Comparison of immune checkpoint inhibitors related to pulmonary adverse events: a retrospective analysis of clinical studies and network meta-analysis

Abstract Background Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have transformed tumor treatment. However, the risk of pulmonary adverse events (PAEs) associated with ICI combination therapy is still unclear. We aimed to provide a PAE overview and risk ordering of ICIs used in tumor treatment. Methods We searched the databases of PubMed, PsycINFO, Embase, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, Web of Science, Scopus, and clinical trial websites during January 2011–April 2023 to identify phase II and III randomized clinical trials (RCTs) and single-arm clinical trials wherein at least one treatment arm received ICIs (e.g., ICI monotherapy, a combination of two ICIs, or ICIs in combination with conventional cancer therapy). We reported the results of PAEs. Additionally, we compared risks of PAEs between different drug classes using a Bayesian network meta-analysis. Results Among 143 RCTs and 24 single-arm trials, the incidence of all-grade and grade 3–4 PAEs were highest with programmed death L1 (PD-L1) plus cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 (CTLA-4) and plus chemotherapy and anti-PD1 plus anti-CTLA4, the lowest with targeted therapy drug plus chemotherapy and anti-PD1 plus anti-PDL1. Anti-PD1 plus anti-CTLA4 and plus chemotherapy was the intervention with the highest risk for all-grade and 3–4 grade PAEs, and the intervention with the lowest risk was chemotherapy and anti-PD1 plus anti-PDL1. In terms of all-grade PAEs, chemotherapy was safer than ICI monotherapy. Except for the anti-PD1 plus anti-PDL1 regimen, no significant difference in the risk of grade 3–4 PAEs was detected between dual-ICIs and single-ICIs. Furthermore, the risk of PAEs associated with nivolumab, pembrolizumab, and atezolizumab may be dose dependent. Conclusions In the single-drug regimen, anti-PD1 caused the greatest incidence of PAEs. The risk of PAEs was higher with all single-ICIs than with chemotherapy. However, no significant difference in the risk of PAEs was detected between single-ICIs. In the combined regimen, anti-PD1 plus anti-CTLA4 and plus chemotherapy showed the greatest risk of PAEs, but there were no significant differences in risk between dual-ICIs and single-ICIs.