Real-World Outcomes of Induction Immunochemotherapy Followed by Surgery for Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Thoracic Surgery
• Immunotherapy

Background:

• Advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) presents significant treatment challenges.
• Optimizing treatment strategies for resectable advanced NSCLC is crucial for improving patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy, surgical safety, and prognosis of induction immunochemotherapy followed by surgery for advanced NSCLC.
• To assess pathological response rates and survival outcomes in patients with advanced NSCLC.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 143 patients with clinical stage IIB-IVA NSCLC treated with induction immunochemotherapy and surgery.
• Survival outcomes assessed using Kaplan-Meier and Cox proportional hazards models.
• Pathological response (pCR, MPR) and surgical outcomes (R0 resection, VATS) were analyzed.

Main Results:

• High R0 resection rate (99.3%) and low perioperative mortality.
• Pathological complete response (pCR) and major pathological response (MPR) rates were 38.8% and 62.6%, respectively, higher in squamous cell carcinoma (SCC).
• Two-year event-free survival (EFS) and overall survival (OS) were 80.1% and 91.8%; pCR/MPR and SCC histology correlated with better EFS.

Conclusions:

• Induction immunochemotherapy followed by surgery is effective for advanced NSCLC, offering favorable survival and safety.
• Pathological response and SCC histology are associated with improved outcomes.
• Further prospective studies are warranted to validate these findings.