Anne Chiang, MD, PhD

Anne Chiang, MD, PhD, professor and thoracic oncologist at Yale Cancer Center, discusses the toxicities with ipilimumab (Yervoy) plus nivolumab (Opdivo) in small cell lung cancer (SCLC). 

The toxicities are similar to what is expected with each drug alone, explains Chiang. Around 70% of patients had treatment-related adverse events (AEs), but many of the toxicities could be easily managed. However, 10% of patients discontinued treatment due to the AEs. 

Videos

Anne Chiang, MD, PhD, professor and thoracic oncologist at Yale Cancer Center, discusses the toxicities with ipilimumab (Yervoy) plus nivolumab (Opdivo) in small cell lung cancer (SCLC).

Dr. Chiang on Toxicities with Ipilimumab Plus Nivolumab in Small Cell Lung Cancer

Anne Chiang, MD, PhD, professor and thoracic oncologist at Yale Cancer Center, discusses ipilimumab (Yervoy) plus nivolumab (Opdivo) in small cell lung cancer (SCLC).

This combination is now included in the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines for this indication, but it not yet FDA approved.

Chiang says that although the lack of approval raises questions as a clinician, the impact of this immunotherapy combination is a tremendous milestone for SCLC.

Anne Chiang, MD, PhD, professor and thoracic oncologist at Yale Cancer Center, discusses ipilimumab (Yervoy) plus nivolumab (Opdivo) in small cell lung cancer.

Dr. Chiang Discusses Ipilimumab Plus Nivolumab in Small Cell Lung Cancer

Anne Chiang, MD, PhD, professor and thoracic oncologist at Yale Cancer Center, discusses immunotherapy in specific patient populations with lung cancer.

Not all patients are going to respond to immunotherapy, explains Chiang. Right now, the patient population that has a tumor proportion score of greater than 50% will likely experience a greater benefit with immunotherapy.

For those in the 1% to 49% range, we are not sure what the right answer is, says Chiang. It is important to conduct further clinical trials in that patient population.

Dr. Chiang on Immunotherapy in Patient Populations for Lung Cancer

Anne Chiang, MD, PhD, professor and thoracic oncologist at Yale Cancer Center, discusses molecular testing in lung cancer and how it affects treatment decisions.

There are currently 3 approved immunotherapy agents approved for lung cancer: pembrolizumab (Keytruda), nivolumab (Opdivo), and atezolizumab (Tecentriq). If molecular testing shows a high level of PD-L1, patients are typically started on pembrolizumab, says Chiang.

However, not all patients across the country are being tested. Those who are not tested typically start treatment with nivolumab, when they could be seeing more benefit with pembrolizumab.

View more from the 2016 New York Lung Cancer Symposium

Anne Chiang, MD, PhD, professor and thoracic oncologist at Yale Cancer Center, discusses molecular testing in lung cancer and how it affects treatment decisions. 

Author | Anne Chiang, MD, PhD

Articles

Dr. Chiang on Toxicities with Ipilimumab Plus Nivolumab in Small Cell Lung Cancer

Dr. Chiang Discusses Ipilimumab Plus Nivolumab in Small Cell Lung Cancer

Dr. Chiang on Immunotherapy in Patient Populations for Lung Cancer

Dr. Anne Chiang on Molecular Testing in Lung Cancer Treatment Planning