Elderly patients with unresectable stage 3 NSCLC treated with definitive chemoradiation with or without durvalumab: Safety and outcomes.

Authors

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Malcolm Isaiah Ryan

Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada

Malcolm Isaiah Ryan , Jessica Weiss , Aline Fusco Fares , Ming Sound Tsao , Geoffrey Liu , Penelope Ann Bradbury , Natasha B. Leighl , Frances A. Shepherd , Adrian G. Sacher , Sally C. M. Lau

Organizations

Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada, University Hospital Network (UHN) Biostatistics Department, Toronto, ON, Canada, Princess Margaret Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada, Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada, Cancer Clinical Research Unit, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada, Princess Margaret Cancer Center, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada

Research Funding

No funding received
None

Background: Recently, it has been demonstrated that the addition of durvalumab after chemoradiation (CRT) in unresectable stage 3 non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) significantly improves overall survival (OS). The benefit of CRT in elderly patients is considered controversial given its increased toxicity. As such, CRT followed by durvalumab in elderly patients may be underutilized despite its demonstrated superiority. The practice pattern at our center is to offer curative treatment unless clearly contraindicated. We sought to investigate the outcomes of elderly patients treated with CRT +/- durvalumab at our center. Methods: We conducted a review of all stage 3 NSCLC patients treated with CRT between 2018 and 2020. Patients were analyzed based on age: < 70 years, ≥70 years. Endpoints evaluated were treatment patterns, toxicity, progression free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Results: We identified 115 stage 3 patients: 44 patients ≥70 years (70-89) and 71 patients < 70 years (34-69). Patients were fit: ECOG 0-1 (98%/97%), mean Charlson comorbidity index (CCI) (1.1/0.9) in elderly vs young patients; p > 0.05. All other baseline characteristics including PD-L1 expression were similar. The chemotherapy regimens (platinum in combination with etoposide, paclitaxel or pemetrexed), dose intensity (97% vs 97%) and percentage of planned cycles received (91% vs 96%) were similar. There were 2 treatment related deaths from CRT among the younger cohort and none in the elderly patients. At the completion of CRT, 75% of elderly and 72% of young patients received durvalumab. Clinician/patient preference was the most common reason for not receiving consolidation durvalumab in older patients (55% vs 25%). The median time to starting durvalumab was 43 days in the elderly and 37 days in young patients (p = 0.19). Durvalumab was well tolerated in the elderly and incidence of grade ≥3 immune-related adverse events was 9% compared to 6% in young patients; p = 0.68. The durvalumab completion rates were 30% in elderly and 24% in young patients; p = 0.22. Median PFS was similar between elderly and young patients (17.9 vs 10.6 months respectively; p = 0.07), even after adjusting for the CCI (HR 0.60; p = 0.07). The 24- and OS rates are also similar (p = 0.93): 77% in elderly and 77% in young patients. Conclusions: Definitive CRT followed by durvalumab can be safely delivered in elderly patients ≥70 years with comparable outcomes. The non-significant trend towards better PFS in elderly patients suggests that only select fit patients are being referred for treatment. In conclusion, all patients should undergo comprehensive oncologic assessment to determine if curative intent treatment can be delivered to avoid undertreatment of elderly patients.

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Abstract Details

Meeting

2021 ASCO Annual Meeting

Session Type

Poster Session

Session Title

Lung Cancer—Non-Small Cell Local-Regional/Small Cell/Other Thoracic Cancers

Track

Lung Cancer

Sub Track

Local-Regional Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer

Citation

J Clin Oncol 39, 2021 (suppl 15; abstr 8547)

DOI

10.1200/JCO.2021.39.15_suppl.8547

Abstract #

8547

Poster Bd #

Online Only

Abstract Disclosures