The Predictive Role of Programmed Death Ligand 1 (PD-L1) and Neutrophil to Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR) in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) (PD-L1)

January 22, 2019 updated by: Fondazione Ricerca Traslazionale

Integration of Programmed Cell Death Ligand 1 and Neutrophil to Lymphocyte Ratio to Predict Response to Nivolumab in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

This retrospective study explores the combination of Programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression and Neutrophil to Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR) as an easy feasible panel to predict benefit to nivolumab.

Study Overview

Detailed Description

We will retrospectively analyze patients with advanced NSCLC who have received at least one cycle of nivolumab (3mg/kg intravenously every 2 weeks) within the early access program (EAP) or after the drug approval. All patients have been treated with immunotherapy, in second or further line, in two Italian Institution (the S. Maria delle Croci Hospital in Ravenna and the S. Maria della Misericordia Hospital in Perugia) between February 2015 and May 2017.

Patient data and laboratory values will be recorded in an electronic anonymized database and personally collected by one of the investigators (C.B.). PD-L1 expression will be assessed by immunoistochemistry (IHC) on available archival tissue samples with clone E1L3N (monoclonal rabbit; Cell Signaling technology, Danverd, MA) or SP263 (monoclonal rabbit; Ventana Medical System, Tucson, AZ), in a Ventana automated stainer according to the manufacturer's protocol and using proprietary reagents. Since a specific PD-L1 level is not mandatory for prescribing immunotherapy in second or further lines, except for pembrolizumab, we established the PD-L1 positivity as expression on ≥ 1% of tumor cells. To calculate NLR, the absolute neutrophil count will be divided by the lymphocytes value measured in peripheral blood within 4 weeks prior to the first infusion of nivolumab. Patients will be dichotomized according to a pre-specified cutoff value as high (NLR ≥ 3) or low (NLR < 3), since a ratio greater than 3 has been associated with poor outcome in many types of cancer. Patients will be divided in two cohorts according to combined PD-L1/NLR value: cohort1 with PD-L1 positive and low NLR and cohort 2 with PD-L1 negative and high NLR. Primary end point will be ORR, calculated as the percentage of responses among all treated patients. Response to treatment will be assessed by computed tomography and classified according to RECIST 1.1 criteria [15 Eisenauer Cancer 2009]. The influence of the combined PD-L1/NLR on overall response rates (ORR), will be analyzed with univariable logistic regression. Secondary outcome will be OS and PFS, calculated from the start of nivolumab treatment to death and radiographic or clinical progression, respectively, with deterioration of performance status classified as disease progression. We will also examine whether PD-L1, NRL, or combined PD-L1/NRL contribute to the prediction of OS or PFS, through multi-variable analyses. Since data collected included many variables, we will perform multivariable models to examine the dependence of OS and PFS on known prognostic factors: Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status (ECOG PS) (0-1 vs. ≥2) and brain involvement at time of initiating nivolumab, smoking history [never (<100 cigarettes per lifetime) vs. former/current smokers], histology (squamous vs. non-squamous), molecular profiling for epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog (K-RAS) and anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) when available. Patients with squamous-cell cancers will be counted as wild type for targetable mutation, which are considered to be infrequent in this population. The study was approved by the local Research Ethics Committee.

Study Type

Observational

Enrollment (Actual)

93

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years to 90 years (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Sampling Method

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Patients with advanced NSCLC who received at least one cycle of nivolumab (3mg/kg intravenously every 2 weeks) within the expanded access program (EAP) or in a routine clinical practice after the drug approval

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Patients with histologic diagnosis of advanced NSCLC who received Nivolumab as second or further line of therapy
  • Paraffin-embedded tissue sample available for PD-L1 analysis
  • disponibilità di emocromo entro 4 settimane dall'inizio del trattamento con Nivolumab
  • To calculate NLR, the absolute neutrophil count was divided by the lymphocytes value measured in peripheral blood within 4 weeks prior to the first infusion of nivolumab.

No main Exclusion Criteria

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Observational Models: Cohort
  • Time Perspectives: Retrospective

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
Cohort1
Cohort1 (PD-L1+/low NLR)
Cohort2
Cohort 2 (PD-L1-/High NLR)

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
ORR
Time Frame: 3 months
Overall Response Rate
3 months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
PFS
Time Frame: 3 months
Progression Free Survival
3 months
OS
Time Frame: 3 months
Overall Survival
3 months

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

February 15, 2015

Primary Completion (Actual)

May 15, 2017

Study Completion (Anticipated)

March 30, 2019

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

January 22, 2019

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

January 22, 2019

First Posted (Actual)

January 25, 2019

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

January 25, 2019

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

January 22, 2019

Last Verified

January 1, 2019

More Information

Terms related to this study

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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