Front. Oncol. Frontiers in Oncology Front. Oncol. 2234-943X Frontiers Media S.A. 10.3389/fonc.2025.1640306 Oncology Original Research Efficacy and safety of thoracic radiotherapy combined with anti-angiogenic therapy and immunochemotherapy for advanced non-small cell lung cancer patients: a retrospective study Gai Kai 1 Shi Xuexin 2 Xu Fei 1 Ding Xia 1 Liu Lu 1 Zhang Longjie 1 Wang Hao 1 Chen Ling 1 * 1 Department of Oncology, Qingdao Municipal Hospital, Qingdao, Shandong, China 2 Department of Thoracic Surgery, Qingdao Municipal Hospital, Qingdao, Shandong, China

Edited by: Reza Farjam, Johns Hopkins University, United States

Reviewed by: Zhenyu Xiong, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, United States

Jing Wang, Mass General Brigham, United States

*Correspondence: Ling Chen, chlsea2006@163.com

23 09 2025 2025 15 1640306 03 06 2025 30 07 2025 Copyright © 2025 Gai, Shi, Xu, Ding, Liu, Zhang, Wang and Chen. 2025 Gai, Shi, Xu, Ding, Liu, Zhang, Wang and Chen

This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

 Purpose

To assess the efficacy and safety of radiotherapy combined with anti-angiogenic therapy, immune checkpoint inhibitors, and chemotherapy for advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

 Methods

Patients who have received at least two cycles of quadruple therapy were Progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and treatment-related side effects were comprehensively evaluated using R language and the chi-square test.

 Results

Seventy-four patients were enrolled and divided into two groups (A and B) based on whether they had received radiotherapy. The incidence rate of adverse events—such as radiation-related pneumonitis, pneumonia, thrombocytopenia, cough, panting, fatigue, and radiodermatitis—were significantly higher in patients receiving radiotherapy. A survival analysis comparing the experimental and control groups revealed that the addition of radiotherapy played a positive role in extending PFS and OS, with statistically significant results observed for OS (HR(95%CI)=0.51[0.283, 0.919]; p =0.019). The risk of radiation-related pneumonitis was significantly higher than in the control group (p <0.001) and was associated with a negative impact on prognosis; a similar trend was also observed for pneumonia (p=0.041) and thrombocytopenia (p <0.001).

 Conclusions

Sequential radiotherapy after quadruple therapy can prolong survival in patients with advanced NSCLC. However, special attention should be paid to treatment-related side effects such as pneumonitis, pneumonia, and thrombocytopenia, which may negatively affect prognosis.

 lung cancer NSCLC radiotherapy anti-angiogenic therapy immunotherapy immune checkpoint inhibitor combination therapy section-in-acceptance Thoracic Oncology Introduction

According to the latest statistics, lung cancer has the highest morbidity and mortality among all malignant tumors in China, with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounting for approximately 85% of all lung cancers (1). The first-line treatment for NSCLC has been substantially revolutionized since immunotherapy became a cornerstone. Currently, immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) combined with platinum-doublet chemotherapy have become popular treatment options for advanced NSCLC lacking driver gene mutations (2).

Before immunotherapy became the main therapeutic modality in oncology, radiotherapy and anti-angiogenic therapy played irreplaceable roles in the treatment of advanced NSCLC (3). However, the role of radiotherapy remains controversial. Only limited evidence suggests that radiotherapy and anti-angiogenic therapy may improve the outcomes of immunotherapy for advanced NSCLC. For instance, a secondary analysis of the KEYNOTE-001 phase 1 trial showed that patients with NSCLC who received radiotherapy before pembrolizumab had longer progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) than those who did not receive prior radiotherapy, with an acceptable safety profile (4).

In addition, the IMpower150 trial explored the value of bevacizumab in combination with atezolizumab and chemotherapy as a first-line treatment for advanced non-squamous NSCLC, and patients who received combination therapy demonstrated a survival advantage (5). Although the PACIFIC study established 12 months of consolidation therapy with durvalumab after concurrent chemoradiotherapy (cCRT) as the standard treatment for patients with unresectable stage III NSCLC worldwide (6), there remains a lack of clinical research on the combined use of radiotherapy, anti-angiogenic therapy, and immunochemotherapy for advanced NSCLC. This study was designed to explore the significance of incorporating radiotherapy into combination therapy.

 Methods Patients screening

Patients with advanced NSCLC confirmed by pathology at Qingdao Municipal Hospital were enrolled between January 2020 and January 2023. PD-1 inhibitors, thoracic radiotherapy, anti-angiogenic inhibitors, and chemotherapy were prescribed as first-line treatment. The main difference between the experimental group (Group A) and the control group (Group B) was whether or not thoracic radiotherapy was administered.

The selection criteria for patients were as follows: (1) aged between 18 and 80 years; (2) TNM stage IV or advanced NSCLC; (3) Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) score ≤1; (4) prescribed PD-1 inhibitors, thoracic radiotherapy, and anti-angiogenic treatments; (5) no other malignancies observed; (6) no significant cardiovascular abnormalities; (7) no obvious organ dysfunction; (8) complete clinical information; and (9) at least two cycles of quadruple therapy administered. The exclusion criteria were listed as follows: (1) mutations in EGFR or related genes; (2) prior administration of ICI-based immunotherapy; and (3) disease progression considered ineligible.

