Imaging-based PRediction of Eligibility for ChemoImmunotherapy in reSEctable NSCLC, iPRECISE

Imaging-based PRediction of Eligibility for ChemoImmunotherapy in reSEctable NSCLC, iPRECISE

This study is for adults with resectable non-small cell lung cancer who are scheduled to receive neoadjuvant chemoimmunotherapy before surgery.

Neoadjuvant chemoimmunotherapy can help shrink lung cancer before surgery and may improve treatment outcomes. However, not all patients benefit from this treatment in the same way, and it can sometimes cause side effects, such as immune-related pneumonitis. At present, it is still difficult to predict before or during treatment which patients will have a strong response.

The purpose of this study is to find imaging features on chest computed tomography scans that may help predict how well a patient's cancer responds to neoadjuvant chemoimmunotherapy. The study will compare computed tomography findings before treatment and before surgery with pathologic findings from surgery, including pathologic complete response and major pathologic response. The study will also evaluate whether computed tomography-based imaging features are associated with treatment-related side effects and long-term outcomes such as disease progression and survival.

This is an observational study. The investigators will not assign participants to a specific cancer treatment. Participants will receive neoadjuvant chemoimmunotherapy and surgery according to standard clinical practice. Chest computed tomography scans will be obtained before treatment and before surgery as part of the study protocol. These computed tomography images will also be reconstructed using a high-resolution deep learning-based computed tomography reconstruction technique to explore whether this approach can improve the development of imaging biomarkers.

The results of this study may help develop a noninvasive imaging-based model to identify patients who are more likely to benefit from neoadjuvant chemoimmunotherapy and to better guide treatment planning for resectable non-small cell lung cancer.

This is a prospective observational study designed to evaluate imaging biomarkers in patients with resectable non-small cell lung cancer who receive neoadjuvant chemoimmunotherapy before planned surgery.

Neoadjuvant chemoimmunotherapy has become an important treatment option for resectable non-small cell lung cancer. Although pathologic complete response and major pathologic response are associated with favorable outcomes, reliable noninvasive methods for predicting these responses remain limited. Imaging biomarkers derived from computed tomography may provide a quantitative and repeatable way to assess tumor burden, nodal disease, treatment response, and treatment-related lung toxicity over time.

In this study, participants will undergo chest computed tomography before starting neoadjuvant chemoimmunotherapy and again after completion of neoadjuvant treatment before surgery. If disease progression is clinically suspected before planned surgery, an additional computed tomography scan may be performed and used for response assessment. Computed tomography scans will be acquired using a standardized imaging protocol. In addition to conventional computed tomography reconstruction, high-resolution deep learning-based computed tomography reconstruction will be applied after image acquisition.

The study will evaluate imaging features of the primary tumor, lymph nodes, suspected extranodal extension, adjacent structure involvement, radiologic treatment response, and possible immune-related pneumonitis. Imaging findings will be compared with clinical data, molecular and immunohistochemical findings, and surgical pathology findings, including pathologic complete response, major pathologic response, final pathologic stage, extranodal extension, and spread through air spaces when available.

The study will also explore whether imaging biomarkers are associated with progression-free survival, overall survival, treatment-related pneumonitis, and whether high-resolution deep learning-based CT reconstruction improves imaging biomarker development compared with conventional reconstruction. The anticipated enrollment is 150 participants.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age: 18 years or older.
• Diagnosis: Histologically or cytologically confirmed non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
• Staging: Resectable NSCLC of stage IIIA or lower.
• Treatment Plan: Planned to receive neoadjuvant chemoimmunotherapy before surgery according to standard clinical practice.
• Performance Status: Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 0 or 1.
• Informed Consent: Able and willing to provide written informed consent after receiving a detailed explanation of the study.

Exclusion Criteria:

• No Measurable Lesion: Participants must have at least one measurable lesion (>= 10 mm on spiral/multidetector computed tomography).
• Prior Malignancy: History of another malignancy within 5 years before enrollment (excluding adequately treated basal cell skin carcinoma or cervical carcinoma in situ).
• Neurological/Psychiatric Conditions: History of clinically significant uncontrolled seizures, CNS disease, or psychiatric disorders that may interfere with study participation or consent.
• Contrast Allergy: History of severe allergic reaction to iodinated CT contrast media.
• Renal Impairment: Acute renal failure or moderate to severe renal impairment (CrCl < 45 mL/min/1.73 m² or serum creatinine > 1.5x upper limit of normal).
• Recent Surgery: Major surgery within 4 weeks of enrollment or incomplete recovery from major surgery.
• Pregnancy/Nursing: Currently pregnant or breastfeeding; women of childbearing potential without a negative baseline pregnancy test.
• Contraception: Men or women of childbearing potential unwilling to use appropriate contraception during the study.