PURPOSE: We present 5-year results from CheckMate 227 Part 1, in which nivolumab plus ipilimumab improved overall survival (OS) versus chemotherapy in patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (mNSCLC), regardless of tumor programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) status. METHODS: Adults with stage IV/recurrent NSCLC without EGFR mutations or ALK alterations and with tumor PD-L1 ≥1% or <1% (N=1739) were randomized. Patients with tumor PD-L1 ≥1% were randomized to first-line nivolumab plus ipilimumab, nivolumab alone, or chemotherapy. Patients with tumor PD-L1 <1% were randomized to nivolumab plus ipilimumab, nivolumab plus chemotherapy, or chemotherapy. Endpoints included exploratory 5-year results for efficacy, safety, and quality of life (QoL). RESULTS: At 61.3 months' minimum follow-up, 5-year OS rates were 24% versus 14% for nivolumab plus ipilimumab versus chemotherapy (PD-L1 ≥1%), and 19% versus 7% (PD-L1 <1%). Median duration of response was 24.5 versus 6.7 months (PD-L1 ≥1%) and 19.4 versus 4.8 months (PD-L1 <1%). Among patients surviving 5 years, 66% (PD-L1 ≥1%) and 64% (PD-L1 <1%) were off nivolumab plus ipilimumab without initiating subsequent systemic anticancer treatment by the 5-year time point. Survival benefit continued following nivolumab plus ipilimumab discontinuation due to treatment-related adverse events, with a 5-year OS rate of 39% (combined PD-L1 ≥1% and <1% populations). QoL in 5-year survivors treated with nivolumab plus ipilimumab was similar to the general US population through 5 years' follow-up. No new safety signals were observed. CONCLUSION: With all patients off immunotherapy treatment for ≥ 3 years, nivolumab plus ipilimumab increased 5-year survivorship versus chemotherapy, including long-term, durable clinical benefit regardless of tumor PD-L1 expression. These data support nivolumab plus ipilimumab as an effective first-line treatment for patients with mNSCLC.
- Brahmer, J. R.
- Lee, J. S.
- Ciuleanu, T. E.
- Caro, R. B.
- Nishio, M.
- Urban, L.
- Audigier-Valette, C.
- Lupinacci, L.
- Sangha, R.
- Pluzanski, A.
- Burgers, J.
- Mahave, M.
- Ahmed, S.
- Schoenfeld, A. J.
- Paz-Ares, L. G.
- Reck, M.
- Borghaei, H.
- O'Byrne, K. J.
- Gupta, R. G.
- Bushong, J.
- Li, L.
- Blum, S. I.
- Eccles, L. J.
- Ramalingam, S. S.
