Effective Treatment of NSCLC with Surgery After Nivolumab Combined with Chemotherapy: A Case Report and Brief Review of the Literature

INTRODUCTION: Immuno checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) including anti-PD-L1 antibody have shown certain therapeutic effects on various cancer types. Here, we reported a case of the patient with resectable non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) showing a complete response to nivolumab combined with chemotherapy. PATIENT INFORMATION: A 66-year-old male was diagnosed with stage IIIA large cell lung cancer, cT2N2M0, who was considered impossible to have a tumor resection due to his right hilar node enlargement. The diameter of the neoplasms was 22mm, and the patient wanted to get the chance of surgery. Light of all, surgery was the only radical treatment option and therefore planned. INTERVENTIONS: After administering 2 cycles of nivolumab combined with paclitaxel and cisplatin, the second chest computed tomography (CT) after the first scanning revealed the tumor apparent shrinking and vascular compression was disappeared than before. We performed a right upper lobectomy and mediastinal lymph node dissection. Pathologically, we confirmed no large cell lung cancer cells in the resected lung specimen. OUTCOMES: The follow-up showing that patient remains alive without recurrence to these days. CONCLUSION: This case report may provide a clue to the future development of induction therapy using nivolumab and surgery. The combined treatment of nivolumab and chemotherapy is likely to be considered as an optional management of resectable NSCLC.