Review on the Role of Immunotherapy in Lung Cancer

The management of lung cancer has been significantly reshaped by immunotherapy, particularly immune checkpoint monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), which restore antitumor immune activity by overcoming tumor-induced immunosuppression. Late-phase clinical trials in advanced lung cancer have demonstrated superior outcomes compared with standard chemotherapy in metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), leading to FDA approval of two checkpoint inhibitors in the second-line setting. Early-phase studies have also shown encouraging activity in small cell lung cancer (SCLC) and with checkpoint inhibitor combinations in NSCLC. Despite their clinical benefit, these agents produce a distinct spectrum of immune-related toxicities compared with conventional cytotoxic therapies. As immune checkpoint mAbs become integrated into routine lung cancer care, optimizing patient selection, refining response evaluation, and developing rational combination strategies will be essential to enhance response rates and prolong durable clinical benefit.