Lung cancer – the most deadly form of cancer, is responsible for more deaths than any form of cancer, with more than 130,180 deaths due to cancers of the lung and bronchus in 2021. The high death rate in lung cancer is partially attributable to the fact that more than half of patients (57%) are diagnosed when the disease has already metastasized. In recent years, several seminal studies have investigated immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) for the management of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), including studies of ICIs in later-line metastatic disease, first-line metastatic disease as monotherapy, first-line metastatic disease in combination with chemotherapy, and more recently in the locally advanced setting. Since 2001, overall survival associated in men with NSCLC lung cancer has improved by 26%. In those diagnosed with lung cancer after 2014, the improvement in overall survival has been even more dramatic, estimated at 35%. Incidence decreased by 6.3% yearly from 2013 to 2016. These improvements have been attributed in part to reductions in smoking and the developments in targeted therapies and checkpoint inhibitors for NSCLC.

Our ADVANCES website aims to provide clinicians as well as patients and caregivers with up-to-date information on the immunopathologic factors in the pathogenesis of NSCLC, the latest clinical trial updates concerning front-line use of immuno-oncology strategies in NSCLC, and management strategies for targeting NSCLC based on clinical biomarkers.