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May 20, 2026American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine0 citations

C77-10 Comparative Analysis of Pulmonary Complications and Toxicities in Lung Cancer Patients Treated With Pembrolizumab vs. Nivolumab in Combination With Chemotherapy: A Real World Analysis Using Trinetx Database

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RJR Al JabiriRNR NadaJOJ Martinez Ortega

Key Points

  • This analysis aims to compare pulmonary complications and their outcomes in lung cancer patients treated with pembrolizumab versus nivolumab alongside chemotherapy.
  • Retrospective cohort study using TriNetX database of electronic medical records
  • Inclusion of adult lung cancer patients receiving either pembrolizumab or nivolumab with standard chemotherapy
  • Propensity score matching was utilized to balance cohorts based on comorbidities and demographics.
  • Pembrolizumab-treated patients showed a lower risk of developing ARDS (RR 0.705, 95% CI 0.510-0.974, P<0.05)
  • Higher risks were observed for pneumonitis (RR 1.632, 95% CI 1.091-2.441, P<0.05) and pneumonias in the pembrolizumab group (viral pneumonia RR 1.764, bacterial pneumonia RR 1.330)
  • No significant difference in developing pulmonary fibrosis (RR 1.068, 95% CI 0.912-1.250, P=0.413).

Abstract

Abstract Rationale Pembrolizumab/Nivolumab are both PD-1 immune checkpoint inhibitors that has demonstrated significant improvements in both overall survival and progression-free survival in cancer patients including lung cancers. While their immuno-mediated toxicities are well studied, the comparative effect of these toxicities and their outcomes between these two medications, remains limited. Methods We conducted a retrospective cohort study using TriNetX, a federated global research network aggregating de-identified electronic medical records from large healthcare organizations. Adult patients with Lung cancer were included. Patients were stratified into two groups: those who received combination Chemoimmunotherapy with Pembrolizumab and those who received combination Chemoimmunotherapy with Nivolumab, with both groups receiving standard chemotherapy regimens along with the designated immunotherapy. Propensity score matching (1:1) was performed to balance cohorts by age, sex, HF, COPD, Asthma, ILD, Metastatic disease, Prior thoracic radiation, Oxygen dependence and other comorbidities (CKD, Obesity, DM, Nicotine dependence). The primary outcome was the incidence of pulmonary complications such as ARDS, Pulmonary fibrosis, Pneumonitis, Viral and Bacterial Pneumonia. Secondary outcomes assessed the severity and risk of 30-day all-cause mortality in patients who developed ARDS. Relative risks (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated to compare event rates between groups at each interval. Results A total of 17,640 patients met the inclusion criteria, with 8,820 in each matched cohort. The mean age was 65.8 years in both groups. Chemoimmunotherapy-treated patients using Pembrolizumab had a significantly lower risk of developing ARDS (RR 0.705, 95% CI 0.510, 0.974, P 0.05), all cause 30-day mortality in patients who developed ARDS after the start of treatment with Pembrolizumab vs Nivolumab was not significant (RR 1.150, 95% CI 0.863, 1.532, P = 0.338). Chemoimmunotherapy-treated patients using Pembrolizumab also had a significant increase in the risk of developing Pneumonitis (RR 1.632, 95% CI 1.091, 2.441, P 0.05), Viral Pneumonia (RR 1.764, 95% CI 1.422, 2.188, P 0.001) and Bacterial Pneumonia (RR 1.330, 95% CI 1.183, 1.497, P 0.001) with no significant difference in developing Pulmonary fibrosis (RR 1.068, 95% CI 0.912, 1.250, P = 0.413). Conclusion In general patients who are treated with Pembrolizumab based regimens had significantly increased risk of developing pulmonary toxicities except in ARDS in which patients treated with Pembrolizumab had lower risk. These findings indicate that patients treated with pembrolizumab had worse pulmonary outcomes, prompting need for close monitoring. This abstract is funded by: None

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Cite This Study

Jabiri et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a0d5089f03e14405aa9c690https://doi.org/10.1093/ajrccm/aamag162.3918
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Also Consider

Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context:

  1. 1C77-09 Pulmonary Safety Signals With Chemoimmunotherapy Using Pembrolizumab vs Standard Chemotherapy in Lung Cancers: A Real World Analysis Using Trinetx Database2026
  2. 2C77-04 Beyond Pneumonitis: Real-World Comparison of Pulmonary Adverse Events in Lung Cancer Patients Treated With Pembrolizumab Monotherapy Versus Standard Chemotherapy2026
  3. 3C77-08 Real-World Outcomes and ARDS-Related Mortality in Lung Cancer Patients Treated With Nivolumab Alone or in Combination With Chemotherapy2026
  4. 4Pembrolizumab vs nivolumab plus chemotherapy in metastatic gastric cancer: TriNetX propensity score–matched analysis.2026
  5. 5Comparative real-world safety of nivolumab versus pembrolizumab in malignant melanoma: A propensity-matched cohort study.2026