Nivolumab for Lung Cancer: 37 Real Stories

37 stories match lung cancer and nivolumab. 33 of them mention immunotherapy.

Cancer Stories

Becky, who was diagnosed with Stage III Lung AdenocarcinomaLung Cancer

Stage III Lung Adenocarcinoma: Becky's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Becky Manning, Female, 40s | Stage III

After surgery, chemotherapy and 8 months of nivolumab on a clinical trial, Becky was no longer on active treatment, had no evidence of disease, felt well, and returned to MSK every 6 months for follow-up.

Memorial Sloan Kettering
OutcomeCancer-Free / NED
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Lung Squamous Cell CarcinomaLung Cancer

Stage IVA lung squamous cell carcinoma with immune-checkpoint-inhibitor-associated Graves thyroid storm

Patient Info: Anonymized, Male | Stage IV

Biomarkers: Cancer biomarkers not reported. Thyroid storm workup had TSAb/TRAb positivity consistent with Graves disease.

Metastatic Site: not specified in extracted case text

After thyroid storm improved with antithyroid therapy and supportive care, the patient was transferred for further lung-cancer treatment but died of progressive lung cancer about 2 months later.

PubMed Central
OutcomeIn Memory
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Lung AdenocarcinomaLung Cancer

Stage IVB lung adenocarcinoma with severe immune-related complications

Patient Info: Anonymized, Male, 70+ | Stage IV

Biomarkers: PD-L1 TPS 20%; BRAF mutation

Metastatic Site: left supraclavicular fossa, left axilla, right hilum,…

The patient had an initial partial response to ipilimumab/nivolumab but developed severe immune-related pneumonitis, thrombocytopenia, and aplastic anemia. Cytopenias recovered with eltrombopag, but lung cancer later relapsed with carcinomatous meningitis, and he died 20 months after diagnosis.

PubMed Central
OutcomeIn Memory
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Lung Squamous Cell CarcinomaLung Cancer

Stage 4 lung cancer: large tumor managed with targeted care

Patient Info: Anonymized, Male, 70+ | Stage IV

Biomarkers: PD-L1 TPS <1%

Metastatic Site: contralateral lymph nodes, supraclavicular lymph…

The patient had a partial response to CheckMate 9LA despite PD-L1 TPS <1%, later progressed after 24 cycles of immunotherapy, received additional chemotherapy, and died in November 20XX+2.

PubMed Central
OutcomeIn Memory
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage III Lung AdenocarcinomaLung Cancer

Stage IIIA KRAS p.G12V lung adenocarcinoma: pathologic complete response after chemoimmunotherapy and surgery

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female, 70+ | Stage III

Biomarkers: KRAS p.G12V mutation; PD-L1 0% tumor-cell staining; <1% tumor-associated inflammatory-cell staining; no EGFR, ALK, or ROS1 driver mutation reported

Pathology after lobectomy showed a pathologic complete response, and surveillance imaging 12 months later showed no evidence of disease recurrence.

PubMed Central
OutcomeCancer-Free / NED
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Non-Small Cell Lung CancerLung Cancer

Metastatic NSCLC with ATM mutations: 28-month response to olaparib before progression

Patient Info: Anonymized, Male, 70+ | Stage IV

Biomarkers: cfDNA showed ATM and ATM mutations. Common NSCLC drivers were negative; initial tumor markers were negative.

Metastatic Site: liver, left pubic bone, bilateral pulmonary nodules,…

After 28 months of remission and improved quality of life on olaparib, June 2024 PET-CT showed progression with a new 1.2 cm hypermetabolic left lower-lobe pulmonary nodule; olaparib was still being continued at the October 2024 clinic visit.

PubMed Central
OutcomeSetback / Progression
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Lung AdenocarcinomaLung Cancer

Metastatic lung adenocarcinoma: complete remission on nivolumab complicated by immune-mediated diabetes

Patient Info: Anonymized, Male, 50s | Stage IV

Biomarkers: Lung tumor: EGFR wild type, ALK rearrangement not detected. Immune-mediated diabetes: islet/GAD antibodies negative and C-peptide undetectable.

Metastatic Site: brain (cerebellum and occipital lobe); liver

As of March 2025, serial CT and MRI scans through October 2023 showed no evidence of oncologic disease after nivolumab, while immune-mediated diabetes was controlled with basal-bolus insulin.

PubMed Central
OutcomeCancer-Free / NED
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Lung Squamous Cell CarcinomaLung Cancer

Stage IV Squamous Lung Cancer Complicated by an Esophageal-Mediastinal Fistula

Patient Info: Anonymized, male, 70+ | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: brain, bone

Four months after the fistula was treated conservatively, imaging showed the fistula had resolved and the lung tumor and metastatic hilar nodes had decreased despite no additional antitumor treatment during that interval.

PubMed Central
OutcomeResponding Well
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage III Lung Squamous Cell CarcinomaLung Cancer

Stage 3 squamous cell lung cancer: major response to chemo-immunotherapy

Patient Info: Anonymized, Male, 70+ | Stage III

Biomarkers: PD-L1 30-40%

After neoadjuvant chemoimmunotherapy and sleeve right lower lobectomy, pathology showed major pathological response with negative margins, and no metastasis or recurrence was observed 6 months after surgery.

