Adjuvant and Neoadjuvant Immunotherapy in Non-small Cell Lung Cancer

Abstract

The advent of immune checkpoint blockade has revolutionized the management of advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Impressive results in the metastatic setting have prompted substantial interest in the application of these agents in earlier-stage disease. Applications of checkpoint blockade in the adjuvant setting are under investigation in several clinical trials. Early trials have demonstrated the safety and feasibility of the administration of checkpoint inhibitors in the neoadjuvant setting. Resection specimens demonstrate encouraging rates of pathologic response. There are several ongoing phase 3 studies comparing neoadjuvant combination chemotherapy and checkpoint blockade to chemotherapy alone in patients with resectable NSCLC.

Keywords: Checkpoint blockade; Immunotherapy; Neoadjuvant; Non–small cell lung cancer.