 Treatment regimens

Anti-angiogenic therapy and PD-1 inhibitors combined with platinum-doublet chemotherapy were used as first-line treatment options for patients with advanced NSCLC. Patients with adenocarcinoma received bevacizumab, whereas those with squamous cell carcinoma received endostar. Immunotherapy was limited to PD-1 inhibitors, with no additional restrictions.

Thoracic radiotherapy was administered after at least two cycles of quadruple therapy or when the patient’s efficacy evaluation indicated stable disease (SD) and a trend of tumor enlargement was observed. The patient received a radiotherapy prescription dose of at least 30 Gy/10 f (a total dose of 30 gray delivered in 10 fractions), and subsequent decisions on whether to administer a local boost were based on tumor regression and treatment toxicities, with the total dose not exceeding 45 Gy/15 f or 60 Gy/30 f. Gross tumor volume (GTV) was determined through CT scanning, and delineation of the target area was completed on the CT pulmonary window. Furthermore, the planning target volume (PTV) was obtained by expanding the GTV by 1.0 cm. Based on CT simulation and 3D planning systems, all patients received intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT).

Organ protection and dose restrictions were as follows (7–14): whole lung: V20 ≤30%, V30 ≤20%, V5 ≤60%, mean lung dose (MLD) <13 Gy; V20 was considered the primary dose-limiting factor in radiotherapeutic parameters; spinal cord: Dmax ≤44 Gy; heart: V40 ≤35%, D100 ≤30 Gy, and D50 <40 Gy. The risk of radiation-related pneumonitis should be considered a treatment-related side effect requiring prioritization (8, 9, 11–14).

The chemotherapy regimen should not include drugs such as gemcitabine, which increase the risk of radiation pneumonitis, whereas other agents are acceptable. Chemotherapy was temporarily postponed during radiotherapy. Unless grade 3 or higher treatment-related adverse reactions occurred, treatment was not interrupted. In such cases, the dosage of chemotherapy drugs was reduced by 25%. If the side effects did not improve, chemotherapy was discontinued. Hormonal, expectorant, and antiasthmatic drugs were administered as supportive treatments throughout the radiotherapy process.

 Efficacy and safety evaluation

Based on CT images, immune-Modified Response Evaluation Criteria In Solid Tumors (imRECIST) were used to assess treatment response (15), whereas adverse events were evaluated at least once every cycle according to the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) (16, 17).

 Follow-up and survival assessment

Follow-up was conducted until November 2023 or until patient death. Follow-up examinations included assessments of disease progression status, physical examination, blood counts, biochemical profiles, and CT images. Similar to previous studies (5, 18–20), overall survival (OS) was considered the primary endpoint and observation indicator, while progression-free survival (PFS) and treatment tolerance were listed as secondary endpoints. OS and PFS were assessed according to follow-up records. OS was defined as the time interval from initiation of first-line treatment to death or last follow-up, with no restrictions on the cause of death. PFS was defined as the time interval from initiation of first-line treatment to disease progression or death due to NSCLC, excluding other causes.

 Statistical analysis

Differences between the experimental and control groups were determined using Pearson’s chi-square or Wilcoxon tests (7). OS and PFS were analyzed using the Kaplan–Meier method, and univariate analysis was performed using R software (Version 4.4.2). All reported p-values were two-sided, and a p-value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. All statistical analyses were performed using SPSS software (Version 27.0).

 Results Baselines of all enrolled patients before radiotherapy

Seventy-four patients were enrolled and divided into two groups, A and B, based on whether they had received radiotherapy after two cycles of quadruple anti-tumor therapy ( Table 1 ). All patients were EGFR mutation-negative. Among all patients, the proportion of males was higher; the proportion of males in Group A was 69.8%, while in Group B it was 71%. Upon reviewing the baseline characteristics of both groups, no statistically significant differences were observed, except for the proportion of patients with stable disease (SD) status ( Table 1 ; p = 0.017). Detailed clinical information for each patient, including performance status, smoking history, comorbidities, and treatments, is included in Supplementary Table S1 . Subgroup analysis was first performed. The PFS and OS of patients with different histological subtypes ( Supplementary Figures S1A, D ), PD-L1 expression levels ( Supplementary Figures S1B, E ), and smoking status ( Supplementary Figures S1C, F ) are shown in Supplementary Figure S1 .

Baseline characteristics of all enrolled patients before radiotherapy.

