Improved Outcomes with Chemoimmunotherapy for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Strategic Insights -

Researchers have published new findings on the use of perioperative chemoimmunotherapy in patients with resectable stage II to IIIA non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The study, which analyzed data from over 1,300 patients, found that those who received chemoimmunotherapy had improved clinical distant metastasis-free survival rates compared to those who did not. The results also highlighted the need to address barriers to the broader adoption of chemoimmunotherapy in this patient population.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study included 1,334 patients with resectable stage II to IIIA NSCLC treated with immunotherapy, with 424 receiving chemoimmunotherapy in the neoadjuvant setting and 910 in the adjuvant setting.
  • The clinical distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS) at 18 months was 80.2% for the neoadjuvant cohort and 83.0% for the adjuvant cohort.
  • Biomarker testing rates were higher in the adjuvant cohort compared to the neoadjuvant cohort, with 72.2% of patients in the adjuvant cohort receiving programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) testing, compared to 52.6% in the neoadjuvant cohort.
  • The findings highlight the need to address barriers to the broader adoption of chemoimmunotherapy in patients with resectable NSCLC.
  • The study was conducted by researchers at the University of Alabama Birmingham, who analyzed data from the Flatiron Health database.

Statistics:

  • 1,334 patients with resectable stage II to IIIA NSCLC were included in the study.
  • 424 patients received chemoimmunotherapy in the neoadjuvant setting.
  • 910 patients received chemoimmunotherapy or immunotherapy alone in the adjuvant setting.
  • The clinical DMFS at 18 months was 80.2% for the neoadjuvant cohort and 83.0% for the adjuvant cohort.
  • 72.2% of patients in the adjuvant cohort received PD-L1 testing, compared to 52.6% in the neoadjuvant cohort.

Sources:

  • Clinical Outcomes of Perioperative Immunotherapy In Resectable Non-small Cell Lung Cancer. JAMA Network Open, 2025;8(6).
  • NewsRx. New Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Study Findings Recently Were Reported by Researchers at University of Alabama Birmingham (Clinical Outcomes of Perioperative Immunotherapy In Resectable Non-small Cell Lung Cancer). Immunotherapy Weekly. July 30, 2025; p 2764.