Emerging role of immunotherapy in locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for 85% of the cases of lung cancer in the United States, and 70% of patients with NSCLC have locally advanced or metastatic disease at the time of diagnosis. The 5-year overall survival rate for patients with locally advanced NSCLC is 15% to 20%. The traditional treatment paradigm for unresectable locally advanced NSCLC consists of platinum-based chemotherapy with concurrent radiation. Evidence from phase 3 clinical trials has established a role for immunotherapy after chemoradiation, and emerging data continue to elucidate the expanding role of immunotherapy.