Addition of thoracic radiotherapy to a PD-L1 inhibitor plus chemotherapy regimen delays brain metastasis onset in extensive-stage small cell lung cancer patients without baseline brain metastasis

Abstract Background With the application of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) and the discovery of the synergistic effect of radiotherapy and immunotherapy, the intracranial benefit of thoracic radiotherapy (TRT) is receiving signiffcant clinical attention. The purpose of this study was to analyze...

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Main Authors: Baiyang Huang, Senyuan Liu, Kaiyue Wang, Jiarui Zhao, Min Li, Xingpeng Wang, Weiqing Wang, Xiaohan Wang, Jinming Yu, Xue Meng, Guoxin Cai
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-03-01
Series:Respiratory Research
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12931-025-03157-1
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author Baiyang Huang
Senyuan Liu
Kaiyue Wang
Jiarui Zhao
Min Li
Xingpeng Wang
Weiqing Wang
Xiaohan Wang
Jinming Yu
Xue Meng
Guoxin Cai
author_facet Baiyang Huang
Senyuan Liu
Kaiyue Wang
Jiarui Zhao
Min Li
Xingpeng Wang
Weiqing Wang
Xiaohan Wang
Jinming Yu
Xue Meng
Guoxin Cai
author_sort Baiyang Huang
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background With the application of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) and the discovery of the synergistic effect of radiotherapy and immunotherapy, the intracranial benefit of thoracic radiotherapy (TRT) is receiving signiffcant clinical attention. The purpose of this study was to analyze the cranial benefits of ICIs and TRT in patients with extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC) without baseline brain metastases (BMs). Materials and methods From August 2019 to August 2022, data from patients diagnosed with ES-SCLC without baseline BMs were retroactively recorded. The Kaplan‒Meier method was used to calculate overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), and brain metastasis-free survival (BMFS), and the differences between the treatment groups were compared with the log-rank test. Risk factors associated with OS were analyzed via the Cox regression model. Results A total of 216 patients were included, with a median follow-up of 24.73 months. Among these patients, 137 (63.4%) received first-line ICIs combined with chemotherapy (ChT), including 32 patients treated with anti-programmed death 1 antibody (αPD-1) and 105 patients treated with anti-programmed death-ligand 1 antibody (αPD-L1), and 79 patients (36.6%) received first-line ChT alone. Compared with the ChT-alone group, the ICI + ChT group demonstrated significantly improved PFS (8.07 vs. 6.87 months; p < 0.001) and OS (19.83 vs. 13.80 months; p = 0.001). The addition of ICIs to the ChT regimen did not significantly delay the onset of BMs compared to that with ChT alone (16.93 vs. 12.67 months; p = 0.379). Notably, the addition of TRT to the αPD-L1 + ChT regimen significantly prolonged BMFS compared to that without TRT (20.27 vs. 8.80 months; p = 0.045). Conclusion In patients with ES-SCLC without baseline BMs, first-line chemoimmunotherapy significantly improves PFS and OS. However, it does not delay intracranial metastasis. The addition of TRT to αPD-L1 + ChT therapy significant delays the development of BMs. Clinical trial number Not applicable.
