The Association Between Serum Vitamin D Level and Efficacy of Nivolumab Treatment in Patients with Advanced NSCLC

Objective: Vitamin D is known to be associated with better responses and prognosis positively proportional to serum levels in patients with non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The goal of this report was to examine the association between serum Vitamin D levels and efficacy of Nivolumab treatment in patients with metastatic NSCLC.

Methods: A total of 38 patients with a diagnosis of metastatic NSCLC, received Nivolumab immunotherapy in the second-line therapy were enrolled in the study. Clinical and demographic data and also the levels of 25 hydroxy vitamin D (25(OH)D) that were analyzed before starting Nivolumab treatment were recorded. The association between the vitamin D and progression free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) was analyzed. Statistical evaluation was done using SPSS 23.

Results: The median 25(OH)D level of the patients was found as 17.3 (3-37) ng/ml. When the PFS of patients were evaluated according to vitamin D status, PFS of the patients with 25(OH)D ≥20 ng/ml was longer than other groups that was not significant (p= 0.17).

Conclusion: Achievement longer PFS with sufficient vitamin D supports the fact that higher baseline vitamin D levels are associated with better Nivolumab efficacy in metastatic NSCLC patients.