The later-line efficacy and safety of immune checkpoint inhibitors plus anlotinib in EGFR-mutant patients with EGFR-TKI-resistant NSCLC: a single-center retrospective study

Cancer Immunol Immunother. 2024 May 17;73(7):134. doi: 10.1007/s00262-024-03712-7.

Abstract

Background: Effective treatment after EGFR-TKI resistance is of great clinical concern. We aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of anlotinib in combination with an anti-PD-1/PD-L1 antibody in later-line therapy for EGFR-mutant NSCLC patients after TKI treatment failure and to explore the independent predictive factors of therapeutic efficacy.

Methods: A total of 71 patients with confirmed advanced EGFR-mutated NSCLC who progressed after previous standard EGFR-TKI therapy but still failed after multiline treatments were included retrospectively in this study. Most of the patients had previously received at least three lines of treatment. All were treated with anlotinib combined with anti-PD-1 or anti-PD-L1 therapy. The safety of this combined treatment was assessed by the incidence of adverse events. The efficacy of the regimens was evaluated by survival analysis (OS, PFS, ORR, DCR).

Results: The median follow-up period was 28.6 months (range: 2.3-54.0 months), and the median number of treatment lines was 4. The overall response rate (ORR) and disease control rate (DCR) were 19.7% and 77.5%, respectively. The median PFS was 5.8 months (95% CI 4.2-7.4 months), and the median OS was 17.1 months (95% CI 12.0-22.3 months). Patients who received immune checkpoint inhibitors plus anlotinib had an encouraging intracranial ORR of 38.5% and a DCR of 80.8%. ECOG performance status < 2 at baseline was independent protective factors of PFS. Metastatic organs and ECOG performance status were independent parameters in predicting OS. Treatment-related adverse events occurred in 66 (93.0%) patients; most of the adverse events were Grade 1-2, and no increase in adverse events was observed compared to monotherapy.

Conclusion: Anlotinib combined with an anti-PD-1/PD-L1-based regimen exhibited promising efficacy and tolerance in NSCLC patients with EGFR mutations after previous TKI failure. The efficacy of this combined regimen in patients with EGFR mutations should be further evaluated.

Keywords: Anlotinib; EGFR-TKI resistance; Efficacy; Immune checkpoint inhibitor; Non-small cell lung cancer; Safety.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / adverse effects
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use
  • B7-H1 Antigen / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung* / drug therapy
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung* / genetics
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung* / mortality
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung* / pathology
  • Drug Resistance, Neoplasm*
  • ErbB Receptors* / antagonists & inhibitors
  • ErbB Receptors* / genetics
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors* / adverse effects
  • Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors* / therapeutic use
  • Indoles* / administration & dosage
  • Indoles* / adverse effects
  • Indoles* / therapeutic use
  • Lung Neoplasms* / drug therapy
  • Lung Neoplasms* / genetics
  • Lung Neoplasms* / pathology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Mutation*
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors* / adverse effects
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors* / therapeutic use
  • Quinolines* / administration & dosage
  • Quinolines* / adverse effects
  • Quinolines* / therapeutic use
  • Retrospective Studies

Substances

  • anlotinib
  • EGFR protein, human