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Lung cancer and immunotherapy: a real-life experience from second line and beyond

    Fady El Karak

    Hematology–Oncology Department, Hotel-Dieu de France University Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Saint Joseph University, Beirut, Lebanon

    ,
    Fady Gh Haddad

    *Author for correspondence:

    E-mail Address: fadyhaddad.fh@gmail.com

    Hematology–Oncology Department, Hotel-Dieu de France University Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Saint Joseph University, Beirut, Lebanon

    ,
    Roland Eid

    Hematology–Oncology Department, Hotel-Dieu de France University Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Saint Joseph University, Beirut, Lebanon

    ,
    Maya Al Ghor

    Hematology–Oncology Department, Hotel-Dieu de France University Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Saint Joseph University, Beirut, Lebanon

    ,
    Elie El Rassy

    Hematology–Oncology Department, Hotel-Dieu de France University Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Saint Joseph University, Beirut, Lebanon

    ,
    Nizar Ahmadieh

    Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Saint Joseph University, Beirut, Lebanon

    ,
    Theresia Choullamy

    Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Saint Joseph University, Beirut, Lebanon

    ,
    Nour A Halim

    Department of Internal Medicine, Hematology & Oncology Division, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon

    ,
    Arafat Tfayli

    Department of Internal Medicine, Hematology & Oncology Division, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon

    ,
    Fadi Farhat

    Hematology–Oncology Department, Hotel-Dieu de France University Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Saint Joseph University, Beirut, Lebanon

    ,
    Joseph Kattan

    Hematology–Oncology Department, Hotel-Dieu de France University Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Saint Joseph University, Beirut, Lebanon

    ,
    Fady Nasr

    Hematology–Oncology Department, Hotel-Dieu de France University Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Saint Joseph University, Beirut, Lebanon

    ,
    Marwan Ghosn

    Hematology–Oncology Department, Hotel-Dieu de France University Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Saint Joseph University, Beirut, Lebanon

    &
    Hazem I Assi

    Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Saint Joseph University, Beirut, Lebanon

    Published Online:https://doi.org/10.2217/fon-2019-0144

    Aim: This study assessed the efficacy of anti-PD-1/PD-L1 agents in real life when used in second line or beyond. Materials & methods: Patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer progressing after standard chemotherapy and receiving immunotherapy in the second line or beyond were included. Results: One hundred and ten patients were included with PD-L1 expression above 50%, between 1–49 and <1% in 38.6, 27.3 and 34.1% of patients, respectively. Checkpoint inhibitors were used as second, third and fourth line in 74.7, 21.8 and 3.5%, respectively. Partial response was observed in 25.6% of patients. Median progression-free survival was 4 months and median overall survival was 8.1 months. Conclusion: Immunotherapies are emerging as important tools in the oncologic field with good responses in real-life practice.

    Papers of special note have been highlighted as: • of interest; •• of considerable interest

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