Do age and performance status matter? A systematic review and network meta-analysis of immunotherapy studies in untreated advanced/metastatic non-oncogene addicted NSCLC.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) redefined the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) but their efficacy in elderly and frail patients remains unclear due to immune-senescence and the underrepresentation of these populations in clinical trials. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate and rank first-line ICI-based therapies in NSCLC, stratified by age and performance status (PS).

Methods

A comprehensive search for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of ICI regimens, pairwise and network meta-analyses (NMA) based on age (<65, ≥65, ≥75 years) and PS (0 vs. 1) were conducted. Endpoints were overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS).

Results

ICIs significantly improved OS and PFS versus chemotherapy (CT) in most sub

SUBMITTER: Siciliano MA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12500590 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature