Biomarkers including circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) clearance and molecular residual disease (MRD) status may help identify which patients with resectable non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) get the greatest benefit from immunotherapy given before and after surgery (perioperative). The study analyzed biomarkers and clinical outcome data from the Phase 3 CheckMate 77T trial, which previously demonstrated improved outcomes with perioperative immunotherapy. The researchers found that the best indicators of a positive outcome were ctDNA clearance before surgery and achieving a pathologic complete response, meaning no remaining cancer was detected at surgery.
“Perioperative immunotherapy has transformed care for many patients with resectable lung cancer, but we still need better markers to understand who benefits most from treatment,” said Tina Cascone, M.D., Ph.D., associate professor of Thoracic/Head and Neck Medical Oncology. “These results suggest that monitoring ctDNA before surgery may provide important insights into treatment response and long-term outcomes, bringing us closer to more personalized approaches.”