Impact of Concomitant Use of Steroids and Immune-Checkpoint Inhibitors on Survival Outcomes in NSCLC Patients

The goal of this observational study is to assess the effects of systemic corticosteroid use during immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The main question it aims to answer is: Does the use of systemic corticosteroids during the initial continuous administration of ICI therapy affect overall survival (OS) and treatment outcomes in NSCLC patients? Participants who received ICI therapy (nivolumab, pembrolizumab, atezolizumab, or durvalumab) between December 31, 2014, and December 31, 2021, as part of their routine medical care, will be included. Patient data will be analyzed retrospectively using clinical data from five institutions, and a 1:1 propensity score matching method will be employed to balance the baseline characteristics between groups. Statistical analyses will focus on overall survival, time-to-next-treatment (TNT), and metastasis-free survival (MFS).