Efficacy and safety of first-line PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors combined with or without anti-angiogenesis therapy for extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer: a network meta-analysis

Background: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) combined with chemotherapy, with or without angiogenesis inhibitors, have been investigated as the first-line treatment for extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC). However, it remains unclear which treatment modalities are the most effective...

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Main Authors: Linjing Zhou, Yuwei Li, Le Wang, Kaiyan Chen, Shichao Zhou, Yunfei Chen, Jing Sun, Yunfeng Tong, Yun Fan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SAGE Publishing 2025-06-01
Series:Therapeutic Advances in Medical Oncology
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1177/17588359251348310
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author Linjing Zhou
Yuwei Li
Le Wang
Kaiyan Chen
Shichao Zhou
Yunfei Chen
Jing Sun
Yunfeng Tong
Yun Fan
author_facet Linjing Zhou
Yuwei Li
Le Wang
Kaiyan Chen
Shichao Zhou
Yunfei Chen
Jing Sun
Yunfeng Tong
Yun Fan
author_sort Linjing Zhou
collection DOAJ
description Background: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) combined with chemotherapy, with or without angiogenesis inhibitors, have been investigated as the first-line treatment for extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC). However, it remains unclear which treatment modalities are the most effective and safest, as comparative studies evaluating these treatment options are limited. Objectives: This article aims to compare the relative efficacy and safety of ICIs + Chemo + angiogenesis inhibitors versus ICIs + Chemo as the first-line treatment for ES-SCLC. Design: A network meta-analysis was conducted to systematically compare the efficacy and safety data obtained from various clinical trials. Data source and methods: This study presents a systematic review and Bayesian network meta-analysis of data sourced from PubMed, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, ClinicalTrials.gov, and major international conferences up to August 31, 2024. Furthermore, this study analyzed both published works and gray literature on randomized clinical trials (RCTs). Results: A comprehensive analysis was conducted on 10 phase III RCTs comprising 2672 untreated ES-SCLC patients treated with two PD-L1 inhibitor combinations with angiogenesis inhibitors (ICIs + Chemo + angiogenesis) and eight PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor combinations (ICIs + Chemo). Patients treated with ICIs + Chemo + angiogenesis inhibitors had higher progression-free survival (PFS) (hazard ratio (HR) = 0.56, 95% CI: 0.47–0.66) and overall response rate (ORR) (OR = 1.64, 95% CI: 1.17–2.31) compare to those who were treated with ICIs + Chemo. However, no significant difference was observed in the overall survival (OS; HR = 0.97, 95% CI: 0.79–1.19) and Grade ⩾ 3 adverse events (OR = 1.28, 95% CI: 0.81–2.04) between these patients. The subgroup analyses revealed that the addition of angiogenesis inhibitors improved the OS in patients under 65 years. Moreover, PFS was improved in all subgroups except the central nervous system metastasis. Conclusion: This study revealed that first-line immunochemotherapy combined with angiogenesis inhibitors improves PFS and ORR in ES-SCLC patients; however, it did not affect OS. Therefore, it was inferred that patients under the age of 65 can gain survival benefits from the addition of anti-angiogenic therapy. Trial registration: INPLASY (INPLASY2023110061).
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spelling doaj-art-83751618957c4e459d11bb660525221f2025-08-20T03:29:48ZengSAGE PublishingTherapeutic Advances in Medical Oncology1758-83592025-06-011710.1177/17588359251348310Efficacy and safety of first-line PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors combined with or without anti-angiogenesis therapy for extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer: a network meta-analysisLinjing ZhouYuwei LiLe WangKaiyan ChenShichao ZhouYunfei ChenJing SunYunfeng TongYun FanBackground: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) combined with chemotherapy, with or without angiogenesis inhibitors, have been investigated as the first-line treatment for extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC). However, it remains unclear which treatment modalities are the most effective and safest, as comparative studies evaluating these treatment options are limited. Objectives: This article aims to compare the relative efficacy and safety of ICIs + Chemo + angiogenesis inhibitors versus ICIs + Chemo as the first-line treatment for ES-SCLC. Design: A network meta-analysis was conducted to systematically compare the efficacy and safety data obtained from various clinical trials. Data source and methods: This study presents a systematic review and Bayesian network meta-analysis of data sourced from PubMed, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, ClinicalTrials.gov, and major international conferences up to August 31, 2024. Furthermore, this study analyzed both published works and gray literature on randomized clinical trials (RCTs). Results: A comprehensive analysis was conducted on 10 phase III RCTs comprising 2672 untreated ES-SCLC patients treated with two PD-L1 inhibitor combinations with angiogenesis inhibitors (ICIs + Chemo + angiogenesis) and eight PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor combinations (ICIs + Chemo). Patients treated with ICIs + Chemo + angiogenesis inhibitors had higher progression-free survival (PFS) (hazard ratio (HR) = 0.56, 95% CI: 0.47–0.66) and overall response rate (ORR) (OR = 1.64, 95% CI: 1.17–2.31) compare to those who were treated with ICIs + Chemo. However, no significant difference was observed in the overall survival (OS; HR = 0.97, 95% CI: 0.79–1.19) and Grade ⩾ 3 adverse events (OR = 1.28, 95% CI: 0.81–2.04) between these patients. The subgroup analyses revealed that the addition of angiogenesis inhibitors improved the OS in patients under 65 years. Moreover, PFS was improved in all subgroups except the central nervous system metastasis. Conclusion: This study revealed that first-line immunochemotherapy combined with angiogenesis inhibitors improves PFS and ORR in ES-SCLC patients; however, it did not affect OS. Therefore, it was inferred that patients under the age of 65 can gain survival benefits from the addition of anti-angiogenic therapy. Trial registration: INPLASY (INPLASY2023110061).https://doi.org/10.1177/17588359251348310
spellingShingle Linjing Zhou
Yuwei Li
Le Wang
Kaiyan Chen
Shichao Zhou
Yunfei Chen
Jing Sun
Yunfeng Tong
Yun Fan
Efficacy and safety of first-line PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors combined with or without anti-angiogenesis therapy for extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer: a network meta-analysis
Therapeutic Advances in Medical Oncology
title Efficacy and safety of first-line PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors combined with or without anti-angiogenesis therapy for extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer: a network meta-analysis
title_full Efficacy and safety of first-line PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors combined with or without anti-angiogenesis therapy for extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer: a network meta-analysis
title_fullStr Efficacy and safety of first-line PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors combined with or without anti-angiogenesis therapy for extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer: a network meta-analysis
title_full_unstemmed Efficacy and safety of first-line PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors combined with or without anti-angiogenesis therapy for extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer: a network meta-analysis
title_short Efficacy and safety of first-line PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors combined with or without anti-angiogenesis therapy for extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer: a network meta-analysis
title_sort efficacy and safety of first line pd 1 pd l1 inhibitors combined with or without anti angiogenesis therapy for extensive stage small cell lung cancer a network meta analysis
url https://doi.org/10.1177/17588359251348310
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