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About · curated by Nick Boehling, MD · @nb2276

2026-05-26

digest generated 2026-07-19

SWOG/NRG S1914: OS HR 1.15 (p=0.63), adding atezolizumab to SBRT fails in early-stage inoperable NSCLC, with excess G≥3 tox and more local failures.
Thoracic carried the day. S1914 futility-stopped: atezo+SBRT no better than SBRT alone (2yr OS 80% vs 82%) and worse on local control (13% vs 7% failures) plus G≥3 tox (12% vs 2%). SBRT monotherapy stays the standard for inoperable early-stage NSCLC; exploratory harm signal in never/former smokers.

Thoracic / Lung

First randomized test of adding IO to SBRT in inoperable early-stage NSCLC; the addition failed on both efficacy and safety.

Confirmatory

SWOG/NRG S1914 NCT04214262

ForEarly-stage inoperable/surgery-declined NSCLC (T1-3N0M0 ≤7cm), ≥1 risk factor

Overall survival

HR 1.15

95% CI 0.65-2.01, p=0.63; did not meet primary

TL;DROS HR 1.15 (0.65-2.01), p=0.63: adding atezolizumab to SBRT did not improve survival in early-stage inoperable NSCLC; futility-stopped, excess toxicity.

Why it mattersRadiation oncology

Local control got worse with IO, not better: local failures 13% vs 7% adding atezolizumab, alongside null OS/PFS and a former/never-smoker harm signal (OS HR 2.50). SBRT alone stays standard for inoperable early-stage NSCLC, closing the add-IO-to-SBRT question negatively.

6 details

Phase 3 open-label RCT, 1:1, SWOG/NRG; N=403 eligible (201 S / 202 AS). Stopped at first interim for futility on OS and PFS. Median follow-up 12 mo (0.03-49).

T1-3N0M0 NSCLC ≤7cm, medically inoperable or declined surgery, ≥1 recurrence risk factor (diameter ≥2cm, SUV ≥6.2, moderate/poor/undifferentiated). Median age 73, median tumor 2.3cm, 89% ECOG 0-1.

SBRT both arms (SoC backbone): 3-8 fractions, BED ≥100 Gy. Stratified by central vs peripheral, <4 vs ≥4cm, PS 0-1 vs 2.

Atezolizumab 1200mg IV Q3wk ×8 (neoadjuvant, concurrent, adjuvant); SBRT initiated at cycle 3.

Primary: overall survival. Secondary: PFS, failure patterns, toxicity, QoL. 1-sided stratified log-rank at 2.5%.

G≥3 AEs 12% AS (21 G3, 1 G4, 1 G5 respiratory-failure death) vs 2% S. Excess toxicity with no efficacy gain.

Prior randomized phase 2 (**PMID 37478883, I-SABR, nivolumab+SBRT) suggested benefit adding IO; S1914 with atezolizumab does not confirm** and shows harm signals.

early-stage (T1-3N0) medically inoperable or surgery-declined NSCLC with recurrence risk factors, treated with definitive SBRT
Does not represent operable, node-positive, or locally advanced NSCLC.

Open-label; stopped early at interim (median f/u 12mo, only 49 deaths). Former/never-smoker harm is an exploratory subgroup; central review of local recurrence ongoing.

EndpointSASHR (95% CI), p
2yr OS82%80%1.15 (0.65-2.01), p=0.63
2yr PFS71%60%1.35 (0.89-2.06), p=0.16
FailureSAS
Local7%13%
Regional2%3%
Distant4%5%
Endpoint (never/former smokers)HR (95% CI), p
OS2.50 (1.11-5.59), p=0.03
PFS2.16 (1.15-4.04), p=0.01

Phase 3 stopped for futility; adding IO to SBRT gave no OS/PFS benefit and excess toxicity, reaffirming SBRT-alone SOC and not confirming the prior phase 2 signal.

In medically inoperable or surgery-declined early-stage (T1-3N0) NSCLC treated with definitive SBRT, this argues against adding atezolizumab, and does not extend to node-positive or locally advanced disease.

