Background Effective options are limited for patients with non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) whose disease progresses after first-line chemotherapy. Camrelizumab is a potent anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibody and has shown promising activity in NSCLC. We assessed the activity and safety of camrelizumab for patients with previously treated, advanced NSCLC patients with negative oncogenic drivers.

Methods Patients who progressed during or following platinum-based doublet chemotherapy were enrolled. All patients received camrelizumab(200 mg)every 3 weeks or in combination with chemotherapy until loss of clinical benefit. The primary endpoint was objective response rate (ORR), other endpoints included disease control rate (DCR), progression-free survival (PFS) and safety.

Results Between Aug 5, 2019, and Jun 19, 2020, we enrolled 29 patients, 25 patients were available evaluated, ORR and DCR was 36% (9/25) and 92% (23/25), respectively. 25 of 29 patients were still receiving the treatment, the median PFS was not yet achieved. Compared with those without reactive cutaneous capillary endothelial proliferation (RCCEP), patients with RCCEP had higher ORR (60% vs. 28.6%). Treatment-related adverse events (AEs) occurred in 69.0% of patients (all Grade), and the most common were RCCEP (37.9%), pneumonitis (6.9%), and chest congestion (6.9%). Treatment-related grade 3 to 4 adverse events occurred in 10.3% of patients.

Conclusions In patients with previously treated advanced NSCLC, camrelizumab demonstrated improved ORR and DCR, compared with historical data of the 2nd line chemotherapy, with a manageable safety profile. While patients with RCCEP derived greater benefit from camrelizumab. Further studies are needed in large sample size trials.