Nintedanib plus docetaxel as second-line therapy in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer of adenocarcinoma histology: a network meta-analysis vs new therapeutic options

PATIENTS & METHODS: We provide an update to a network meta-analysis evaluating the relative efficacy of nintedanib + docetaxel versus other second-line agents in adenocarcinoma histology non-small-cell lung cancer.

RESULTS: Overall similarity of nintedanib + docetaxel versus ramucirumab + docetaxel, and versus nivolumab. Comparing nintedanib + docetaxel with nivolumab, hazards ratio (HR) of overall survival and progression-free survival (PFS) pointed in opposite directions (overall survival: HR: 1.20 [95% credible interval: 0.92-1.58]; PFS: HR: 0.91 [0.68-1.21]). Exploratory subgroup analysis indicated superiority of nivolumab in high PD-L1 expression level subgroups; results were more favorable for nintedanib in all subgroups with low (<1%, <5%, <10%) PD-L1 expression levels - in particular, with regard to PFS.

CONCLUSION: Results demonstrated similar efficacy of nintedanib + docetaxel compared with the new therapeutic options ramucirumab + docetaxel and nivolumab, with potential differences in subgroups according to PD-L1 expression level.