The immunotherapeutic landscape in non-small cell lung cancer and its surgical horizons

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Immunology
• Thoracic Surgery

Background:

• Lung cancer remains a major global health challenge with survival rates below 50% at 5 years, despite advances in conventional treatments.
• Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have emerged as a promising therapeutic strategy for advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
• Several ICIs are FDA-approved for locally advanced and metastatic NSCLC, with ongoing research into neoadjuvant and adjuvant settings.

Discussion:

• This review focuses on the current landscape of ICIs and their specific implications for surgical management in NSCLC.
• While ICIs demonstrate efficacy, their use is associated with adverse toxicities.
• Limited data currently exist regarding the safety and efficacy of ICIs during the perioperative period for NSCLC patients.

Key Insights:

• ICIs represent a significant advancement in NSCLC treatment, offering new hope for patients with advanced disease.
• Understanding the surgical implications of ICIs is crucial for optimizing patient care and outcomes.
• The perioperative use of ICIs in NSCLC requires further investigation to establish safety and efficacy.

Outlook:

• Future research should prioritize evaluating the impact of ICIs on surgical outcomes and managing perioperative toxicities in NSCLC.
• Exploring novel strategies to mitigate ICI-related adverse events in the perioperative setting is essential.
• The integration of immunotherapy into multimodal treatment approaches for NSCLC is expected to evolve, necessitating ongoing research and clinical adaptation.