Lung Cancer Surgery after Neoadjuvant Immunotherapy

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Neoadjuvant immunotherapy is a novel approach for lung cancer patients in stages where curative intent treatment is possible. The rationale is a based on the idea that recognition by the immune system is activated by the entire tumor prior to surgical resection. Promising pathologic response rates have been reported and the impact on survival is currently investigated in ongoing studies. ABSTRACT: In early-stage lung cancer, recurrences are observed even after curative resection. Neoadjuvant immunotherapy might be a promising approach to eliminate micrometastasis and to potentially reduce recurrence rates and improve survival. Early trials have shown encouraging rates of pathologic response to neoadjuvant therapy and have demonstrated that surgery can be safely performed after neoadjuvant immunotherapy with various agents and in combination with chemo-(radio)therapy. However, whether these response rates translate into improved disease-free survival rates and overall survival rates remains to be determined by ongoing phase III studies.