Biomarkers and ImmuneScores in lung cancer: predictive insights for immunotherapy and combination treatment strategies

Abstract

Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer related deaths worldwide. Immunotherapy and combination therapies, involving chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and tumor anti-angiogenesis therapy, have shown promising clinical results and are expected to become a key approach in the future management of lung cancer. However, due to immune resistance, immunotherapy remains highly effective in only a subset of patients, while many others either do not respond initially or develop resistance over time. Moreover, immune-related adverse events induced by immunotherapy, further complicate treatment outcomes and prognosis. Immune-related biomarkers and ImmuneScores have driven the development of personalized immunotherapy strategies for lung cancer, and they can aid in predicting immune resistance, and forecasting immune-related adverse events (irAEs). This review summarizes the prognosis value of immune-related biomarkers and ImmuneScores in immunotherapy and combination therapies for lung cancer. The aim is to provide a foundation for personalized treatment and management of lung cancer, while offering guidance for future research directions in immunotherapy.