CheckMate 816 Update
Tetsuya Mitsudomi, MD, PhD, a Professor in the Division of Thoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery at Kindai University Faculty of Medicine in Osaka-Sayama, Japan, shared 4-year follow-up data from the CheckMate 816 study during the third plenary session at the 2024 Asia Conference on Lung Cancer (ACLC).
The study compared neoadjuvant nivolumab plus platinum-based chemotherapy to platinum-based chemotherapy alone in patients with resectable non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

In a global population, neoadjuvant nivolumab combined with chemotherapy demonstrated durable, long-term event-free survival (EFS) and a clinically significant improvement in overall survival (OS). Additionally, in the Asian subpopulation, neoadjuvant nivolumab in combination with chemotherapy exhibited a higher pathological complete response (pCR) rate and long-term EFS benefits compared to chemotherapy alone.
“These 4-year results from CheckMate 816 provide the first understanding of the long-term benefits of neoadjuvant immunotherapy plus chemotherapy and reinforce nivolumab plus chemotherapy as the standard of care for patients with resectable NSCLC,” Prof. Mitsudomi said.

Technological Advances
Advances in technology and its growing role in various aspects of lung cancer treatment were among the additional hot topics discussed during the session.
One area where this appears to have a role is in robotic-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (RATS). Xiang Li, a PhD candidate from the Department of Thoracic Surgery at Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, presented a comparative analysis of RATS versus video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) following neoadjuvant therapy for NSCLC.
Findings from a study involving 1,054 patients—925 of whom underwent VATS and 129 who underwent RATS—demonstrated that patients in the RATS cohort experienced significant advantages compared with those in the VATS group. These included lower conversion rates to thoracotomy and improved lymph node clearance due to enhanced three-dimensional visualization and maneuverability, resulting in superior dissection, which is essential for accurate staging.
“RATS demonstrated a significantly lower conversion rate to open thoracotomy, which is especially beneficial for patients with dense adhesions post-neoadjuvant therapy,” Li said. “In sleeve lobectomy, RATS reduced the operative time and postoperative complications, resulting in a potential advantage in managing technically demanding cases.”
The Role of Metabolites and Mobile CT Screening in Predicting Lung Cancer Risk
Gujie Wu, a research assistant at Fudan University, Shanghai, shared novel insights into the metabolic associations underlying lung cancer. Using genetic data, Dr. Wu shared how specific metabolites might play a role in the risk of lung cancer and the potential implications of such information.
“It’s clear that certain metabolites play a distinct role in influencing lung cancer risk,” Dr. Wu said. “These results are crucial for improving early detection and prevention tests, as well as for leading to more personalized and effective treatment options.”
Feifei Huang, RN, PhD, a Professor at the Fujian Medical University School of Nursing, Fuzhou, China, discussed the implications of AI in predicting cancer risk.
Prof. Huang shared insights from a study that analyzed the cost-effectiveness of a community-based program that used a mobile LDCT scan unit. The study found that implementing AI technologies and mobile scanners significantly improved access to lung cancer screenings, leading to earlier diagnoses.
“AI could address multiple lung cancer screening barriers encountered in underserved rural areas, which, when addressed, could promote earlier detection of lung cancer,” Prof. Huang said. “So, it holds promise for reducing health inequalities and health disparities in these underserved areas.”
Biomarker Testing to Guide Care
The session also emphasized the need to improve biomarker testing to guide optimal care for patients with lung cancer. Matthew Smeltzer, PhD, Director of the Epidemiology and Biostatistics Research Group and University Research Professor at the University of Tennessee, Memphis, presented findings from the 2024 IASLC global survey on biomarker testing conducted in Asia.
The survey revealed that although testing rates have improved, barriers to testing persist, regardless of tumor stage. The findings also indicated a universal need for increased awareness of biomarker testing and education for both clinicians and patients. The survey also highlighted that cost is a universal concern, with varying implications in different settings.
“How do we overcome some of these barriers? We asked the respondents ‘What do you think would help? How can we try to improve biomarker testing in your care environment?’” Dr. Smeltzer said. “The top six responses, in terms of solutions, were implementing testing protocols, government-level intervention, addressing cost and reimbursement, awareness and education, increasing administrative and organizational support, and access and availability.”