Beyond Residual Tumour in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Neoadjuvant treatment has become increasingly important in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), particularly with the introduction of immune checkpoint inhibitors alongside chemotherapy and the use of targeted therapies in oncogene-driven disease. Following treatment and surgery, pathological assessment of the tumour bed provides information about how effectively the cancer has responded.

Traditionally, much attention has focused on the amount of residual viable tumour. However, treatment also alters the surrounding tissue, producing fibrosis, inflammation and other immune-related changes. These features may contain additional prognostic information, but their assessment can vary between pathologists. Artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted digital pathology could provide a more objective way of quantifying these changes.