[Surgical outcomes post neoadjuvant immunotherapy in lung cancer: CheckMate 816 in Argentine subpopulation].

Abstract

Introduction: The CheckMate 816 study, a global phase III randomized trial, demonstrated that neoadjuvant treatment with nivolumab plus chemotherapy significantly improves event-free survival in patients with resectable non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Additionally, the treatment significantly increases the rate of complete pathological response. We present the results of CheckMate 816 in an Argentine subpopulation to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the neoadjuvant treatment.

Materials and methods: A retrospective observational and descriptive study was conducted at a high-volume single center in Argentina from January 2023 to March 2024. Patients received 360 mg of nivolumab plus chemotherapy and a platinum doublet every three weeks for three cycles before undergoing definitive surgery. The results were compared with the international trial and the Japanese population subgroup.

Results: Nine patients received neoadjuvant therapy, of whom eight underwent definitive surgery. All patients achieved complete (R0) resection, and in three cases, a complete pathological response was observed. Currently, all are alive and disease-free.

Discussion: The results obtained in the Argentine subpopulation were consistent with those observed in the global population and the Japanese subgroup. A high proportion of patients achieved a complete pathological response, an early indicator of therapeutic efficacy. Neoadjuvant therapy with nivolumab plus chemotherapy could be considered an effective treatment option for Argentine patients with resectable NSCLC.