Integrating immunotherapy with chemoradiotherapy in stage III NSCLC

Can combining immunotherapy with chemoradiotherapy improve treatment for unresectable stage III non-small-cell lung cancer while keeping side effects manageable?

Following this research shows whether adding immunotherapy to chemoradiotherapy can become a safer and more effective treatment strategy. It also helps track how radiation planning and biomarkers may shape that approach.

Human TrialLatest evidence · See current snapshot ↓
Simplified lungs with a tumor, a radiotherapy beam, and immune cells approaching the tumor.

Where it stands now

Main bottleneck

The bounded evidence includes safety reviews and a phase 2 trial design, but no trial results showing whether the combined approach is safe and effective in practice.

Watch next

Verifiable results from the DEDALUS phase 2 study, especially evidence on safety and treatment outcomes after chemo-immunotherapy, hypofractionated radiation, and maintenance immunotherapy.

Progress timeline

How the evidence has changed over time.

2023 · 1 update
  • A three-part treatment plan for people with inoperable stage III lung cancerResearch note 3 of 3 · Source date 2023-01-20
    Since the previous research note · Earlier expectation not tested

    Track continuity

    Since the previous research note: Why is EA5181 testing durvalumab earlier in treatment?

    Previous expectation: Randomized survival results and acceptable late heart and lung safety might support starting durvalumab during chemoradiation for eligible patients.

    What this study adds: The January 2023 DEDALUS design addresses patients judged ineligible for concurrent chemotherapy and radiation, proposing earlier chemo-immunotherapy, radiation with durvalumab, and maintenance durvalumab. It specifies planned safety and survival measures rather than reporting outcomes.


    Current research note

2022 · 1 update
  • Why is EA5181 testing durvalumab earlier in treatment?Research note 2 of 3 · Source date 2022-06-30
    Since the previous research note · Earlier expectation not tested

    Track continuity

    Since the previous research note: How lung inflammation rates varied in stage III lung cancer studies

    Previous expectation: A treatment choice with less serious lung inflammation could make combined therapy safer if cancer control were maintained.

    What this study adds: The 2022 review centers EA5181’s test of adding durvalumab during chemoradiation while both groups receive it afterward. It flags late heart and lung toxicity but supplies no result testing the earlier safety expectation.


    Current research note

2021 · 1 update

How this Track works

This page changes as new evidence arrives. Open any update to see what researchers found at that point in the story.