctive for PFS. Responders defined according to this cut-off value showed a significant improvement for PFS and OS. Bone metastasis and brain metastasis were also two independent prognostic factors of PFS and OS, respectively.
Conclusions: 10% SLD change score could discriminate for ICIs treatment response, which holds great promise in promoting the development of precise immunotherapeutic strategy.
Keywords: Check point inhibitors; Immunotherapy; Non-small cell lung cancer; RECIST; SLD.
© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.