Table 2

Pooled multivariable analyses for objective response rate, progression-free survival and overall survival

VariableMultivariable analysis
Objective response rateProgression-free survivalOverall survival
OR (95% CI)HR (95% CI)HR (95% CI)
CRP at ICI Initiation
 High vs low0.34 (0.13 to 0.89)1.31 (0.99 to 1.75)1.51 (1.09 to 2.11)
Histology
 Squamous vs non-squamous1.32 (0.94 to 1.83)1.18 (0.87 to 1.59)1.32 (0.94 to 1.83)
Sex
 Male vs female1.79 (0.62 to 5.17)1.10 (0.82 to 1.46)0.96 (0.70 to 1.31)
Age
 ≥65 vs <65 years old0.97 (0.37 to 2.58)1.08 (0.82 to 1.42)1.23 (0.91 to 1.67)
Treatment line
 Non-first vs first-line1.31 (0.39 to 4.45)1.60 (0.96 to 2.66)1.75 (0.90 to 3.37)
PD-L1%
                0
                1–49
                ≥50
                Unknown		1
2.83 (0.24 to 32.86)
22.26 (1.91 to 259.19)
8.97 (0.81 to 99.16)		1
0.67 (0.39 to 1.14)
0.65 (0.38 to 1.09)
0.81 (0.53 to 1.26)		1
0.85 (0.46 to 1.55)
0.85 (0.46 to 1.57)
1.05 (0.65 to 1.71)
Smoking at ICI initiation
         Current/former smokers
         Never smokers
         Unknown		1
3.14 (0.29 to 33.01)
1.04 (0.26 to 4.07)		1
1.13 (0.52 to 2.45)
1.01 (0.73 to 1.39)		1
0.99 (0.38 to 2.57)
0.91 (0.63 to 1.30)
ECOG-PS
 0–1 vs ≥20.51 (0.09 to 2.80)1.38 (1.01 to 1.89)2.12 (1.51 to 2.98)
Cancer stage
 IV vs III0.44 (0.12 to 1.63)1.57 (1.08 to 2.28)1.45 (0.95 to 2.20)
Treatment modality
 ICI alone vs CT-ICI0.45 (0.07 to 3.02)1.33 (0.73 to 2.40)1.69 (0.76 to 3.72)
Liver metastasis at ICI initiation
 Yes vs no1.52 (0.32 to 7.21)1.16 (0.76 to 1.76)1.01 (0.64 to 1.57)
Brain metastasis at ICI initiation
 Yes vs no0.49 (0.12 to 1.98)1.02 (0.71 to 1.48)1.42 (0.96 to 2.11)
Bone metastasis at ICI initiation
 Yes vs no0.34 (0.10 to 1.14)1.13 (0.81 to 1.57)1.23 (0.85 to 1.77)

  • CRP, C-reactive protein; CT, chemotherapy; ECOG-PS, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status; ICI, immune checkpoint inhibitor; PD-L1, programmed death-ligand 1.