Cancer ResearchMetronomic Vinorelbine Plus Atezolizumab Tested as Second-Line NSCLC Therapy
Most patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) still face poor outcomes in the second-line setting, with median survival under 10 months. This completed Phase 2 trial from University Hospital, Brest enrolled 80 patients to test whether metronomic — meaning low-dose, continuous — oral vinorelbine could amplify the immune-boosting effects of atezolizumab, an anti-PDL1 checkpoint inhibitor. Unlike standard chemotherapy, metronomic dosing avoids long drug-free breaks and may stimulate the immune system by depleting regulatory T cells, enhancing antigen presentation, and promoting immunogenic cancer cell death. The combination represents a novel strategy to synchronize chemotherapy and immunotherapy timelines, potentially allowing both agents to work together rather than sequentially.
