Thoracic / Lung
First randomized test of adding IO to SBRT in inoperable early-stage NSCLC; the addition failed on both efficacy and safety.
SWOG/NRG S1914 NCT04214262
ForEarly-stage inoperable/surgery-declined NSCLC (T1-3N0M0 ≤7cm), ≥1 risk factor
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.
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.
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.
| Endpoint | S | AS | HR (95% CI), p |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2yr OS | 82% | 80% | 1.15 (0.65-2.01), p=0.63 |
| 2yr PFS | 71% | 60% | 1.35 (0.89-2.06), p=0.16 |
| Failure | S | AS |
|---|---|---|
| Local | 7% | 13% |
| Regional | 2% | 3% |
| Distant | 4% | 5% |
| Endpoint (never/former smokers) | HR (95% CI), p |
|---|---|
| OS | 2.50 (1.11-5.59), p=0.03 |
| PFS | 2.16 (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