Variable No. (%)
Group A (n = 43) Group B (n = 31) P value
Age(y), median 65 61 0.896
<60 y 16 (37.2) 12 (38.7) 0.930
≥60 y 27 (62.8) 19 (61.3) 0.949
Sex 0.911
Male 30 (69.8) 22 (71.0) 0.963
Female 13 (31.2) 9 (29.0) 0.935
Alcohol smoker 0.557
Yes 22 (51.2) 18 (58.1) 0.749
No 21 (48.8) 13 (41.9) 0.719
Histological subtype 0.268
Adenocarcinoma 21 (48.8) 14 (45.2) 0.851
Squamous carcinoma 19 (44.2) 17 (54.8) 0.597
Others 3 (7.0) 0 (0) 0.395
Tumor stage 0.973
T1 2 (4.7) 1 (3.2) 1.000
T2 25 (58.1) 18 (58.1) 0.997
T3 14 (32.6) 11 (35.5) 0.854
T4 2 (4.7) 1 (3.2) 1.000
Lymph node status 0.003
N0 5 (11.6) 0 (0) 0.166
N1 14 (32.6) 5 (16.1) 0.214
N2 20 (46.5) 13 (41.9) 0.808
N3 4 (9.3) 13 (41.9) 0.010
Metastasis status 0.977
M1a 7 (16.3) 5 (16.1) 0.988
M1b 12 (27.9) 8 (25.8) 0.879
M1c 24 (55.8) 18 (58.1) 0.919
Distant metastasis 0.981
Brain 11 (25.6) 7 (22.5) 0.816
Lung 27 (62.8) 20 (64.5) 0.943
Bone 13 (30.2) 11 (35.5) 0.735
Liver 6 (14.0) 5 (16.1) 1.000
Adrenal 7 (16.3) 4 (12.9) 0.985
Clinical stage 0.452
IVA 19 (44.2) 11 (35.5) 0.623
IVB 24 (55.8) 20 (64.5) 0.706
Efficacy evaluation 0.001
SD 27 (62.8) 6 (19.4) 0.017
PR 16 (37.2) 23 (74.2) 0.084
PD 0 2 (6.5) 0.185
PD-L1 expression 0.330
TPS 1-49% 32 (74.4) 26 (83.9) 0.735
TPS ≥50% 11 (25.6) 5 (16.1) 0.431

All the information mentioned above was collected before the patient underwent radiotherapy.

 Assessment of efficacy and adverse events

All 43 patients in Group A received 10 sessions of radiotherapy, with a total dose of 30 Gy. After undergoing radiotherapy, 23 patients in Group A with stable disease (SD) reached partial response (PR), and 4 patients remained in SD status. The primary tumors of 16 patients with PR had further shrunk compared to baseline.

Following the addition of radiotherapy to the quadruple therapy regimen, the risk of all toxicities was higher than in the control group ( Table 2 , Figures 1A–I ). All p-values from the chi-square tests comparing the two groups are listed on the right side of the Table 2 . Among all patients, hematological toxicities remained the most common treatment-related side effects ( Table 2 ). For all hematological toxicities, the risk of thrombocytopenia in the experimental group (Group A) was significantly higher than in the control group (Group B) ( Figure 1C ; 86.0% vs. 45.2%; p < 0.001). Similar increases in risk were observed for pneumonitis ( Figure 1A ; 100% vs. 58.06%; p < 0.001), cough ( Figure 1E ; 81.4% vs. 45.2%; p = 0.001), panting ( Figure 1F ; 65.2% vs. 32.3%; p = 0.005), and decreased appetite ( Figure 1I ; 95.3% vs. 77.5%; p = 0.030) ( Table 2 ).

Information on all treatment-related adverse events.

