Promising Chemoimmunotherapy Approach for Aggressive Stage III Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

A recent study led by researchers from the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute highlights a potential breakthrough in treating patients with aggressive, unresectable stage III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The research investigated the effects of combining chemotherapy and immunotherapy—specifically, immune checkpoint inhibitors targeting PD-1 or PD-L1—before surgery. Conducted across multiple centers, including Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute in Rome, the observational study involved 112 patients treated at cancer centers in the U.S. and Italy.

Results showed that 75% of the patients who underwent the combined chemoimmunotherapy were able to proceed with surgery post-treatment. Impressively, about one-third of these patients achieved complete tumor clearance. The therapy significantly extended progression-free survival, especially among those with complete tumor removal. High levels of PD-L1 expression in tumors correlated with better responses and longer event-free survival. Conversely, patients with mutations in KRAS combined with STK11 or KEAP1 did not seem to benefit from this approach.

Patients with borderline resectable or initially unresectable stage III NSCLC face limited treatment options, making these findings particularly significant. This study suggests that neoadjuvant chemoimmunotherapy could become a viable strategy for carefully selected patients by potentially converting unresectable tumors into resectable ones. However, further prospective, randomized trials are necessary to confirm these results and determine which patient populations will benefit most.

Published in JAMA Oncology, this study underscores the promising role of combining chemotherapy and immunotherapy in managing challenging lung cancers. While preliminary, these findings pave the way for new treatment protocols that may improve surgical outcomes and survival rates for patients with aggressive stage III NSCLC.

Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-06-chemoimmunotherapy-strategy-aggressive-stage-iii.html