Summary

The recent understanding of the relation between the cancer cell and the immune system includes a knowledge of how the cancer cell produces proteins that prevent the immune system from recognizing and killing the cancer cell, as well as the identification of a series of inhibitory receptors, activating receptors, and other pathways. This understanding is advancing the field of systemic immune therapy for oncology. Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is a heterogeneous disease with numerous driver mutations. This article discusses new insights into immune privilege, improved diagnosis, as well as the need for drugs to overcome secondary resistance to systemic treatment.