Events Grade 1 + 2 Grade 3 + 4 Grade 1-4
ABCP + RT (n = 43) ABCP (n = 31) P-value ABCP + RT (n = 43) ABCP (n = 31) P-value ABCP + RT (n = 43) ABCP (n = 31) P-value
Hypoalbuminemia 33 (76.7) 21 (67.7) 0.390 8 (18.6) 6 (19.4) 0.935 41 (95.3) 27 (87.1) 0.230
Anemia 32 (74.4) 20 (64.5) 0.358 7 (16.3) 6 (19.4) 0.732 39 (90.7) 26 (83.9) 0.478
Leukopenia 32 (74.4) 18 (58.1) 0.138 8 (18.6) 5 (16.1) 0.782 40 (93.0) 23 (74.2) 0.044
Lymphocytopenia 30 (69.8) 19 (61.3) 0.447 7 (16.3) 4 (12.9) 0.752 37 (86.1) 23 (74.2) 0.199
Neutropenia 27 (62.8) 17 (54.8) 0.492 7 (16.3) 5 (16.1) 0.986 34 (79.1) 22 (70.9) 0.423
Thrombocytopenia 29 (67.4) 11 (35.5) 0.006 8 (18.6) 3 (9.7) 0.340 37 (86) 14 (45.2) <0.001
Pancytopenia 21 (48.8) 9 (29.0) 0.087 5 (11.6) 3 (9.7) 1.000 26 (60.4) 12 (38.7) 0.065
Pneumonitis 35 (81.4) 13 (41.9) <0.001 8 (18.6) 5 (16.1) 0.782 43 (100.0) 18 (58.0) <0.001
Pneumonia 14 (32.6) 4 (12.9) 0.060 4 (9.3) 2 (6.5) 0.627 18 (41.9) 6 (19.4) 0.041
Respiratory tract infection 16 (37.2) 6 (19.4) 0.097 4 (9.3) 3 (9.7) 1.000 20 (46.5) 9 (29.1) 0.129
Pulmonary embolism 1 (2.3) 0 (0) 1.000 2 (4.7) 1 (3.2) 1.000 3 (7.0) 1 (3.2) 0.635
Cough 29 (67.4) 11 (35.5) 0.006 6 (14.0) 3 (9.7) 0.580 35 (81.4) 14 (45.2) 0.001
Panting 22 (51.2) 7 (22.6) 0.013 6 (14.0) 3 (9.7) 0.726 28 (65.2) 10 (32.3) 0.005
Hemoptysis 4 (9.3) 1 (3.2) 0.392 2 (4.7) 1 (3.2) 1.000 6 (14.0) 2 (6.5) 0.455
Esophagitis 13 (30.2) 7 (22.6) 0.465 4 (9.3) 2 (6.5) 0.627 17 (39.5) 9 (29.1) 0.350
Stomatitis 12 (27.9) 6 (19.4) 0.398 2 (4.7) 1 (3.2) 1.000 14 (32.6) 7 (22.6) 0.348
Colitis 8 (18.6) 5 (16.1) 0.782 2 (4.7) 2 (6.5) 1.000 10 (23.3) 7 (22.6) 0.946
Hepatitis 2 (4.7) 0 (0) 0.506 1 (2.3) 1 (3.2) 1.000 3 (7.0) 1 (3.2) 0.635
Pancreatitis 1 (2.3) 1 (3.2) 1.000 1 (2.3) 0 (0) 1.000 2 (4.7) 1 (3.2) 1.000
Decreased appetite 33 (76.7) 18 (58.1) 0.087 8 (18.6) 6 (19.4) 0.935 41 (95.3) 24 (77.5) 0.030
Nausea 31 (72.1) 18 (58.1) 0.208 7 (16.3) 5 (16.1) 0.986 38 (88.4) 23 (74.2) 0.114
Vomiting 25 (58.1) 12 (38.7) 0.099 5 (11.6) 4 (12.9) 1.000 30 (69.7) 16 (51.6) 0.112
Constipation 23 (53.4) 11 (35.5) 0.125 6 (14.0) 3 (9.7) 0.726 29 (67.4) 14 (45.2) 0.055
Diarrhea 16 (37.2) 9 (29.0) 0.463 5 (11.6) 3 (9.7) 1.000 21 (48.8) 12 (38.7) 0.387
Proteinuria 9 (20.9) 5 (16.1) 0.603 3 (7.0) 2 (6.5) 1.000 12 (27.9) 7 (22.6) 0.605
Diabetes mellitus 4 (9.3) 2 (6.5) 1.000 1 (2.3) 0 (0) 1.000 5 (11.6) 2 (6.5) 0.692
Hypertension 16 (37.2) 10 (32.3) 0.660 4 (9.3) 3 (9.7) 1.000 20 (46.5) 13 (42.0) 0.696
Cerebrovascular accident 2 (4.7) 1 (3.2) 1.000 1 (2.3) 0 (0) 1.000 3 (7.0) 1 (3.2) 0.635
Paresthesia 7 (16.3) 3 (9.7) 0.505 2 (4.7) 2 (6.5) 1.000 9 (20.9) 5 (16.1) 0.603
Ataxia 1 (2.3) 0 (0) 1.000 1 (2.3) 1 (3.2) 1.000 2 (4.7) 1 (3.2) 1.000
Cerebral ischemia 2 (4.7) 1 (3.2) 1.000 1 (2.3) 0 (0) 1.000 3 (7.0) 1 (3.2) 0.635
Depressed level of consciousness 4 (9.3) 1 (3.2) 0.386 3 (7.0) 2 (6.5) 1.000 7 (16.3) 3 (9.7) 0.505
Dizziness 5 (11.6) 2 (6.5) 0.692 4 (9.3) 3 (9.7) 1.000 9 (20.9) 5 (16.1) 0.603
Headache 7 (16.3) 4 (12.9) 0.752 3 (7.0) 2 (6.5) 1.000 10 (23.3) 6 (19.4) 0.688
Peripheral neuropathy 6 (14.0) 4 (12.9) 1.000 2 (4.7) 1 (3.2) 1.000 8 (18.6) 5 (16.1) 0.782
Arthralgia 5 (11.6) 3 (9.7) 1.000 2 (4.7) 0 (0) 0.506 7 (16.3) 3 (9.7) 0.505
Myalgia 4 (13.8) 3 (9.7) 1.000 1 (3.4) 1 (3.4) 1.000 5 (11.6) 4 (12.9) 1.000
ALT increased 6 (14.0) 4 (12.9) 1.000 2 (4.7) 1 (3.2) 1.000 8 (18.6) 5 (16.1) 0.782
AST increased 5 (11.6) 3 (9.7) 1.000 2 (4.7) 1 (3.2) 1.000 7 (16.3) 4 (12.9) 0.752
Transaminases increased 2 (4.7) 0 (0) 0.506 1 (2.3) 1 (3.2) 1.000 3 (7.0) 1 (3.2) 0.635
Hyperkalemia 3 (10.3) 2 (6.5) 1.000 2 (6.9) 1 (3.2) 1.000 5 (11.6) 3 (9.7) 1.000
Hypokalemia 2 (4.7) 1 (3.2) 1.000 1 (2.3) 1 (3.2) 1.000 3 (7.0) 2 (6.5) 1.000
Hyponatremia 1 (2.3) 1 (3.2) 1.000 1 (2.3) 0 (0) 1.000 2 (4.7) 1 (3.2) 1.000
Alopecia 30 (69.8) 21 (67.7) 1.000 8 (18.6) 6 (19.4) 0.935 38 (88.4) 27 (87.1) 1.000
Fatigue 28 (65.1) 12 (38.7) 0.025 8 (18.6) 4 (12.9) 0.750 36 (83.7) 16 (51.6) 0.003
Epistaxis 10 (23.3) 6 (19.4) 0.688 2 (4.7) 1 (3.2) 1.000 12 (28.0) 7 (22.6) 0.605
Decreased weight 5 (11.6) 3 (9.7) 1.000 3 (7.0) 2 (6.9) 1.000 8 (18.6) 5 (16.1) 0.782
Dehydration 7 (16.3) 3 (9.7) 0.505 2 (4.7) 0 (0) 0.506 9 (20.9) 3 (9.7) 0.338
Radiodermatitis 35 (81.4) 0 (0) <0.001 8 (18.6) 0 (0) <0.001 43 (100.0) 0 (0.0) <0.001
Rash 14 (32.6) 7 (22.6) 0.348 5 (11.6) 3 (9.7) 1.000 19 (44.2) 10 (32.3) 0.300
Pyrexia 15 (34.9) 8 (25.8) 0.405 7 (16.3) 5 (16.1) 0.986 22 (51.2) 13 (41.9) 0.433
Hypothyroidism 9 (20.9) 6 (19.4) 0.868 3 (7.0) 2 (6.5) 1.000 12 (27.9) 8 (25.8) 0.841
Hyperthyroidism 6 (14.0) 3 (10.3) 0.726 2 (4.7) 1 (3.4) 1.000 8 (18.6) 4 (12.9) 0.750

