Overview of Immunotherapy in Lung Cancer: Present Landscape

Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related mortality in both women and men. It is broadly classified into two main types: non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and small cell lung cancer (SCLC). NSCLC accounts for approximately 80-85% of all cases, while SCLC comprises the remainder. For decades, the prognosis and management of lung cancer have relied heavily on chemotherapy and radiation therapy, although these treatments often lead to significant adverse effects, including respiratory complications, cough, and dyspnoea. In recent years, major advances have positioned immunotherapy as a transformative treatment modality for NSCLC, substantially improving overall survival in patients with advanced disease. This review examines contemporary immunotherapeutic strategies, with a focus on targeted therapies directed at the most clinically relevant immune checkpoints in lung cancer, which have driven significant progress in the management of both NSCLC and SCLC. These approaches represent some of the most promising and effective treatment options currently available. Furthermore, immunotherapy is increasingly anticipated to serve as a valuable adjuvant treatment, including for individuals without motor impairments, offering a potential shift in the therapeutic landscape of lung cancer.