Immunotherapy rechallenge for an elderly patient with driver gene-negative non-small cell lung cancer: A case report and literature review

Abstract

Abstract Advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) negative for driver genes is a medical oncology treatment challenge. The increasingly widespread application of immunotherapy, especially programmed death-1 (PD-1)/programmed death-ligand 1 inhibitors, has changed the treatment pattern of patients with advanced NSCLC. In clinical practice, many patients with immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) discontinue treatment for a variety of reasons, and it is known as “immunotherapy rechallenge” to try ICI treatment again following discontinuation. We report an 82-year-old patient with advanced lung adenocarcinoma who was cured after 16 cycles (7.5 months) of PD-1 monoclonal antibody (mab) followed by 4 cycles of bevacizumab and PD-1 mab. Relapse occurred 21 months after treatment had been discontinued. After 10 cycles of immunotherapy, a partial response was achieved, with a 54-month survival and ongoing treatment. This study examines the diagnosis and treatment process, as well as provides a literature review of immunotherapy rechallenge.