Prognostic Impact of Pneumonitis After Durvalumab Therapy in Patients With Locally Advanced Non-small Cell Lung Cancer

Abstract Background: Prognostic data on Japanese patients receiving durvalumab after chemoradiotherapy (CRT) for locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (LA-NSCLC) are insufficient. Whether pneumonitis has prognostic implications in patients with LA-NSCLC who have received durvalumab also remains unclear.Methods: We retrospectively assessed the data of 82 patients who had received durvalumab after CRT at our institution between May 2018 and August 2020. A multi-state model was used to establish the associations between co-variables and progression-free survival (PFS).Results: The median observation period for all the censored cases was 14.5 months (5.7-28.9 months), the median PFS was 22.7 months, and the 12-month PFS rate was 62.3% (95% CI: 50.2%-72.3%). The median percentage of the lung volume receiving a radiation dose in excess of 20 Gray (V20) was 22% (4%-35%). Thirteen patients (16%) had Grade 1 pneumonitis before receiving durvalumab, and 62 patients developed pneumonitis after durvalumab (Grades 1, 2, and 3 in 25 [30%], 32 [39%], and 4 [5%], respectively). Twenty-four patients (29%) completed the 1-year durvalumab treatment period, 16 patients (20%) were continuing to receive treatment, and 42 (51%) had discontinued treatment. In a multi-state analysis, patients with pneumonitis before durvalumab therapy had a poorer PFS than those without pneumonitis (HR: 4.29, p = 0.002). The development of Grade 2 or higher pneumonitis after durvalumab was not a significant prognostic factor for PFS (HR: 0.71, p = 0.852).Conclusion: Grade 2 or higher pneumonitis after durvalumab was not a prognostic factor of PFS in LA-NSCLC patients received durvalumab.