Journal of Capital Medical University ›› 2024, Vol. 45 ›› Issue (4): 649-653.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1006-7795.2024.04.014

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Prognostic factors in neoadjuvant immunotherapy for non-small cell lung cancer:pathologic lymph node metastasis and primary tumor response

Xu Yuan, Liang Naixin*#, Liu Hongsheng*#   

  1. Department of Thoracic Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100730, China
  • Received:2024-04-22 Online:2024-08-21 Published:2024-07-08
  • Supported by:
    This study was supported by National High Level Hospital clinical Research Funding (2022-PUMCH-A-188,2022-PUMCH-B-012),Hiscox-Merck Oncology Research Fund Project (CSCO-Y-MSDPU2021-0190,CSCO-Y-MSD2020-0270)

Abstract: Objective  To investigate the prognostic impact of pathologic lymph node metastasis and primary tumor response after neoadjuvant immunotherapy in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods  Clinicopathological data of 40 NSCLC patients who underwent surgical resection after neoadjuvant immunotherapy were retrospectively analyzed. The relationships of pathologic nodal stage (N1/N2) and primary tumor response [pathological complete response (pCR)/major pathological response (MPR)/non-objective response (non-OR)]with progression-free survival (PFS) were evaluated, and a prognostic risk stratification model was established. Results  Pathologic nodal stage and primary tumor response were not significantly associated with PFS when considered separately. However, their interaction had a significant impact on prognosis: for N1 patients, the ones with pCR/MPR had better PFS than those with non-OR (P =0.038); for N2 patients, primary tumor response was not significantly associated with PFS. Based on the interaction, patients were stratified into low-risk (N1+pCR/MPR) and high-risk (N1+non-OR/N2) groups, with significant differences in PFS (P =0.003). Conclusions The interaction between pathologic lymph node metastasis and primary tumor response is a key prognostic factor in NSCLC after neoadjuvant immunotherapy. The prognostic risk stratification model based on their interaction may help guide individualized treatment decisions, but prospective validation is needed.

Key words: non-small cell lung cancer, neoadjuvant immunotherapy, pathologic lymph node metastasis, primary tumor response, prognosis

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