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spelling doaj-art-1cf582ffcf934cb682cef6d9790b29212025-08-20T01:57:52ZengBMCRespiratory Research1465-993X2025-03-0126111310.1186/s12931-025-03157-1Addition of thoracic radiotherapy to a PD-L1 inhibitor plus chemotherapy regimen delays brain metastasis onset in extensive-stage small cell lung cancer patients without baseline brain metastasisBaiyang Huang0Senyuan Liu1Kaiyue Wang2Jiarui Zhao3Min Li4Xingpeng Wang5Weiqing Wang6Xiaohan Wang7Jinming Yu8Xue Meng9Guoxin Cai10Department of Radiation Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical SciencesThe Affiliated Taian City Central Hospital of Qingdao UniversitySchool of Clinical Medicine, Shandong Second Medical UniversityDepartment of Radiation Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical SciencesDepartment of Radiation Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical SciencesSchool of Clinical Medicine, Shandong Second Medical UniversityThe First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical CollegeDepartment of Radiation Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical SciencesDepartment of Radiation Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical SciencesDepartment of Radiation Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical SciencesDepartment of Radiation Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical SciencesAbstract Background With the application of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) and the discovery of the synergistic effect of radiotherapy and immunotherapy, the intracranial benefit of thoracic radiotherapy (TRT) is receiving signiffcant clinical attention. The purpose of this study was to analyze the cranial benefits of ICIs and TRT in patients with extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC) without baseline brain metastases (BMs). Materials and methods From August 2019 to August 2022, data from patients diagnosed with ES-SCLC without baseline BMs were retroactively recorded. The Kaplan‒Meier method was used to calculate overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), and brain metastasis-free survival (BMFS), and the differences between the treatment groups were compared with the log-rank test. Risk factors associated with OS were analyzed via the Cox regression model. Results A total of 216 patients were included, with a median follow-up of 24.73 months. Among these patients, 137 (63.4%) received first-line ICIs combined with chemotherapy (ChT), including 32 patients treated with anti-programmed death 1 antibody (αPD-1) and 105 patients treated with anti-programmed death-ligand 1 antibody (αPD-L1), and 79 patients (36.6%) received first-line ChT alone. Compared with the ChT-alone group, the ICI + ChT group demonstrated significantly improved PFS (8.07 vs. 6.87 months; p < 0.001) and OS (19.83 vs. 13.80 months; p = 0.001). The addition of ICIs to the ChT regimen did not significantly delay the onset of BMs compared to that with ChT alone (16.93 vs. 12.67 months; p = 0.379). Notably, the addition of TRT to the αPD-L1 + ChT regimen significantly prolonged BMFS compared to that without TRT (20.27 vs. 8.80 months; p = 0.045). Conclusion In patients with ES-SCLC without baseline BMs, first-line chemoimmunotherapy significantly improves PFS and OS. However, it does not delay intracranial metastasis. The addition of TRT to αPD-L1 + ChT therapy significant delays the development of BMs. Clinical trial number Not applicable.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12931-025-03157-1Extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC)Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs)Brain metastases (BMs)Thoracic radiotherapy (TRT)Programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) checkpoint inhibitors
spellingShingle Baiyang Huang
Senyuan Liu
Kaiyue Wang
Jiarui Zhao
Min Li
Xingpeng Wang
Weiqing Wang
Xiaohan Wang
Jinming Yu
Xue Meng
Guoxin Cai
Addition of thoracic radiotherapy to a PD-L1 inhibitor plus chemotherapy regimen delays brain metastasis onset in extensive-stage small cell lung cancer patients without baseline brain metastasis
Respiratory Research
Extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC)
Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs)
Brain metastases (BMs)
Thoracic radiotherapy (TRT)
Programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) checkpoint inhibitors
title Addition of thoracic radiotherapy to a PD-L1 inhibitor plus chemotherapy regimen delays brain metastasis onset in extensive-stage small cell lung cancer patients without baseline brain metastasis
title_full Addition of thoracic radiotherapy to a PD-L1 inhibitor plus chemotherapy regimen delays brain metastasis onset in extensive-stage small cell lung cancer patients without baseline brain metastasis
title_fullStr Addition of thoracic radiotherapy to a PD-L1 inhibitor plus chemotherapy regimen delays brain metastasis onset in extensive-stage small cell lung cancer patients without baseline brain metastasis
title_full_unstemmed Addition of thoracic radiotherapy to a PD-L1 inhibitor plus chemotherapy regimen delays brain metastasis onset in extensive-stage small cell lung cancer patients without baseline brain metastasis
title_short Addition of thoracic radiotherapy to a PD-L1 inhibitor plus chemotherapy regimen delays brain metastasis onset in extensive-stage small cell lung cancer patients without baseline brain metastasis
title_sort addition of thoracic radiotherapy to a pd l1 inhibitor plus chemotherapy regimen delays brain metastasis onset in extensive stage small cell lung cancer patients without baseline brain metastasis
topic Extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC)
Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs)
Brain metastases (BMs)
Thoracic radiotherapy (TRT)
Programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) checkpoint inhibitors
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12931-025-03157-1
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