Abstract
Background: Recent evidence suggested a potential positive association between excessive weight and the efficacy of immunotherapy (IO) in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients.
Methods: Retrospective study of NSCLC consecutively treated with IO between October/2015 and December/2018, in order to compare clinical outcomes according to baseline body mass index (BMI). Patients were divided in two groups (overweight(Ow)= BMI≥25; non-overweight(non-Ow)= BMI<25).
Results: Seventy-seven patients were identified (Ow: 27; non-Ow: 50 patients), mainly male (62-80.5%) and with a median age of 65 years (35-86). Median BMI of Ow was 28 (25-35) kg/m2 and non-OW was 21(16-24) kg/m2. Median progression free survival (PFS) was higher in the Ow group, but without a statistically significant difference (9 months vs 5 months; p=0.374). There was no difference in overall survival (OS) between both groups (p=0.712). Considering side effects, overweight patients were significantly more likely to experience any grade immune-related adverse events (irAEs) compared to non-overweight patients (77.8% vs. 40.0%, p=0.003). The rate of ≥G2 irAEs was statistically different between Ow and non-Ow patients (59.3% vs 18.0%, p<0.001). Ir-hepatitis was the only side effect statistically different between groups (p=0.048).
Conclusion: In our sample, BMI did not have a statistically significant impact in PFS or OS of NSCLC patients under IO. However, overweight patients seem to experience more IrAEs, which is in concordance with the literature and may be justified by the fact that overweight patients usually have more medical comorbidities. Larger studies are needed to better elucidate the influence of BMI in the immunotherapy outcomes.
Footnotes
Cite this article as: European Respiratory Journal 2020; 56: Suppl. 64, 1738.
This abstract was presented at the 2020 ERS International Congress, in session “Respiratory viruses in the "pre COVID-19" era”.
This is an ERS International Congress abstract. No full-text version is available. Further material to accompany this abstract may be available at www.ers-education.org (ERS member access only).
- Copyright ©the authors 2020