[Comment] Progress in outcomes for patients with metastatic squamous non-small-cell lung cancer

The use of immunotherapy in patients with various types of cancer has led to dramatic increases in survival. Increased median survival and even cure have been reported in a subgroup of patients receiving immunotherapy, especially following the use of checkpoint inhibitors targeting PD-1 or PD-L1 either as monotherapy or combined with targeted CTLA-4 therapy, chemotherapy, or both.1 Releasing the tumour-induced brake on the immune system by use of these inhibitors leads to broad improvements in patient outcomes, with long-term survival rates in those with historically untreatable disease types, such as metastatic melanoma and non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC).