Chemotherapy plus single/double immunotherapy in the treatment of non-oncogene addicted advanced non-small cell lung cancer: where do we stand and where are we going?

Introduction: Chemo-immunotherapy combinations have revolutionized our treatment algorithm with respect to naïve advanced NSCLC; however, given the great number of developed and approved combinations, the question arises as to which combinations provide the best efficacy and safety.

Areas Covered: This review assesses and discusses the available data concerning chemo-immunotherapy combinations in the treatment of naïve advanced NSCLC, as well as presenting the most promising data involving combinations currently under investigation.

Expert Opinion: Pembrolizumab-containing chemo-immunotherapy combinations are associated with the most mature data available and presently represent the standard treatment in clinical practice in naïve advanced NSCLC-affected patients. The nivolumab plus ipilimumab plus short-course chemotherapy combination, more recently approved by regulatory agencies, is an appealing alternative, thanks to the reduced rate of grade 3-5 TRAEs and the limited chemotherapy administration. The new chemo-immunotherapy combinations currently under investigation will help us to better identify both the best immune checkpoints to target and the most effective combinations to administer.