Differences in clinical features between lung cancer patients treated with ABCP in combination with RT and those treated with ABCP alone. (A–I) Percentage plots showing the proportion of patients with grade 0, grade 1 + 2 and grade 3 + 4 of pneumonitis (A), pneumonia (B), thrombocytopenia (C), leukopenia (D), cough (E), panting (F), fatigue (G), radiodermatitis (H), and decreased appetite (I) in the ABCP+RT and ABCP-only treatment groups. Blue, orange, and red bars represent grades 0, 1–2, and 3–4, respectively. The x-axes indicate treatment groups, while the y-axes show the percentage of each grade. Notes for each figure are shown on the right side of the corresponding panel. (J) PFS curves of patients treated with ABCP alone versus ABCP combined with RT. (K) OS curves of patients treated with ABCP alone versus ABCP combined with RT. Blue lines represent patients treated with ABCP alone, and red lines represent those treated with ABCP+RT. The x-axes indicate survival time; the y-axes indicate survival probability. Grouping status is indicated at the bottom of each chart. p < 0.05 in the log-rank test was considered statistically significant. PFS, progression-free survival; OS, overall survival; RT, radiotherapy; ABCP, atezolizumab, bevacizumab, carboplatin, and paclitaxel.

Nine bar graphs (A-I) and two survival probability plots (J-K) compare ABCP+RT and ABCP treatments across various health grades. The bar graphs depict percent weight distribution for pneumonitis, pneumonia, thrombocytopenia, leukopenia, cough, panting, fatigue, radiodermatitis, and decreased appetite, highlighting significant differences (p-values provided). Survival plots show survival probabilities over time, with ABCP+RT generally showing better outcomes than ABCP.

Among patients receiving radiotherapy, the risk of radiation-specific side effects, such as fatigue ( Figure 1G ; p = 0.003) and radiodermatitis ( Figure 1H ; p < 0.001), was also significantly higher than in the control group.

 Results of survival analysis

Preliminary analysis indicated that sequential radiotherapy, when added to the original quadruple therapy regimen, conferred a survival benefit ( Figure 1 ; Figures 1J–K ), particularly for overall survival (OS) ( Figure 1K ; p = 0.019). Whether in the experimental group, the control group, or the overall population, TNM staging remained the most significant factor affecting patients’ progression-free survival (PFS) and OS ( Figures 2 – 4 ).

Survival curves showing progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) for all lung cancer patients included in this study, including those treated with the combination of ABCP and radiotherapy (RT) and those treated with ABCP alone. (A) PFS curves of patients with tumors at different T stages. The orange and red lines represent patients with stage T1–T2 and T3–T4 tumors, respectively. (B) PFS curves of patients with tumors at different N stages. The orange, red, and dark red lines represent patients with stage N0–N1, N2, and N3 tumors, respectively. (C) PFS curves of patients with tumors at different M stages. The orange, red, and dark red lines represent patients with stage M1a, M1b, and M1c tumors, respectively. (D) PFS curves of patients with different grades of pneumonitis. The blue, orange, and red lines represent patients with grade 0, grade 1–2, and grade 3–4 pneumonitis, respectively. (E) PFS curves of patients with different grades of pneumonia. The blue, orange, and red lines represent patients with grade 0, grade 1–2, and grade 3–4 pneumonia, respectively. (F) PFS curves of patients with different grades of thrombocytopenia. The blue, orange, and red lines represent patients with grade 0, grade 1–2, and grade 3–4 thrombocytopenia, respectively. (G) OS curves of patients with tumors at different T stages. The orange and red lines represent patients with stage T1–T2 and T3–T4 tumors, respectively. (H) OS curves of patients with tumors at different N stages. The orange, red, and dark red lines represent patients with stage N0–N1, N2, and N3 tumors, respectively. (I) OS curves of patients with tumors at different M stages. The orange, red, and dark red lines represent patients with stage M1a, M1b, and M1c tumors, respectively. (J) OS curves of patients with different grades of pneumonitis. The blue, orange, and red lines represent patients with grade 0, grade 1–2, and grade 3–4 pneumonitis, respectively. (K) OS curves of patients with different grades of pneumonia. The blue, orange, and red lines represent patients with grade 0, grade 1–2, and grade 3–4 pneumonia, respectively. (L) OS curves of patients with different grades of thrombocytopenia. The blue, orange, and red lines represent patients with grade 0, grade 1–2, and grade 3–4 thrombocytopenia, respectively. The x-axes indicate survival time, and the y-axes indicate survival probability. Grouping status is shown at the bottom of each chart. p < 0.05 in the log-rank test was considered statistically significant. PFS, progression-free survival; OS, overall survival; ABCP, atezolizumab, bevacizumab, carboplatin, and paclitaxel.

