Immunotherapy in Nonsquamous Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Although great advances have been made in the treatment of advanced, metastatic, and nonresectable, nonsquamous, non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), prognosis remains relatively poor, and recurrence is common. Howard Jack West, MD, medical director of the Thoracic Oncology Program at Swedish Cancer Institute, Seattle, Washington, explained in an abstract that “platinum-based chemotherapy is the current standard of care for patients with newly diagnosed advanced nonsquamous NSCLC.

Experts within the lung cancer community are eagerly anticipating the phase III findings of the KEYNOTE-189 trial, and they are hopeful that the combination of pembrolizumab (Keytruda) plus carboplatin and pemetrexed (Alimta) will demonstrate an overall survival advantage in patients with nonsquamous non–small cell lung cancer.

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the most common type of lung cancer, accounting for approximately 80% to 85% of lung cancer cases, whereas small cell lung cancer (SCLC) comprises approximately 10% to 15% of lung cancer cases.

Nonsquamous non‒small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is a heterogeneous disease with multiple treatment options dependent upon staging, presence of metastasis, and patient factors—including presence of comorbidities—among other considerations. As such, current treatment options include surgical resection, chemotherapy, radiation, immunotherapy, and targeted therapy.