Here, we report two cases of advanced
non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in patients with negative driver genes who received ICI treatment for less than two years but continued to benefit from their administration after
drug withdrawal. The first patient was diagnosed with left
lung adenocarcinoma, cT1cN3M1c, stage IVb, and after four cycles achieved a completed response (CR). After 10 cycles of
camrelizumab treatment,
immunotherapy was discontinued because of hepatotoxicity. When the
drug was discontinued, the curative effect was evaluated as CR. At the last follow-up, the
drug withdrawal time had been more than 20 months, and the response was maintained at CR, with PFS of over 30 months. In the second case, the patient was diagnosed with left
lung adenocarcinoma, cT1N3M1c, stage IVb. The patient was treated with
sintilimab, and due to cardiac and skin toxicity, the patient withdrew from the trial after five cycles of
immunotherapy. After
drug withdrawal, the curative effect of the patients was maintained at PR. At the last follow-up, the
drug withdrawal time was more than three months, and the curative effect was evaluated as PR. The PFS was more than nine months. In conclusion, whether the
drug can be discontinued in advance after
immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI)
therapy has been effective remains a concern, and at present there is no final conclusion in the medical profession. However, the results of this study indicate that early withdrawal of
immunotherapy due to adverse reactions might also benefit patients with advanced
lung adenocarcinoma with negative driver genes who achieve an early response to
immunotherapy.