Kaplan-Meier graphs illustrating progression-free and overall survival rates segmented by different factors: T stage, N stage, M stage, pneumonitis grade, and thrombocytopenia grade. Panels A-F focus on progression-free survival, while panels G-L depict overall survival. Each graph includes survival probability over time with hazard ratios, confidence intervals, and p-values, alongside tables showing numbers at risk over time for each category.

Survival curves showing progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) of lung cancer patients treated with the combination of ABCP and radiotherapy (RT). (A) PFS curves of patients with tumors at different T stages. The orange and red lines represent patients with stage T1–T2 and T3–T4 tumors, respectively. (B) PFS curves of patients with tumors at different N stages. The orange and red lines represent patients with stage N0–N1 and N2–N3 tumors, respectively. (C) PFS curves of patients with tumors at different M stages. The orange, red, and dark red lines represent patients with stage M1a, M1b, and M1c tumors, respectively. (D) PFS curves of patients with different grades of pneumonitis. The orange and red lines represent patients with grade 1–2 and grade 3–4 pneumonitis, respectively. (E) PFS curves of patients with different grades of pneumonia. The blue, orange, and red lines represent patients with grade 0, grade 1–2, and grade 3–4 pneumonia, respectively. (F) PFS curves of patients with different grades of thrombocytopenia. The blue, orange, and red lines represent patients with grade 0, grade 1–2, and grade 3–4 thrombocytopenia, respectively. (G) OS curves of patients with tumors at different T stages. The orange and red lines represent patients with stage T1–T2 and T3–T4 tumors, respectively. (H) OS curves of patients with tumors at different N stages. The orange and red lines represent patients with stage N0–N1 and N2–N3 tumors, respectively. (I) OS curves of patients with tumors at different M stages. The orange, red, and dark red lines represent patients with stage M1a, M1b, and M1c tumors, respectively. (J) OS curves of patients with different grades of pneumonitis. The orange and red lines represent patients with grade 1–2 and grade 3–4 pneumonitis, respectively. (K) OS curves of patients with different grades of pneumonia. The blue, orange, and red lines represent patients with grade 0, grade 1–2, and grade 3–4 pneumonia, respectively. (L) OS curves of patients with different grades of thrombocytopenia. The blue, orange, and red lines represent patients with grade 0, grade 1–2, and grade 3–4 thrombocytopenia, respectively. The x-axes indicate survival time, and the y-axes indicate survival probability. Grouping status is shown at the bottom of each chart. p < 0.05 in the log-rank test was considered statistically significant. PFS, progression-free survival; OS, overall survival; ABCP, atezolizumab, bevacizumab, carboplatin, and paclitaxel.

Kaplan-Meier survival curves for progression-free and overall survival. Panels A to F depict progression-free survival based on different clinical stages and conditions such as T stage, N stage, M stage, pneumonia grade, and thrombocytopenia grade. Panels G to L show overall survival with similar categorizations. Each graph includes survival probability, time in months, number at risk, hazard ratios with confidence intervals, and p-values. Different lines represent various subgroups, indicating comparative survival probabilities.

The survival curves showing the PFS and OS of lung cancer patients treated with the combination of ABCP but without radiotherapy. (A) PFS curves of patients with tumors at different T stages. The orange and red lines represent patients with stage T1–T2 and T3–T4 tumors, respectively. (B) PFS curves of patients with tumors at different N stages. The orange, red, and dark red lines represent patients with stage N0–N1, N2, and N3 tumors, respectively. (C) PFS curves of patients with tumors at different M stages. The orange, red, and dark red lines represent patients with stage M1a, M1b, and M1c tumors, respectively. (D) PFS curves of patients with different grades of pneumonitis. The blue, orange, and red lines represent patients with grade 0, grade 1–2, and grade 3–4 pneumonitis, respectively. (E) PFS curves of patients with different grades of pneumonia. The blue, orange, and red lines represent patients with grade 0, grade 1–2, and grade 3–4 pneumonia, respectively. (F) PFS curves of patients with different grades of thrombocytopenia. The blue, orange, and red lines represent patients with grade 0, grade 1–2, and grade 3–4 thrombocytopenia, respectively. (G) OS curves of patients with tumors at different T stages. The orange and red lines represent patients with stage T1–T2 and T3–T4 tumors, respectively. (H) OS curves of patients with tumors at different N stages. The orange, red, and dark red lines represent patients with stage N0–N1, N2, and N3 tumors, respectively. (I) OS curves of patients with tumors at different M stages. The orange, red, and dark red lines represent patients with stage M1a, M1b, and M1c tumors, respectively. (J) OS curves of patients with different grades of pneumonitis. The blue, orange, and red lines represent patients with grade 0, grade 1–2, and grade 3–4 pneumonitis, respectively. (K) OS curves of patients with different grades of pneumonia. The blue, orange, and red lines represent patients with grade 0, grade 1–2, and grade 3–4 pneumonia, respectively. (L) OS curves of patients with different grades of thrombocytopenia. The blue, orange, and red lines represent patients with grade 0, grade 1–2, and grade 3–4 thrombocytopenia, respectively. The x-axes indicate survival time, and the y-axes indicate survival probability. Grouping status is shown at the bottom of each chart. p < 0.05 in the log-rank test was considered statistically significant. PFS, progression-free survival; OS, overall survival; ABCP, atezolizumab, bevacizumab, carboplatin, and paclitaxel.

