Optimizing Immunotherapy Selection and Safety Management in NSCLC

In this episode, Optimizing Immunotherapy Selection and Safety Management in NSCLC, the panelists explore the following questions:

• How are you deciding between available immunotherapies in NSCLC, both as monotherapies and in combination with chemotherapy?
• What are your current protocols for monitoring and managing adverse events associated with immunotherapies?
• Does the consistent adverse event profile with cemiplimab plus chemotherapy over 5 years increase this regimen’s clinical value?

The lung cancer experts covered selection among immunotherapies for non-small cell lung cancer, which is typically driven by PD-L1 expression, disease burden, symptom urgency, and patient-specific factors, with monotherapy often reserved for those with high PD-L1 expression and combination chemoimmunotherapy used for broader populations. Clinicians also consider comorbidities, performance status, and the need for rapid disease control when choosing between available regimens. The growing number of approved options requires balancing efficacy data with safety profiles and patient preferences. Protocols for monitoring immune-related adverse events generally include routine assessment of organ function, patient education on early symptom recognition, and prompt initiation of corticosteroids or treatment delays when toxicity is suspected. Multidisciplinary coordination is often essential to manage toxicities affecting systems such as the lungs, liver, endocrine organs, and skin. Early identification and intervention are critical to minimizing complications and maintaining patients on therapy. The consistent adverse event profile observed with cemiplimab plus chemotherapy over 5 years enhances confidence in its long-term safety and predictability. This reliability supports its clinical value, as providers can better anticipate, monitor, and manage toxicities while maintaining treatment efficacy.

Throughout the conversation, the experts provide a comprehensive reflection on the field and the factors that may shape how clinicians approach care moving forward.

The next episode in this series, Shaping the Future of Immunotherapy in NSCLC, features the panelists advancing their conversation on emerging data and real-world implications of immunotherapies in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), including insights from EMPOWER-Lung 3 for patients and payors. They also discuss evolving treatment strategies, the potential for extended dosing, and how these advances may transform NSCLC management in the coming years.