CheckMate 77T: Nivolumab Maintains Quality of Life and Reduces Symptom Deterioration in Resectable NSCLC

(Barcelona, Spain September 6, 2025, 5:45 p.m. CEST / UTC +2 ) — An analysis from the Phase 3 CheckMate 77T trial confirms that perioperative nivolumab does not compromise health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with resectable non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), including those with Stage III N2 disease.

These results were presented today at the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer 2025 World Conference on Lung Cancer (WCLC).

The study assessed HRQoL by nodal status and surgical outcomes using patient-reported outcome (PRO) measures such as the NSCLC-Symptom Assessment Questionnaire (NSCLC-SAQ) and the EQ-5D-3L visual analogue scale (VAS). Patients received either neoadjuvant nivolumab plus chemotherapy or placebo plus chemotherapy, followed by surgery and adjuvant therapy.

“Maintaining quality of life during and after treatment is vital to long-term success, and these results show that perioperative nivolumab supports both survival and patient well-being,” said Dr. Jonathan Spicer from McGill University Health Centre.

He reported that more than 90% PRO completion rates across nodal status groups, except at pre- and post-surgery, and that health care quality of life was generally maintained across all treatment phases.

Additionally, Dr. Spicer said that among Stage III N2 NSCLC patients, nivolumab reduced risk of HRQoL deterioration vs. placebo NSCLC-SAQ: HR = 0.50 (95% CI: 0.28–0.88) and EQ-5D-3L VAS: HR = 0.47 (95% CI: 0.27–0.82).

“These benefits extended to patients undergoing single lobectomy or complete resection,” he said.

The analyses reinforce the role of perioperative nivolumab as a treatment that not only extends event-free survival but also protects patient quality of life in early-stage resectable NSCLC, particularly among high-risk N2 patients, Dr. Spicer stated.

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About the IASLC:
The International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) is the only global organization dedicated solely to the study of lung cancer and other thoracic malignancies. Founded in 1974, the association's membership includes more than 10,000 lung cancer specialists across all disciplines in over 100 countries, forming a global network working together to conquer lung and thoracic cancers worldwide. The association also publishes the Journal of Thoracic Oncology, the primary educational and informational publication for topics relevant to the prevention, detection, diagnosis, and treatment of all thoracic malignancies. Visit www.iaslc.org for more information.

About the WCLC:
The WCLC is the world’s largest meeting dedicated to lung cancer and other thoracic malignancies, attracting nearly 7,000 researchers, physicians, and specialists from more than 100 countries. The goal is to increase awareness, collaboration and understanding of lung cancer, and to help participants implement the latest developments across the globe. The conference will cover a wide range of disciplines and unveil several research studies and clinical trial results. For more information, visit https://wclc.iaslc.org/.