Twelve Kaplan-Meier survival plots display progression-free survival (A-F) and overall survival (G-L) based on various clinical factors. The x-axis represents time in months, and the y-axis shows survival probability. Different colored lines indicate distinct categories within each factor: T stage, N stage, M stage, pneumonitis grade, and thrombocytopenia grade. P-values, hazard ratios (HR), and confidence intervals (CI) are provided for each plot. Tables below each graph show the number at risk over time for the respective categories.

Further analyses revealed that certain treatment-related side effects, such as pneumonitis ( Figures 2D, J , 3D, J , 4D, J ), pneumonia ( Figures 2E, K , 3E, K , 4E, K ), and thrombocytopenia ( Figures 2F, L , 3F, L , 4F, L ), could affect patient prognosis—particularly when these side effects were greater than grade 3 ( Figures 2D-F, J-L , 3D-F, J-L , 4D-F, J-L ). Whether in the experimental group, the control group, or the overall population, TNM staging remained the most significant factor affecting patients’ progression free survival (PFS) and OS ( Figures 2A-C, G-I , Figures 3A-C, G-I , Figures 4A-C, G-I ).

Further analysis of treatment-related side effects showed that the lower the severity of side effects, the greater the survival benefit of radiotherapy ( Figure 5 ). These trends were observed in both progression-free survival (PFS; Figures 5A, B ) and overall survival (OS; Figures 5G, H ).

The association between the treatment, the PFS and the OS of patients with adverse reactions at different grades. (A-C) are the PFS curves of patients with grade 1 + 2 of pneumonitis (A), pneumonia (C) and thrombocytopenia (E) after treated with ABCP or ABCP combined with RT. (D-F) are the PFS curves of patients with grade 3 + 4 of pneumonitis (D), pneumonia (E) and thrombocytopenia (F) after treated with ABCP or ABCP combined with RT. (G-I) are the OS curves of patients with grade 1 + 2 of pneumonitis (G), pneumonia (H) and thrombocytopenia (I) after treated with ABCP or ABCP combined with RT. (J-L) are the OS curves of patients with grade 3 + 4 of pneumonitis (J), pneumonia (K) and thrombocytopenia (L) after treated with ABCP or ABCP combined with RT. The blue curves represent patients receiving only ABCP, while the red curves represent patients receiving ABCP combined with RT. The abscissa axes show survival time, while the ordinate axes show survival probability. The grouping status of the patients is indicated at the bottom of the chart. p< 0.05 in the Log-rank test was considered statistically significant. PFS, progression-free survival; OS, overall survival; RT, radiotherapy; ABCP, atezolizumab, bevacizumab, carboplatin, and paclitaxel.

Nine Kaplan-Meier survival curves compare progression-free and overall survival between two treatments, ABCP and ABCP+RT. Graphs A-F focus on progression-free survival related to pneumonitis, pneumonia, and thrombocytopenia, with hazard ratios and p-values. Graphs G-L depict overall survival with similar conditions and statistics. Time is measured in months, and survival probability decreases over time. Each graph includes a table showing the number of patients at risk at various time points. Discussion

For patients with EGFR mutation-negative NSCLC, the advent of immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) immunotherapy has revolutionized treatment and greatly improved prognosis (5). However, the overall survival (OS) of these patients remains short, indicating a need for improved treatment options. Notably, not all patients benefit from ICI therapy, and studies have shown that only 17%–21% of NSCLC patients respond to ICIs (21). Therefore, there is an unmet need to explore alternative combination strategies with tolerable toxicity to further improve response rates and prolong progression-free survival (PFS) and OS in patients with advanced NSCLC.

Reports of ICIs combined with chemoradiotherapy are common, but PD-L1 inhibitors are more frequently used in these regimens (7–9, 11). For patients with advanced NSCLC who have received a quadruple regimen primarily based on PD-1 inhibitors, whether adding radiotherapy confers survival benefit remains unclear. To date, few studies have addressed this. Radiotherapy (RT) has been shown to activate CD8+ T cells by inducing interferon-mediated CXCL10 and ICAM-1 expression in tumors, enhancing CD8+ T cell–tumor adhesion and recognition (22). However, there is still a lack of clinical research on combining radiotherapy, anti-angiogenic therapy, and PD-1 inhibitors in NSCLC treatment. This study was designed to explore the significance of incorporating radiotherapy into such combination therapies.

The original intention of this study was to improve the quality of life and prognosis of patients with slow tumor progression but stable disease (SD) status. Thoracic radiotherapy was administered after at least two cycles of quadruple therapy or when the patient’s efficacy evaluation showed SD with a trend of tumor enlargement. Even with a sequential combination approach, treatment-related side effects in the experimental group were significantly higher than in the control group ( Table 2 ). Despite supportive use of hormonal drugs, expectorants, antiasthmatics, and blood-activating agents during radiotherapy, the risk of radiation-related pneumonitis remained significantly higher in the experimental group (p < 0.001), which was consistent with previous studies (8, 9, 11–14). These findings suggest that clinicians should pay special attention to the risk of pneumonitis and provide preventive supportive treatment as early as possible.

