FDA approves neoadjuvant/adjuvant nivolumab for resectable non-small cell lung cancer

FDA Approves New Treatment Option for Early-Stage Lung Cancer

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a new way to use a drug called Opdivo (nivolumab) for some people with early-stage lung cancer. This is big news for patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), the most common type of lung cancer.

Here’s what you need to know:

1. Who it’s for: This treatment is for adults with NSCLC that can be removed by surgery. The cancer must be at stage IB, II, or IIIA.
2. How it works: Opdivo is a type of immunotherapy. It helps your body’s immune system fight cancer cells.
3. When it’s used: Doctors can now give Opdivo before and after surgery. Using it before surgery is called “neoadjuvant” treatment. Using it after surgery is called “adjuvant” treatment.
4. Why it matters: In a study, patients who got Opdivo before and after surgery lived longer without their cancer coming back compared to those who didn’t get the drug.
5. Side effects: Like all medicines, Opdivo can cause side effects. The most common ones include feeling tired, muscle and bone pain, skin rash, and cough.
6. How it’s given: Patients get Opdivo through an IV every two or four weeks, depending on the dose.

This approval is exciting because it gives doctors a new tool to fight lung cancer early, when treatment can be most effective. It’s especially important because lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States.

For patients, this means there’s now another option to help prevent cancer from coming back after surgery. As always, it’s important to talk with your doctor about whether this treatment is right for you.