CHINESE JOURNAL OF MEDICINAL GUIDE >
Research Progress of Immunotherapy Combined with Radiotherapy Strategies in Locally Advanced Unresectable Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC)
Received date: 2025-09-15
Revised date: 2025-11-28
Accepted date: 2026-03-18
Online published: 2026-03-19
Supported by
The research progress on combining immunotherapy with radiotherapy for locally advanced unresectable non-small cell lung cancer is garnering significant attention. Mechanistically, radiotherapy synergizes with immunotherapy through various pathways, including inducing immunogenic cell death, activating the cGAS-STING signaling pathway, and modulating the tumor microenvironment. Clinically, evidence for different treatment sequencing strategies is being systematically evaluated. The PACIFIC regimen, which employs consolidative immunotherapy following concurrent chemoradiotherapy, has become a standard of care. Studies such as KEYNOTE-799, exploring concurrent chemoradiotherapy with immunotherapy, have demonstrated promising objective response rates. Meanwhile, trials like AFT-16 have provided valuable insights into the potential of immunotherapy as an induction strategy. Furthermore, biomarkers including PD-L1 expression, tumor mutational burden, and circulating tumor DNA play crucial roles in predicting treatment response and assessing prognosis. Despite these advances, the field continues to face key challenges, including optimizing treatment sequencing, managing overlapping toxicities, and identifying optimal patient populations. Future directions for personalized therapy will increasingly rely on the in-depth exploration and application of multi-omics biomarkers.
WU Xingyu, HU Xiao, HE Dingjun, YANG Zhixiong
.
Research Progress of Immunotherapy Combined with
Radiotherapy Strategies in Locally Advanced Unresectable Non-Small
Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC)
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