COLUMBUS, Ohio – Data presented June 4 at the American Society of Clinical Oncology annual meeting in Chicago showed that patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer who were treated with dual immunotherapy-based combination experienced sustained clinical benefits after four years compared to chemotherapy. The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute (OSUCCC – James) is one of the leading institutions involved in the multi-center study called CheckMate -9LA and sponsored by Bristol Myers Squibb. After four years, the Phase 3 trial demonstrated durable, long-term survival benefits with Opdivo (nivolumab) plus Yervoy (ipilimumab) with two cycles of chemotherapy compared to four cycles of chemotherapy in previously untreated patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer. With a minimum follow-up of 47.9 months, the dual immunotherapy-based combination continued to enhance overall survival. “The results seen with nivolumab plus ipilimumab with chemotherapy over four years, especially in patients typically facing a poor prognosis, demonstrate the sustained benefits of combining dual immunotherapy with limited chemotherapy for patients with advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer, which remains an incredibly challenging disease to treat,” said David P. Carbone, MD, PhD, an investigator with the trial and Director of the Thoracic Oncology Center at OSUCCC – James. “The data in patients with tumor PD-L1 expression <1% and squamous histology are particularly encouraging, as they show the combination therapy continues to reduce the risk of death by approximately one-third compared to chemotherapy alone four years following treatment in patient groups historically facing the worst outcomes.” The CheckMate -9LA is an open-label, global multi-center, randomized Phase 3 trial. Patients in the experimental arm (361) were treated with immunotherapy for up to two years or until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients in the control arm (358) were treated with up to four cycles of chemotherapy and optional pemetrexed maintenance until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. The primary endpoint of the trial was overall survival in the intent-to-treat population. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths globally. The two main types of lung cancer are non-small cell and small cell. Non-small cell lung cancer is one of the most common types of lung cancer, representing up to 84% of diagnoses. Survival rates vary depending on the stage and type of the cancer when diagnosed. To learn more about lung cancer treatment and research at the OSUCCC – James, visit cancer.osu.edu/lungcancer or call 1-800-293-5066. ### Media Contact: Mary Ellen Fiorino Wexner Medical Center Media Relations mary.fiorino@osumc.edu