Multicenter phase 3 trial of first-line camrelizumab plus carboplatin and paclitaxel for advanced sqNSCLC

Camrelizumab is a humanized monoclonal antibody against PD-1, with antitumor activity and tolerability across various tumors. The multicenter phase 3 Camel-sq trial, in 53 centers in China, compared camrelizumab-carboplatin-paclitaxel versus placebo-carboplatin-paclitaxel as first-line treatment for advanced squamous non-small-cell lung cancer. The median PFS was 8.5 versus 4.9 months (p<0.0001) and the median OS was not reached versus 14.5 months (p<0.0001) with camrelizumab-chemotherapy versus placebo-chemotherapy. ctDNA clearance after two cycles was independently associated with longer PFS and OS. The authors conclude that these findings support the use of first-line camrelizumab plus chemotherapy for advanced sqNSCLC.