Nivolumab for Advanced Squamous-Cell Non–Small-Cell Lung Cancer

Limited advances have been made in second-line treatment of patients with advanced squamous-cell non–small cell lung cancer (SCC-NSCLC) since the introduction of docetaxel. In phase I and II studies, nivolumab — an IgG4 programmed death 1 (PD-1) immune-checkpoint–inhibitor antibody — demonstrated activity in previously treated SCC-NSCLC patients.

To further test the safety and efficacy of nivolumab versus docetaxel in this setting, investigators conducted an industry-funded, international, randomized, phase III trial (CheckMate 017) involving 272 patients with advanced SCC-NSCLC who experienced disease progression with prior chemotherapy. Patients received nivolumab (3 mg/kg every 2 weeks) or docetaxel (75 mg/m² every 3 weeks). Results were …