First‐line nab‐paclitaxel plus carboplatin for patients with advanced non‐small cell lung cancer: Results of the NEPTUN study

Background Platinum‐based chemotherapy remains a first‐line standard of care for approximately 30% of patients with non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) not harboring a druggable alteration. Favorable efficacy and safety of the nab‐paclitaxel/carboplatin (nab‐P/C) combination was shown in the pivotal phase 3 trial. However, information on effectiveness of nab‐P/C in a real‐world setting in Germany is missing. The NEPTUN study prospectively investigated the effectiveness and safety of nab‐P/C in patients with advanced NSCLC in a real‐world setting. Methods Patients with advanced or metastatic NSCLC received first‐line nab‐P/C according to clinical routine. The primary endpoint was 6‐month progression‐free survival rate (PFS6). Other endpoints included further effectiveness parameters, safety and quality of life. Data were analyzed descriptively. Results 408 patients were enrolled. PFS6 was 40.8% (95% confidence interval [CI], 35.3–46.2); median PFS was 5.2 months (95% CI, 4.5–5.7). overall response rate was 41.5% (95% CI, 36.3–46.8). Median overall survival (OS) was 10.5 months (95% CI, 9.2–11.6). Subgroup analyses revealed median OS for squamous versus non‐squamous histology (11.8 months [95% CI, 9.2–13.8] vs. 9.6 months [95% CI, 7.7–11.2]) and age ≥70 versus