Monitoring Efficacy of Checkpoint Inhibitor Therapy in Patients with Non-small-cell Lung Cancer

Radiological criteria alone do not reflect the entire population benefitting from checkpoint inhibitor therapy (CIT). This study aimed to detect patterns to assess CIT efficacy in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. We evaluated clinical, radiological and laboratory parameters in a retrospective cohort of NSCLC patients treated with nivolumab.  A total of 51 patients were included in the analysis. Most single parameters failed to reflect treatment benefit. Three laboratory parameters (lactate dehydrogenase, C-reactive protein and the neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio) combined in a weighted score could predict benefit with a sensitivity of 92.3% and a hazard ratio of 0.31 (95% CI: 0.16-0.59) in an early phase of therapy. Sorting patients by score showed a 1-year survival of 36% in those predicted as not benefitting versus 68% in those predicted to benefit. A weighted score integrating common serum markers could help detect patients benefitting from checkpoint inhibitors during ongoing CIT.