The primary baseline characteristics of patients in rechallenge and no rechallenge cohorts

CharacteristicsRechallenge cohort
(n = 52)
No rechallenge cohort
(n = 61)
Sex, n (%)
Male38 (73.1)44 (72.1)
Female14 (26.9)17 (27.9)
Age, median (IQR)67 (57–72)65 (55–71)
Age, n (%)
< 6523 (44.2)29 (47.5)
≥  6529 (55.8)32 (52.5)
ECOG PS at subsequent line
0-137 (71.2)47 (77.0)
215 (28.8)14 (23.0)
Smoking status
Ever smoking34 (65.4)37 (60.7)
Never smoking18 (34.6)24 (39.3)
Histological type, n (%)
Adenocarcinoma24 (46.2)25 (41.0)
Squamous cell carcinoma26 (50.0)33 (54.1)
Other NSCLC2 (3.8)3 (4.9)
PD-L1 IHC expression
< 1%16 (30.7)20 (32.8)
≥ 1 and < 49%22 (42.3)30 (49.2)
≥ 50%14 (26.9)11 (18.0)
Brain metastasis at ICI rechallenge
Yes12 (23.1)17 (27.9)
No40 (76.9)44 (72.1)
Line of initial ICI therapy, n (%)
144 (84.6)55 (90.2)
28 (15.4)6 (9.8)
Initial ICI regimen, n (%)
Pembrolizumab + paclitaxel + carboplatin19 (36.6)25 (41.0)
Pembrolizumab + pemetrexed + cis-/carboplatin12 (23.1)13 (21.3)
Atezolizumab + paclitaxel + carboplatin + bevacizumab6 (11.5)8 (13.1)
Atezolizumab6 (11.5)4 (6.6)
Pembrolizumab5 (9.6)6 (9.8)
Nivolumab4 (7.7)5 (8.2)
Best overall response to initial ICI therapy, n (%)
Complete response1 (1.9)0 (0.0)
PR22 (42.3)26 (42.6)
SD25 (48.1)30 (49.2)
Progressive disease4 (7.7)5 (8.2)
Any irAEs at initial ICI therapy, n (%)23 (44.2)25 (41.0)
        Thyroid dysfunction9 (17.3)10 (16.4)
        Skin reactions6 (11.5)5 (8.2)
        Hepatitis5 (9.6)7 (11.5)
        Pneumonitis3 (5.8)3 (4.9)
Chemotherapy regimen at subsequent line0 (0.0)
Docetaxel monotherapy29 (47.5)
Docetaxel + angiogenesis inhibitor (bevacizumab/nintedanib/ramucirumab)16 (26.2)
Pemetrexed7 (11.5)
Afatinib5 (8.2)
Gemcitabine4 (6.6)
Treatment between two lines of ICI0 (0.0)
Chemotherapy ± angiogenesis inhibitor29 (55.8)
No23 (44.2)
ICI rechallenge regimen0 (0.0)
Pembrolizumab20 (38.4)
Nivolumab17 (32.7)
Atezolizumab7 (13.5)
Pembrolizumab + paclitaxel + carboplatin4 (7.7)
Pembrolizumab + pemetrexed + carboplatin4 (7.7)
Rechallenge with the same ICI0 (0.0)
Yes15 (28.8)
No37 (71.2)
Any irAEs at ICI rechallenge, n (%)18 (34.6)0 (0.0)
        Thyroid dysfunction6 (11.5)
        Hepatitis6 (11.5)
        Skin reactions3 (5.8)
        Pneumonitis3 (5.8)

IQR: interquartile range; ECOG PS: Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status; IHC: immunohistochemistry; ICI: immune checkpoint inhibitor; irAEs: immune-related adverse events; NSCLC: non-small cell lung cancer; PD-L1: programmed cell death-ligand 1; PR: partial response; SD: stable disease