Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in Early-Stage Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: New standard of Care?

Journal: Advances in Medicine and Engineering Interdisciplinary Research DOI: 10.32629/ameir.v2i3.2458

Martín Vidal C.1, Suraj Samtani2

1. Faculty of Medicine, Universidad Finis Terrae
2. Cancer Center, Clinica Las Condes

Abstract

Worldwide, lung cancer is the first cancer in incidence and mortality. The most common histological type is non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). At an early stage, resection is the standard curative treatment, but relapse is high, which could be explained by micrometastatic disease. Adjuvant and neoadjuvant chemotherapy have little benefits in disease-free survival and overall survival, which is why new strategies have been studied. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) act by increasing the surveillance of the immune system. They have been used for years in advanced stage NSCLC, however, new schemes in earlier stages, be it as adjuvant therapy, neoadjuvant therapy or both, have demonstrated an important benefit in the endpoints studied. This review aims to describe the biologic rationale of ICIs in early-stage NSCLC and discuss the selected trials and endpoints.

Keywords

non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC); immunotherapy; immune checkpoint inhibitor

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