Introduction
Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide, with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) constituting approximately 85% of cases. Despite advances in targeted therapies and immunotherapy, the prognosis for metastatic NSCLC continues to be poor, with median survival historically limited to less than one year. The advent of immune checkpoint inhibitors targeting PD-1 and PD-L1 has significantly improved outcomes, especially when combined with chemotherapy. Nevertheless, access and efficacy vary across populations, underscoring the need for ongoing clinical evaluation of new immunotherapeutic agents.
This article critically examines the findings from the phase 3 POD1UM-304 trial, which investigated the efficacy and safety of retifanlimab, a PD-1 inhibitor, in combination with standard platinum-based chemotherapy as first-line treatment for metastatic NSCLC.
