Immunotherapy for lung cancer: from real-world use to patient outcomes
Immunotherapy for lung cancer: from real-world use to patient outcomes
Lung cancer is one of the most common and deadly cancers worldwide. In recent years, immunotherapy has changed how many patients with lung cancer are treated. These treatments stimulate the immune system to recognize and attack cancer cells and have improved survival for many patients. However, not all patients benefit equally, and some develop serious side effects. Understanding who benefits most and how treatment affects daily life is therefore essential.
This PhD thesis of Erick Suazo Zepeda uses real-world data from national cancer registries, hospital databases, and patient questionnaires in the Netherlands to study how immunotherapy is used in routine clinical practice and how it influences patient outcomes. The research shows that immunotherapy has rapidly replaced chemotherapy as standard treatment for advanced lung cancer, with survival outcomes similar to those seen in clinical trials. Nevertheless, survival remains limited for many patients, especially when immunotherapy is given after earlier treatments.
The thesis also examines factors that may help predict outcomes, including muscle mass measured on CT scans, inflammation-related blood markers, and patient characteristics such as sex and age. Lower muscle mass and unfavorable blood markers were linked to worse survival and higher risk of side effects. Differences between men and women and specific challenges in older patients were also observed.
Overall, the findings support a more personalized approach to immunotherapy that considers both survival and quality of life.