image: Figure 1: Response to docetaxel in second or third line treatment for non-small cell lung cancer after a treatment with chemo-immunotherapy. view more
Credit: 2023 Assi et al.
“[...] large multicenter prospective randomized trials are needed to provide the clinical evidence for the use of [chemotherapy] in second line and third-line post [immunotherapy] failure.”
BUFFALO, NY- June 7, 2023 – A new research paper was published in Oncotarget's Volume 14 on May 26, 2023, entitled, “Value of chemotherapy post immunotherapy in stage IV non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).”
Lung cancer is the number one cause of mortality among all types of cancer worldwide. Its treatment landscape has shifted from the classic chemotherapy alone to newer regimens based on the discovery of new immunotherapy and targeted therapy drugs. However, chemotherapy is still an option for treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) after progression on immunotherapy alone or in combination with first-line chemotherapy.
This new retrospective study, by researchers Hazem I. Assi, Maroun Bou Zerdan, Mohammad Hodroj, Makram Khoury, Nour Sabiha Naji, Ghid Amhaz, Reine Abou Zeidane, and Fadi El Karak from the American University of Beirut Medical Center and Hotel Dieu de France University Hospital, was based on chart review of patients diagnosed with advanced NSCLC cases who received Docetaxel as second or third line after being treated by immunotherapy and/or chemotherapy in previous lines. The data was collected from the medical records of physicians’ clinics in three different hospital centers in Lebanon over the period of 5 years from July 2015 until December 2020. February 2021 was data analysis cut off time.
“The main aim [of this study] was to assess the role of Docetaxel post-chemoimmunotherapy for patients with diagnosed NSCLC.”
A total of 21 patients were included in this study. The majority of our patients were males (81%). As for histologic type, most patients had non-squamous lung cancer (67%) as compared to 33% who had squamous lung cancer. Overall, their study reported a 24% response rate to Docetaxel including stable disease and partial response and a median progression free survival (PFS) of 3 months. The mean time interval elapsed from diagnosis to the initiation of Docetaxel was 11.5 months.
“New therapeutic options should be validated for the treatment of NSCLC in the second and subsequent lines of therapy considering the poor prognosis of this disease. The chemotherapy in second and third line may keep an important role in the treatment after progression on newer agents, but it needs more evidence in prospective studies including a larger number of patients.”
Read the full paper: DOI: https://doi.org/10.18632/oncotarget.28444
Correspondence to: Fadi El Karak
Email: Felkarak@yahoo.com
Keywords: chemotherapy, immunotherapy, non-small cell lung cancer
About Oncotarget: Oncotarget (a primarily oncology-focused, peer-reviewed, open access journal) aims to maximize research impact through insightful peer-review; eliminate borders between specialties by linking different fields of oncology, cancer research and biomedical sciences; and foster application of basic and clinical science.
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Journal
Oncotarget
Method of Research
Observational study
Subject of Research
People
Article Title
Value of chemotherapy post immunotherapy in stage IV non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)
Article Publication Date
26-May-2023