Abstract
Objective: Ramucirumab plus docetaxel therapy (RAM/DOC) is currently the standard for previously treated advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), irrespective of histology. However, the safety data of anti-angiogenic agents for squamous cell NSCLC (Sq) is lacking, with a higher reported rate of severe hemoptysis in a clinical trial setting. We conducted a multicenter retrospective cohort study to confirm the efficacy and safety of RAM/DOC for Sq in real-world settings.Methods: We retrospectively analyzed previously treated patients with advanced NSCLC who underwent RAM/DOC at four institutions. Clinical data on the initiation of RAM/DOC were collected from medical records. Treatment outcomes of RAM/DOC were assessed according to the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors version 1.1. Incidence of pulmonary hemorrhage was assessed according to the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 5.0.Results: Overall, 237 patients with NSCLC were included and 38 (16%) had squamous cell carcinoma. There were no significant differences in median progression-free survival and overall survival between Sq and non-Sq patients (5.8 months vs. 4.3 months, P=0.0937; 15.2 months vs. 13.4 months, P=0.714, respectively). Of all patients, 13 (5%) developed pulmonary hemorrhage. According to histology, there was no significant difference in pulmonary hemorrhage proportion between Sq and non-Sq cohorts (2/38 vs. 11/199, respectively, P=0.947).Conclusion: For previously treated patients with Sq, efficacy and safety data of RAM/DOC were confirmed in a real-world setting and were similar to non-Sq. Ramucirumab is the only vascular endothelial growth factor-blocker available for Sq.
Efficacy and safety of ramucirumab and docetaxel in previously treated patients with squamous cell lung cancer: a multicenter retrospective cohort study