Novel therapeutic strategies for non-small cell lung cancer: Combination therapies with immune checkpoint inhibitors (Review).

The treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has been notably improved by the use of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). Although ICIs have been authorized by the United States Food and Drug Administration for the clinical treatment of NSCLC, concerns remain regarding resistance and adverse reactions. Chemotherapy, targeted therapy and other immunotherapies for cancer have the potential to impact cancer immunity, thereby boosting the ability of the body to kill the tumor cells. This provides preliminary evidence for combined therapy, which has been reported to be effective in numerous clinical trials, resulting in the approval of ICIs for use in combination with chemotherapy. Ongoing studies concentrate on novel approaches that can enhance immune responses against tumors through combined strategies. The present review primarily outlines the key mechanisms of combined treatment and the strategies for combining ICIs in NSCLC, demonstrating the viability of combined therapy.