Clinical trial Recruiting at 2 sites Phase 2 Interventional Ages 18 to 75

Adjuvant sintilimab after neoadjuvant therapy and surgery for high-risk NSCLC

Official title: Adjuvant Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Versus Observation in Patients With Completely Resected Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer at High Risk of Recurrence After Neoadjuvant Immunochemotherapy: A Multicenter, Randomized, Open-Label, Phase II Trial

Run by Sichuan University · NCT07748325 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This trial tests whether giving sintilimab after surgery helps prevent cancer from returning in people with high-risk non-small cell lung cancer who already had neoadjuvant immunochemotherapy and surgery.

Quick facts

PhasePhase 2
Study typeInterventional
Ages18 Years to 75 Years
SexAll
Enrollment100 (estimated)
SponsorSichuan University
Academic / other
Drugs / interventionschemotherapy, sintilimab, immunotherapy
Locations2 sites (Chengdu, Sichuan and 1 other locations)
StatusRecruiting
StartedJanuary 10, 2025
Main results expectedDecember 30, 2027
Study endsDecember 30, 2028
Registry record updatedAugust 5, 2026
Trial IDNCT07748325 on ClinicalTrials.gov

Is this trial a fit for you?

Likely a good fit

Adults aged 18–75 with resected NSCLC who completed 2–4 cycles of neoadjuvant immunochemotherapy and have at least one high-risk feature for recurrence.

Probably not a fit

Patients without high-risk features or with contraindications to immunotherapy may not benefit and could be exposed to unnecessary treatment risks.

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

This multicenter, randomized phase II study will compare adjuvant sintilimab given every 4 weeks for up to 1 year against observation in patients with completely resected NSCLC who remain at high risk of recurrence after neoadjuvant immunochemotherapy. Eligible participants are about 18 to 75 years old and must have completed 2 to 4 cycles of neoadjuvant therapy with surgery achieving R0. The primary endpoint is the 18-month disease-free survival rate, with secondary outcomes including overall survival and safety; exploratory analyses will examine ctDNA and immune responses. The trial seeks to determine if postoperative immunotherapy adds benefit for patients with residual high-risk features such as nodal involvement, higher pathologic stage, and molecular residual disease.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, adjuvant sintilimab could improve time without disease and possibly overall survival for high-risk resected NSCLC patients.

How similar studies have gone: Previous perioperative immunotherapy approaches have shown promise in resectable NSCLC, but the benefit of adding postoperative immunotherapy after neoadjuvant therapy is still being tested.

Who can join: the full rules

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

1. Male or female participants aged 18 to 75 years.
2. Histologically or cytologically confirmed non-small cell lung cancer.
3. Completion of 2 to 4 cycles of neoadjuvant immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy combined with chemotherapy, followed by complete (R0) surgical resection.
4. At least one of the following protocol-defined high-risk features for postoperative recurrence:

   * Pathologic lymph-node involvement;
   * Postoperative pathologic T2 or higher disease;
   * Failure to achieve a major pathologic response, defined as more than 10% residual viable tumor cells in the primary tumor;
   * Pleural invasion;
   * Intravascular tumor emboli;
   * High-risk histologic components, including solid, micropapillary, or adenosquamous components;
   * Detectable molecular residual disease.
5. For participants with lung adenocarcinoma, absence of sensitizing EGFR mutations and ALK rearrangements. Molecular testing is not mandatory for participants with squamous cell carcinoma according to the current protocol.
6. Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 0 or 1.
7. Adequate organ function within 7 days before randomization, as demonstrated by all of the following:

   * Hemoglobin of at least 90 g/L;
   * Absolute neutrophil count of at least 1.5 × 10\^9/L;
   * Platelet count of at least 75 × 10\^9/L;
   * Total bilirubin no greater than 1.5 times the upper limit of normal;
   * Alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase no greater than 2.5 times the upper limit of normal;
   * Serum creatinine no greater than 1.5 times the upper limit of normal or creatinine clearance of at least 60 mL/min;
   * Left ventricular ejection fraction of at least 50%;
   * International normalized ratio or prothrombin time no greater than 1.5 times the upper limit of normal.
8. Women of childbearing potential must have a negative pregnancy test within 7 days before the first dose and must agree to use effective contraception during the study and for 3 months after the last dose of study treatment. Male participants with partners of childbearing potential must agree to use effective contraception during the study and for 8 weeks after the last dose.
9. Ability to understand the study requirements, willingness to provide written informed consent, and ability to comply with study treatment and follow-up procedures.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Small cell lung cancer or non-small cell lung cancer containing a small cell carcinoma component.
2. Incomplete resection, including R1 or R2 resection, or salvage surgery.
3. Clinically significant malnutrition as determined by the investigator.
4. A history of clinically significant immune-related adverse events during prior treatment, including grade 3 or higher immune-mediated pneumonitis, myocarditis, or another serious immune-related adverse event that, in the investigator's judgment, makes further immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy unsafe.
5. Signs, symptoms, or a known history of clinically significant interstitial lung disease.
6. Any severe or uncontrolled concurrent medical condition, including:

   * Inadequately controlled hypertension;
   * Grade 2 or higher myocardial ischemia, myocardial infarction, clinically significant arrhythmia, corrected QT interval of at least 480 milliseconds, or New York Heart Association class II or higher heart failure;
   * Active or uncontrolled infection of grade 2 or higher;
   * Decompensated liver disease, active hepatitis, or chronic viral hepatitis requiring antiviral therapy;
   * Renal failure requiring hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis;
   * Known human immunodeficiency virus infection, another acquired or congenital immunodeficiency disorder, or a history of organ transplantation;
   * Poorly controlled diabetes mellitus, defined as fasting blood glucose greater than 10 mmol/L;
   * Urine protein of 2+ or greater with a 24-hour urinary protein level greater than 1.0 g;
   * Clinically significant coagulation abnormalities or an increased risk of bleeding;
   * A seizure disorder requiring treatment.
7. A concurrent active malignancy, except for malignancies specifically permitted by the final protocol.
8. An active autoimmune disease or another immune-mediated disease requiring systemic treatment.
9. Long-term treatment with systemic immunosuppressive therapy or systemic corticosteroids, except for protocol-permitted physiologic replacement therapy.
10. An active psychiatric disorder, cognitive impairment, or another condition that would prevent provision of informed consent or adherence to study treatment and follow-up.
11. Any other condition that, in the investigator's judgment, makes the participant unsuitable for the study.

Where it's running

  • West China Hospital, Sichuan University
    Chengdu, Sichuan, China
    Recruiting
  • Suining Central Hospital
    Suining, Sichuan, China
    Recruiting

Study contacts

  • Principal investigator: zhenyu ding, MD — West China Hospital of Sichuan University, ChengDu, China
  • Study coordinator: zhenyu ding, MD
  • Email: dingzhenyu@scu.edu.cn
  • Phone: +86 028-854-22562

Similar studies

Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.

How to take part

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.