Retreatment with anti-PD-1 antibody in non-small cell lung cancer patients previously treated with anti-PD-L1 antibody

Background This study evaluated the efficacy and safety of retreatment with anti-programmed death 1 (anti-PD-1) antibodies in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) after prior treatment with anti-programmed death-ligand 1 (anti-PD-L1) antibodies. Methods Data (N = 15) on patients' characteristics, number of cycles, regimens, their best response and immune-related adverse events (irAEs) were recorded retrospectively. Results NSCLC was initially treated with anti-PD-L1 antibody atezolizumab (N = 14) or durvalumab (N = 1). No patients had a high (>= 50%) tumor expression of PD-L1. The median cycles for atezolizumab were five (range 1-15), and median progression-free survival was 2.8 and 6.0 months for atezolizumab and durvalumab, respectively. Five (33.3%) and nine (60.0%) patients showed stable and progressive disease as their best response, respectively. No differences in irAEs between anti-PD-L1 and anti-PD-1 antibodies occurred. Conclusion Patients treated with anti-PD-L1 antibodies for NSCLC received limited benefits from retreatment with anti-PD-1 antibodies.