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Review
. 2025 May 15;131(10):e35849.
doi: 10.1002/cncr.35849.

Immunotherapy for resectable lung cancer

Colum Dennehy  1 , Michael R Conroy  1 , Patrick M Forde  1
Affiliations
Review

Immunotherapy for resectable lung cancer

Colum Dennehy et al. Cancer. .

Abstract

Lung cancer remains a significant global health challenge, demanding innovative treatment strategies. Immune checkpoint blockade has revolutionized cancer care, leading to improved survival across advanced malignancies and has now become a standard therapy for earlier stage, resectable lung cancer. This review article consolidates the current landscape and future prospects of neoadjuvant and perioperative immunotherapy in lung cancer. The authors outline key findings from clinical trials in resectable lung cancer, including early efficacy, safety profiles, and emerging impact on disease recurrence, and overall survival. Additionally, this review elucidates the challenges encountered, including patient selection criteria, optimal treatment schedules, immune-related adverse events, and impact on surgery. This comprehensive analysis amalgamates current evidence with future directions, providing a roadmap for clinicians, researchers, and stakeholders to navigate the dynamic realm of immunotherapy for surgically resectable lung cancer.

Keywords: adjuvant; immune checkpoint; immunotherapy; localized; lung cancer; neoadjuvant; non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC); perioperative; resectable; surgery.

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Conflict of interest statement

Michael R. Conroy reports grant and/or contract funding from the Conquer Cancer Foundation. Patrick M. Forde reports consulting fees from Amgen, AstraZeneca, Bristol‐Myers Squibb, Daiichi Sankyo, F‐Star, G1 Therapeutics, Genentech, Iteos, Janssen, Merck, Mirati, Novartis, Sanofi Pasteur Inc, and Surface Oncology; fees for data and safety monitoring from Flame Biosciences and Polaris; fess for other professional activities from LUNGevity Foundation; and research funding from the National Cancer Institute Cancer Center and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals; and research funding to Johns Hopkins University from AstraZeneca, Bristol‐Myers Squibb, Novartis, Corvus, and Kyowa. The other author declares no conflicts of interest.

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