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Review
. 2023 Aug 9;24(16):12622.
doi: 10.3390/ijms241612622.

Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in "Special" NSCLC Populations: A Viable Approach?

Giuseppe Bronte  1   2 , Donato Michele Cosi  3 , Chiara Magri  3 , Antonio Frassoldati  3 , Lucio Crinò  4 , Luana Calabrò  3   5
Affiliations
Review

Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in "Special" NSCLC Populations: A Viable Approach?

Giuseppe Bronte et al. Int J Mol Sci. .

Abstract

Over the last decade, the therapeutic scenario for advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has undergone a major paradigm shift. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have shown a meaningful clinical and survival improvement in different settings of the disease. However, the real benefit of this therapeutic approach remains controversial in selected NSCLC subsets, such as those of the elderly with active brain metastases or oncogene-addicted mutations. This is mainly due to the exclusion or underrepresentation of these patient subpopulations in most pivotal phase III studies; this precludes the generalization of ICI efficacy in this context. Moreover, no predictive biomarkers of ICI response exist that can help with patient selection for this therapeutic approach. Here, we critically summarize the current state of ICI efficacy in the most common "special" NSCLC subpopulations.

Keywords: NSCLC; immune checkpoint inhibitors; immunotherapy; special populations.

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Conflict of interest statement

Calabrò L. has served as consultant or advisor to Bristol-Myers Squibb, Merck Sharp and Dohme, and has received compensated educational activities from Bristol Myers Squibb, Astrazeneca, and Sanofi. The other authors declare no relevant conflict of interests.

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