  • Biomarker/PD-L1 subset that benefits from adding IO to SBRT
  • Whether excess local failures with IO hold on central review
  • Reconciling harm signal with prior phase 2 IO+SBRT benefit

Sourced from Simone, Charles B. et al.

📚 Sources · 📄 1 paper
📄 PAPER Simone, Charles B.; Daly, Megan Eileen; Redman, Mary Weber et al. · Journal of Clinical Oncology (2025-06)
SWOG/NRG S1914: Randomized phase III trial of induction/consolidation atezolizumab + SBRT versus SBRT alone in high risk, early-stage NSCLC.
Abstract
8003 Background: Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) is the standard of care (SoC) for early stage, medically inoperable non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). While rates of in-field control exceed 90%, regional and distant control after SBRT remain suboptimal. A prior phase II randomized trial suggested a benefit to adding immunotherapy (PMID 37478883). SWOG/NRG S1914 (NCT#04214262) is a randomized phase III trial evaluating neoadjuvant, concurrent and adjuvant atezolizumab plus SBRT for early-stage NSCLC vs SoC. Methods: Eligible patients (pts) had T1-3N0M0 NSCLC ≤7cm, were medically inoperable or declined surgery, and had ≥1 risk factor for increased recurrence: tumor diameter ≥2 cm, ≥6.2, moderately/poorly/undifferentiated histology. Randomization was to SoC SBRT (S [3-8 fractions, biologically effective dose ≥100 Gy]) or neoadjuvant, concurrent and adjuvant atezolizumab (AS [1200 mg IV Q3 week, 8 cycles]) with SBRT initiated with cycle 3, stratifying by tumor location (central vs peripheral), size (&lt;4 cm vs ≥4cm) and ECOG performance status (PS, 0-1 vs 2). The primary objective was to compare overall survival (OS) between the arms. Secondary objectives included comparisons of progression free survival (PFS), failure patterns, toxicity and quality of life (QoL). OS and PFS were compared using a 1-sided stratified log-rank test at the 2.5% level, confidence intervals (CI) are 95%. The accrual goal was 432 eligible pts. Results: From 8/13/20 - 9/6/24, 417 pts were randomized, 403 met eligibility [201 to S, 202 to AS]. Accrual closed at the first interim analysis for futility based on OS and PFS per design. Median follow-up for pts still alive was 12 (range: 0.03-49) months. Median age was 73 (41-91) years and 89% had PS 0-1. Median tumor diameter was 2.3 cm. No protocol treatment was received for 6 pts on S and 8 on AS. With 49 deaths, OS was not different between the arms (HR (CI): 1.15(0.65-2.01), p=0.63; 2-year OS: 82% S vs 80% AS). With 88 events, PFS was not better with AS (HR (CI): 1.35(0.89-2.06), p=0.16); 2-year PFS was 71% on S vs 60% on AS. Regional (2% vs 3%) and distant (4% vs 5%) failures were not different; there were more local failures with AS (13% vs 7%). Among former (53%)/never (3%) smokers, AS had worse OS and PFS than S (HR(CI): 2.50 (1.11-5.59), p=0.03); HR(CI): 2.16(1.15-4.04), p=0.01), respectively. Grade (G) ≥3 adverse event (AE) rates were 12% on AS (N=21 G3, 1 G4, 1 G5 respiratory failure) vs 2% on S (N=3 G3, 1 G4). Conclusions: In the first reported phase III trial to assess immunotherapy (IO) added to SBRT in early-stage NSCLC, IO failed to improve survival. More G ≥3 adverse events were reported with AS. Central review of local recurrence events is ongoing. Additional investigation into subgroups, PD-L1 status, QoL and blood/tissue are pending to determine whether there are subsets who can benefit from this combination and shed further insights into these findings. Clinical trial information: NCT04214262 .
📝 https://ascopubs.org/doi/10.1200/JCO.2025.43.16_suppl.8003