Advances in neoadjuvant immunotherapy for non-small cell lung cancer
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By
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Xuehui Liu
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Huasheng Li
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Guangqi Dong
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Yuyan Liu
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Maobiao Ran
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Dongbin Wang
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June 12, 2026
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Clinical Scorecard: Progress in Neoadjuvant Immunotherapy Approaches for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
At a Glance
| Category | Detail |
|---|
| Condition | |
| Key Mechanisms | Neoadjuvant immunotherapy enhances anti-tumor immune responses by restoring CD8+ T cell activity, promoting tumor-specific cytotoxicity, and leveraging neoantigens. |
| Target Population | |
| Care Setting | |
Key Highlights
- Neoadjuvant immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) show efficacy in improving major pathological response (MPR) and pathological complete response (pCR).
- Combination strategies, including dual PD-1/CTLA-4 blockade, oncolytic viral therapy, and chemoimmunotherapy, enhance survival and pathological response.
- Predictive biomarkers like PD-L1, tumor mutational burden (TMB), and circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) may guide patient selection.
Guideline-Based Recommendations
Diagnosis
- Utilize predictive biomarkers, including ctDNA and immune profiling, to guide treatment decisions.
Management
- Consider neoadjuvant immunotherapy for operable early-stage NSCLC patients.
Monitoring & Follow-up
- Monitor for major pathological response and overall survival outcomes.
Risks
- Assess for potential immune-related adverse events associated with ICIs.
Patient & Prescribing Data
Patients with operable early-stage non-small cell lung cancer.
Neoadjuvant ICIs may provide better immune priming and response compared to adjuvant therapies.
Clinical Best Practices
- Implement combination immunotherapy strategies to maximize anti-tumor responses.
- Evaluate the presence of neoantigens for effective T-cell activation.
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