The primary baseline characteristics of patients in rechallenge and no rechallenge cohorts
| Characteristics | Rechallenge cohort(n = 52) | No rechallenge cohort(n = 61) |
|---|---|---|
| Sex, n (%) | ||
| Male | 38 (73.1) | 44 (72.1) |
| Female | 14 (26.9) | 17 (27.9) |
| Age, median (IQR) | 67 (57–72) | 65 (55–71) |
| Age, n (%) | ||
| < 65 | 23 (44.2) | 29 (47.5) |
| ≥ 65 | 29 (55.8) | 32 (52.5) |
| ECOG PS at subsequent line | ||
| 0-1 | 37 (71.2) | 47 (77.0) |
| 2 | 15 (28.8) | 14 (23.0) |
| Smoking status | ||
| Ever smoking | 34 (65.4) | 37 (60.7) |
| Never smoking | 18 (34.6) | 24 (39.3) |
| Histological type, n (%) | ||
| Adenocarcinoma | 24 (46.2) | 25 (41.0) |
| Squamous cell carcinoma | 26 (50.0) | 33 (54.1) |
| Other NSCLC | 2 (3.8) | 3 (4.9) |
| PD-L1 IHC expression | ||
| < 1% | 16 (30.7) | 20 (32.8) |
| ≥ 1 and < 49% | 22 (42.3) | 30 (49.2) |
| ≥ 50% | 14 (26.9) | 11 (18.0) |
| Brain metastasis at ICI rechallenge | ||
| Yes | 12 (23.1) | 17 (27.9) |
| No | 40 (76.9) | 44 (72.1) |
| Line of initial ICI therapy, n (%) | ||
| 1 | 44 (84.6) | 55 (90.2) |
| 2 | 8 (15.4) | 6 (9.8) |
| Initial ICI regimen, n (%) | ||
| Pembrolizumab + paclitaxel + carboplatin | 19 (36.6) | 25 (41.0) |
| Pembrolizumab + pemetrexed + cis-/carboplatin | 12 (23.1) | 13 (21.3) |
| Atezolizumab + paclitaxel + carboplatin + bevacizumab | 6 (11.5) | 8 (13.1) |
| Atezolizumab | 6 (11.5) | 4 (6.6) |
| Pembrolizumab | 5 (9.6) | 6 (9.8) |
| Nivolumab | 4 (7.7) | 5 (8.2) |
| Best overall response to initial ICI therapy, n (%) | ||
| Complete response | 1 (1.9) | 0 (0.0) |
| PR | 22 (42.3) | 26 (42.6) |
| SD | 25 (48.1) | 30 (49.2) |
| Progressive disease | 4 (7.7) | 5 (8.2) |
| Any irAEs at initial ICI therapy, n (%) | 23 (44.2) | 25 (41.0) |
| Thyroid dysfunction | 9 (17.3) | 10 (16.4) |
| Skin reactions | 6 (11.5) | 5 (8.2) |
| Hepatitis | 5 (9.6) | 7 (11.5) |
| Pneumonitis | 3 (5.8) | 3 (4.9) |
| Chemotherapy regimen at subsequent line | 0 (0.0) | |
| Docetaxel monotherapy | 29 (47.5) | |
| Docetaxel + angiogenesis inhibitor (bevacizumab/nintedanib/ramucirumab) | 16 (26.2) | |
| Pemetrexed | 7 (11.5) | |
| Afatinib | 5 (8.2) | |
| Gemcitabine | 4 (6.6) | |
| Treatment between two lines of ICI | 0 (0.0) | |
| Chemotherapy ± angiogenesis inhibitor | 29 (55.8) | |
| No | 23 (44.2) | |
| ICI rechallenge regimen | 0 (0.0) | |
| Pembrolizumab | 20 (38.4) | |
| Nivolumab | 17 (32.7) | |
| Atezolizumab | 7 (13.5) | |
| Pembrolizumab + paclitaxel + carboplatin | 4 (7.7) | |
| Pembrolizumab + pemetrexed + carboplatin | 4 (7.7) | |
| Rechallenge with the same ICI | 0 (0.0) | |
| Yes | 15 (28.8) | |
| No | 37 (71.2) | |
| Any irAEs at ICI rechallenge, n (%) | 18 (34.6) | 0 (0.0) |
| Thyroid dysfunction | 6 (11.5) | |
| Hepatitis | 6 (11.5) | |
| Skin reactions | 3 (5.8) | |
| Pneumonitis | 3 (5.8) | |
IQR: interquartile range; ECOG PS: Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status; IHC: immunohistochemistry; ICI: immune checkpoint inhibitor; irAEs: immune-related adverse events; NSCLC: non-small cell lung cancer; PD-L1: programmed cell death-ligand 1; PR: partial response; SD: stable disease