Real-world data on nivolumab treatment of non-small cell lung cancer

<b>Background:</b> Checkpoint inhibitors have proven effectiveness in clinical trials for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients, but if this is congruent with routine patient care is discussed. We present real-world experience with the PD1-inhibitor nivolumab in NSCLC. <b>Patients and methods:</b> Patients with NSCLC were considered eligible for nivolumab treatment after one or more lines of chemotherapy, and when in reasonable performance status (PS) [Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) <b>Results:</b> Fifty-eight patients (30 females) commenced therapy in the period June–August 2015. Median age was 64.6 years (range 32.3–88.2). Twenty-four patients had squamous cell carcinoma and 32 adenocarcinoma, 38 had received two or more prior lines of therapy. Fourteen cases (24%) were in ECOG PS 2. After a medium observation time of 14.3 months, 13 (22%) are still in treatment. Median time to treatment failure (TTF) was 4.0 months, 34% were off treatment during the first two months. Median overall survival (OS) is 11.7 months. There was no difference in TTF or OS among patients with squamous versus non-squamous histology or between 1 versus &gt;1 prior line of therapy. Four patients (7%) were off treatment due to toxicity, none were grade 4 or 5. <b>Conclusion:</b> Nivolumab treatment outside clinical trials seems to perform as expected.