IMUNOTERAPIA NO TRATAMENTO DE CÂNCER DE PULMÃO: AVANÇOS, DESAFIOS E PERSPECTIVAS FUTURAS

Abstract

Lung cancer is one of the leading causes of death in Brazil and worldwide. Traditional treatments—such as surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy—are still widely used, but face significant limitations including drug resistance, severe side effects, and restrictions for certain patients. In this context, immunotherapy emerges as an innovative approach by stimulating the patient’s immune system to identify and eliminate malignant cells in a more specific and long-lasting manner. Thus, the present study aims to analyze the advances in immunotherapy for the treatment of lung cancer, with an emphasis on currently available therapeutic approaches and the clinical evidence supporting their effectiveness. Clinical trials have shown a significant increase in overall survival among patients treated with pembrolizumab, especially those with high expression of the PD-1 protein. In addition to immune checkpoint inhibitors (such as PD-1/PD-L1), other strategies are being explored, including CAR-T cell therapies and the development of personalized vaccines, whose preliminary results reveal promising therapeutic potential. Despite the progress achieved, significant challenges remain. Among them are side effects, the high cost of immunotherapy treatments, and inequalities in access—particularly within Brazil’s Unified Health System (SUS). It is concluded that immunotherapy represents a significant milestone in the treatment of lung cancer, offering new therapeutic perspectives where options were once limited. However, it is imperative that further research be conducted to make these therapies safer, more effective, and more accessible to the general population.