Rousseau A , Foulon S , Planchard D, et al. Outcomes and Treatments of Patients With Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer Who Received Pembrolizumab. JAMA Oncol. Published online April 09, 2026. doi:10.1001/jamaoncol.2026.0669 Question What are the outcomes for patients with non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) after pembrolizumab discontinuation at 2 years? Findings In this cohort study of 1480 patients with NSCLC, the survival rate 48 months after discontinuation was 76.9%, and 387 patients (26.1%) received a subsequent therapy, which was mostly chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Meaning The study results indicate that most patients were alive several years after immunotherapy cessation and immunotherapy rechallenge was uncommon. Importance Two years of immunotherapy is the standard treatment for most patients with advanced non–small cell lung cancer. However, little is known about postimmunotherapy therapeutic strategies. Objective To describe subsequent treatments and outcomes after pembrolizumab discontinuation following 2 years of therapy.
This cohort study examines subsequent treatments and outcomes for patients with non–small cell lung cancer after pembrolizumab discontinuation following 2 years of therapy.