Comparing the Efficacy of Immunotherapies on Bone and Visceral Metastases in Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer

Description

In this presentation, Annalise Abbott, an orthopedic surgery resident at the University of Calgary, discusses the impact of immune checkpoint inhibitors on bone metastases in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). She expresses gratitude to the Canadian Orthopaedic Association for the opportunity to present her research. Annalise explains that immune checkpoint inhibitors have transformed the treatment landscape for lung cancer, highlighting how they work by releasing the natural brakes of the immune system to enhance the body's ability to combat cancer cells. Despite the success of these therapies in improving overall survival rates for lung cancer patients, there remains a significant gap in understanding their effects on bone metastases, an area that has not been extensively studied.



Through clinical observations, she presents a case study detailing the experience of a 62-year-old woman with metastatic lung cancer, emphasizing the challenges faced when monitoring and treating bone lesions. The research they conducted investigated the therapeutic responses of metastatic bone compared to visceral lesions, assessing the outcomes and survival rates of patients with metastatic NSCLC treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors over five years. Annalise's findings indicate that bone lesions respond less favorably to treatment than visceral lesions, resulting in poorer disease control and significantly shorter survival rates for patients with bone metastases.



The study includes data from 573 patients, underscoring the complexity of assessing bone lesions using conventional measurement criteria. Results show lower response rates for bone lesions (25%) compared to visceral lesions (32%), and a median survival time of only 8.2 months for those affected by bone metastases. Annalise concludes by advocating for proactive management of bone lesions, including prophylactic stabilization of at-risk lesions to mitigate deteriorating mobility and overall health outcomes for these vulnerable patients.

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