Although patients undergoing radiotherapy experienced more pronounced toxic side effects, their prognostic survival—especially OS—was significantly improved ( Figure 1 ). A comprehensive subgroup analysis was conducted for treatment-related adverse reactions, and the survival prognosis results are summarized ( Figures 2 - 5 ). While TNM staging remained the major factor affecting survival ( Figures 2 - 4 ), certain side effects were identified as negative prognostic indicators ( Figures 2 - 5 ), particularly when the grade of side effects increased. This trend was observed in both the overall population and subgroup analyses ( Figures 2 - 4 ). In other words, patients with grade 1–2 side effects had a significantly better prognosis than those with grade 3–4 side effects ( Figures 2D-F, J-L , 3D-F, J-L , 4D-F, J-L ). When certain side effects reached grade 3–4, the survival benefit of radiotherapy became less pronounced ( Figures 5D–F, J–L ). This highlights the need for timely prevention and management of radiotherapy-related side effects ( Figure 5 ) to help patients achieve better outcomes.

Pneumonitis can be caused by both radiotherapy and PD-1 inhibitors. In this study, the incidence was significantly higher than in previous studies on PD-L1 inhibitors combined with radiotherapy (8, 9, 11–14). It has been reported that reduced lung tolerance may result from PD-1–mediated PD-L2 blockade (23). Pneumonitis is a major factor limiting the total radiation dose (24). Therefore, pneumonitis should be actively prevented or managed during radiotherapy to avoid interruptions and to minimize its impact on patient prognosis and survival ( Figures 2D, J , 3D, J , 4D, J , 5A, D, G, J ). Similarly, pneumonia and thrombocytopenia should also be taken seriously due to their negative prognostic effects ( Figures 2E, F, K, L , 3E, F, K, L , 4E, F, K, L , 5B, C, E, F, H, I, K, L ).

Certainly, this study has limitations. First, it is a retrospective study, and inherent bias may be unavoidable. Prospective trials are needed to further validate these results. Second, the sample size is relatively small, which may affect the accuracy of findings. Additional patient data will be collected in future studies to strengthen the evidence. Third, the follow-up period is relatively short, and we will continue to monitor the clinical outcomes of surviving patients.

In summary, sequential radiotherapy based on a quadruple combination regimen can provide survival benefits to patients with advanced NSCLC while allowing for effective control of treatment-related adverse events.

 Conclusions

The findings suggest that sequential radiotherapy following quadruple therapy can prolong the survival of patients with advanced NSCLC. However, special attention should be paid to treatment-related side effects such as pneumonitis, pneumonia, and thrombocytopenia. These findings should be regarded as investigational until validated by larger prospective trials.

 Data availability statement

The original contributions presented in the study are included in the article/ Supplementary Material . Further inquiries can be directed to the corresponding author.

 Ethics statement

The studies involving humans were approved by Qingdao Municipal Hospital, qingdao, shandong. The studies were conducted in accordance with the local legislation and institutional requirements. The participants provided their written informed consent to participate in this study.

 Author contributions

KG: Conceptualization, Data curation, Formal analysis, Investigation, Methodology, Project administration, Resources, Software, Supervision, Validation, Visualization, Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing. XS: Conceptualization, Data curation, Formal analysis, Writing – review & editing. FX: Data curation, Writing – review & editing. XD: Data curation, Writing – review & editing. LL: Data curation, Writing – review & editing. LZ: Data curation, Writing – review & editing. HW: Data curation, Writing – review & editing. LC: Conceptualization, Data curation, Formal analysis, Funding acquisition, Investigation, Methodology, Project administration, Resources, Validation, Visualization, Writing – review & editing.

 Funding

The author(s) declare financial support was received for the research and/or publication of this article. The study was funded by “Promoting New Life Public Welfare Project” of Zhongguancun Precision Medicine Foundation (GXHDH; Ling Chen), and Funding of Beijing Huikang Renai Charity Foundation (HKPA2025030099; Ling Chen).

 Conflict of interest

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

 Generative AI statement

The author(s) declare that no Generative AI was used in the creation of this manuscript.

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 Publisher’s note

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 Supplementary material

The Supplementary Material for this article can be found online at: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fonc.2025.1640306/full#supplementary-material

The clinical characteristics of patients involved in this study.

PFS and OS of patients in different subgroups. (A–C) PFS curves of patients grouped by histological subtype (A), PD-L1 expression level (B), and smoking status (C). (D–F) OS curves of patients grouped by histological subtype (D), PD-L1 expression level (E), and smoking status (F). Grouping status is shown at the bottom of each chart. p < 0.05 in the log-rank test was considered statistically significant. PFS, progression-free survival; OS, overall survival.

 Abbreviations

imRECIST, immune-Modified Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors; CTCAE, common terminology criteria for adverse events; PD-1, programmed cell death-1; PD-L1, programmed cell death ligand 1; HR, hazard ratios; CI, confidence interval; NSCLC, non-small cell lung cancer; ICIs, immune checkpoint inhibitors; GTV, gross tumor volume; PTV, planning target volume; SD, stable disease; PD, progressive disease; PR, partial response; PFS, progression-free survival; OS, overall survival; ECOG, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group; IMRT, intensity-modulated radiotherapy.

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