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Review
. 2020 Nov 20;12(11):3459.
doi: 10.3390/cancers12113459.

Immunotherapy Moves to the Early-Stage Setting in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Emerging Evidence and the Role of Biomarkers

Xabier Mielgo-Rubio  1 , Virginia Calvo  2 , Javier Luna  3 , Jordi Remon  4 , Margarita Martín  5 , Pedro Berraondo  6 , José Ramón Jarabo  7 , Oliver Higuera  8 , Esther Conde  9 , Javier De Castro  8 , Mariano Provencio  2 , Florentino Hernando Trancho  7 , Fernando López-Ríos  9 , Felipe Couñago  10   11   12
Affiliations
Review

Immunotherapy Moves to the Early-Stage Setting in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Emerging Evidence and the Role of Biomarkers

Xabier Mielgo-Rubio et al. Cancers (Basel). .

Abstract

Despite numerous advances in targeted therapy and immunotherapy in the last decade, lung cancer continues to present the highest mortality rate of all cancers. Targeted therapy based on specific genomic alterations, together with PD-1 and CTLA-4 axis blocking-based immunotherapy, have significantly improved survival in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and both therapies are now well-established in this clinical setting. However, it is time for immunotherapy to be applied in patients with early-stage disease, which would be an important qualitative leap in the treatment of lung cancer patients with curative intent. Preliminary data from a multitude of studies are highly promising, but therapeutic decision-making should be guided by an understanding of the molecular features of the tumour and host. In the present review, we discuss the most recently published studies and ongoing clinical trials, controversies, future challenges and the role of biomarkers in the selection of best therapeutic options.

Keywords: PD-1; atezolizumab; biomarkers; durvalumab; early-stage; immunotherapy; nivolumab; non-small cell lung cancer; pembrolizumab.

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Conflict of interest statement

Xabier Mielgo-Rubio declares the following conflicts of interest: Advisory role; Boehringer-Ingelheim, Astra Zeneca, Brystol Myers Squibb. Speakers’ bureau; Roche, Astra Zeneca, Brystol Myers Squibb, MSD, Abbott. Research funding; Brystol Myers Squibb. Pedro Berraondo declares the following conflicts of interest: Advisory role; Onena Medicines, Ferring, Tusk, Moderna. Speakers’ bureau; Bristol-Myers Squibb, MSD, Novartis, Boehringer Ingelheim, AstraZeneca. Research funding; Sanofi, Bavarian Nordic, Ferring.

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