PubMed Central
OutcomeCancer-Free / NED
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage II Lung Squamous Cell CarcinomaLung Cancer

Stage IIIA squamous lung cancer: surgery after nivolumab-related complications

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female, 70+ | Stage II

Biomarkers: PD-L1 TPS 99% before treatment; PD-L1 TPS 70% in postoperative hilar lymph node; TPOAb and TgAb normal during thyroiditis workup

As of January 2025, the patient had no recurrence 7 months after neoadjuvant nivolumab/carboplatin/paclitaxel and 5 months after thoracoscopic right upper lobectomy with lymph node dissection.

PubMed Central
OutcomeCancer-Free / NED
A patient, who was diagnosed with Lung Squamous Cell CarcinomaLung Cancer

Two Severe Kidney Injuries After Lung Cancer Immunotherapy

Patient Info: Anonymized, Male, 70+

The lung cancer remained stable without further anticancer treatment, while the patient remained dependent on hemodialysis after the second kidney injury and continued tapering prednisolone.

PubMed Central
OutcomeStable Disease / Care Ongoing
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Lung AdenocarcinomaLung Cancer

Stage IV PD-L1-negative lung adenocarcinoma: complete response with nivolumab and ipilimumab

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female, 50s | Stage IV

Biomarkers: PD-L1-negative; no targetable molecular alterations on DNA/RNA next-generation sequencing; TP53 alteration reported at 66%

Metastatic Site: left pleural effusion; right adrenal gland;…

As of February 2024, she remained on maintenance nivolumab and ipilimumab after 14 cycles, without significant toxicity and with persistent complete response of Stage IV PD-L1-negative lung adenocarcinoma.

PubMed Central
OutcomeCancer-Free / NED
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Non-Small Cell Lung CancerLung Cancer

Brain radiation therapy complication (radionecrosis) potentially linked to combined chemo-immunotherapy

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female | Stage IV

Biomarkers: PD-L1 0%; tumour mutational burden 33 mutations/Mb; TP53 mutation at diagnosis; later ctDNA included KEAP1 and NOTCH3 alterations

Metastatic Site: brain; presumed leptomeningeal disease

She recovered completely from surgery for radiation necrosis, resumed cancer treatment and remained neurologically intact at 18 months. She was found deceased 9 months later; the cause of death was unknown.

PubMed Central
OutcomeIn Memory
A patient, who was diagnosed with Lung AdenocarcinomaLung Cancer

Metastatic NRG1-Fusion Lung Cancer Responding to Long-Term Afatinib

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female, 60s | Stage Metastatic/Advanced

Biomarkers: CD74-NRG1 fusion

Metastatic Site: lungs

As of February 2020, she remained on afatinib 30 mg daily with an ongoing partial response after 27 months.

PubMed Central
OutcomeResponding Well
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Lung AdenocarcinomaLung Cancer

Stage IV Mucinous Lung Cancer Treated With Afatinib and Surgery

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female, 40s | Stage IV

Biomarkers: CD74-NRG1 fusion; ALK/ROS1/EGFR/BRAF/KRAS/MET/HER2 wild type; PD-L1 initially not expressed and later 0%-20%

Metastatic Site: bilateral lungs|bone|right adrenal gland

She was alive and receiving treatment after bone and right-adrenal progression at the latest follow-up.

PubMed Central
OutcomeCare Ongoing
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Non-Small Cell Lung CancerLung Cancer

Metastatic Lung Cancer Responded Completely After a Change in Immunotherapy

Patient Info: Anonymized, Male, 70+ | Stage IV

Biomarkers: TTF-1-positive; napsin-positive; PD-L1 0%; high tumour mutational burden; no actionable mutations

Metastatic Site: bone (left iliac bone, acetabulum and thoracic…

After progression on nivolumab, atezolizumab produced a complete response by the 6-month scan; after 35 cycles, the response remained sustained, he was alive and well, and no immune-related adverse effects were documented.

PubMed Central
OutcomeResponding Well
MS
Lung Cancer

Multifocal stage IIIA lung adenocarcinoma responding to nivolumab

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female, 60s | Stage III

Biomarkers: CK7-positive; TTF-1-positive; napsin-A-positive; PD-L1 85% positive.

The biopsied lung nodule nearly resolved after four nivolumab cycles, and the remaining pulmonary nodules were stable at 24 months.

PubMed Central
OutcomeResponding Well
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Lung AdenocarcinomaLung Cancer

Nivolumab-related adrenal failure during treatment for metastatic lung cancer

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female, 60s | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: brain (left cerebellum)

Her confusion, gastrointestinal symptoms, and hyponatremia improved after glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid replacement, and she was discharged on ongoing hormone replacement.

PubMed Central
OutcomeNot reported
Donna, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Non-Small Cell Lung CancerLung Cancer

Stage IV Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Donna's Patient Story

Patient Info: Donna Fernandez, Female, 50s | Stage IV

While receiving nivolumab on a Phase III trial, Donna’s tumors remained present but stopped growing, and she was able to return to an active daily life.

AACR
OutcomeStable Disease