Pembrolizumab versus Chemotherapy for PD-L1–Positive Non–Small-Cell Lung Cancer

This open-label RCT of previously untreated patients (n=305) found a longer progression-free survival with pembrolizumab vs platinum based chemotherapy (10.3 months vs 6.0 months, HR form progression or death 0.50, 95% CI 0.37-0.68).

A commentary article describes some background to checkpoint inhibitors such as pembrolizumab and nivolumab, and that long-term follow up of large cohorts of patients are awaited to see if the initial survival advantage translates to survival of 20% or greater at 3 years and beyond.

 

Pembrolizumab is currently licensed for the treatment of locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung carcinoma in adults whose tumours express PD-L1 and who have received at least one prior chemotherapy regimen.