The impact of neoadjuvant chemoimmunotherapy on pulmonary function in non-small cell lung cancer patients

Background: Perioperative chemoimmunotherapy has suggested a survival benefit in patients with locally-advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). This study aims to investigate whether neoadjuvant chemoimmunotherapy influences pulmonary function (PF). Methods: A total of 253 patients with NSCLC who received neoadjuvant chemoimmunotherapy and tumor resection from May 2019 to January 2023 were included. The PF before and after neoadjuvant therapy was compared using a paired t-test, and the difference in the changes of PF between patients with and without chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) were compared by covariance analysis. Logistic regression analysis was performed to analyze factors influencing the change of PF. Results: 0.075 L, P=0.049). Multivariate logistic analysis also found that COPD [odds ratio (OR), 2.273; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.211-4.405] remained an independent factor for the improvement in FEV1. Conclusions: An improvement in pulmonary ventilation function was observed in NSCLC patients after neoadjuvant chemoimmunotherapy. This improvement may potentially offer additional opportunities for surgical intervention in NSCLC patients with COPD.