Research findings from the CheckMate 227 trial will be presented at the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) World Conference on Lung Cancer 2023 in Singapore, shedding light on the six-year survival and quality of life benefits associated with first-line nivolumab + ipilimumab therapy.

CheckMate 227 Part 1 showed that a combination of first-line nivolumab and ipilimumab exhibited a remarkable and sustained survival advantage over traditional chemotherapy in patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

“Our findings represent a pivotal moment in the management of metastatic NSCLC. The extended survival and enhanced quality of life observed with nivolumab + ipilimumab underscores the potential for a paradigm shift in treatment strategies,” said Dr. Solange Peters, Lausanne University Hospital in Switzerland.

The study enrolled adults with treatment-naïve stage IV or recurrent NSCLC, excluding those with known EGFR/ALK alterations and with ECOG performance status of ≤1. Patients were divided into different cohorts based on tumor PD-L1 expression levels and randomized to receive nivolumab + ipilimumab, nivolumab, nivolumab + chemotherapy or chemotherapy alone.

The latest data, with a minimum follow-up of 73.4 months, reaffirmed the compelling survival benefits of nivolumab + ipilimumab over chemotherapy, Peters reported. Notably, the six-year overall survival rates were substantially higher, reaching 22% vs. 13% and 16% vs. 5%, respectively, for patients with tumor PD-L1 ≥1% or <1%. These outcomes signify an advance in the treatment of metastatic NSCLC.

Additional endpoints, including objective response rates, duration of response, and quality of life, consistently favored the nivolumab + ipilimumab combination across all patient subgroups. Notably, responders with substantial tumor burden reduction exhibited considerably improved overall survival with nivolumab + ipilimumab compared to chemotherapy.

Furthermore, the study’s comprehensive assessment of patients’ health-related quality of life (HRQoL) demonstrated a clear association between better baseline HRQoL and improved overall survival, regardless of the treatment received.

“The evidence we present offers a compelling case for the transformative potential of nivolumab + ipilimumab in metastatic NSCLC treatment. Our findings underscore the significance of personalized care and better outcomes for patients,” said Dr. Peters.

Provided by
International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer