Journal of Clinical Medicine
Real-World Evaluation of the Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Score (IChIS) in Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Treated with Immunotherapy
By İsmail Dilli, Engin Eren Kavak, Mehmet Can Atak and 4 others.
Abstract
Background
The Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Score (IChIS), an inflammation-based biomarker incorporating neutrophil and immature granulocyte counts, was recently developed to predict outcomes in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). However, evidence regarding its prognostic performance in independent real-world populations remains limited. We aimed to evaluate the prognostic significance of IChIS in a real-world cohort of patients with advanced NSCLC treated with immunotherapy.
Methods
This retrospective single-center cohort study included 169 patients with advanced, recurrent, or metastatic NSCLC who received ICIs with palliative intent between September 2022 and December 2025. IChIS ranged from 0 to 2 and was analyzed as a categorical variable, with IChIS 0 as the reference category. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS), while overall survival (OS) was evaluated as a secondary exploratory endpoint. Survival outcomes were estimated using the Kaplan–Meier method and evaluated using Cox proportional hazards regression. Multivariable models included ICI treatment line as a clinically relevant potential confounder.