Low-dose pembrolizumab plus chemotherapy improves survival and expands access in advanced NSCLC

Dr Nandini Menon speaks to ecancer about a phase 3 randomised trial evaluates the addition of low-dose pembrolizumab to platinum-doublet chemotherapy in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) without actionable genomic alterations.

The study demonstrates a significant improvement in overall survival and progression-free survival with low-dose pembrolizumab compared to chemotherapy alone.

Median overall survival increased to 13.5 months versus 10.5 months, alongside improved one-year survival rates.

Importantly, the regimen maintained a manageable safety profile with no new safety signals, although higher rates of neutropenia and low incidence of immune-related pneumonitis were observed.

Dr Menon says that these findings suggest that lower-dose immunotherapy may provide a more accessible and cost-effective treatment option, particularly in resource-limited settings, without compromising clinical benefit.