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We evaluated whether tissue tumor mutational burden (tTMB) and STK11 , KEAP1 , and KRAS mutations have clinical utility as biomarkers for pembrolizumab monotherapy versus platinum-based chemotherapy in patients with programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1)-positive (tumor proportion score ≥1%) advanced/metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) without EGFR / ALK alterations in the phase III KEYNOTE-042 trial. This retrospective exploratory analysis assessed prevalence of tTMB and STK11 , KEAP1 , and KRAS mutations determined by whole-exome sequencing of tumor tissue and matched normal DNA and their associations with outcomes in KEYNOTE-042. Clinical utility of tTMB was assessed using a prespecified cut point of 175 mutations/exome. Of 793 patients, 345 (43.5%) had tTMB ≥175 mutations/exome and 448 (56.5%) had tTMB <175 mutations/exome. No association was observed between PD-L1 expression and tTMB. Continuous tTMB score was associated with improved overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival among patients receiving pembrolizumab (Wald test, one-sided P < 0.001) but not those receiving chemotherapy (Wald test, two-sided P > 0.05). tTMB ≥175 mutations/exome was associated with improved outcomes for pembrolizumab versus chemotherapy, whereas tTMB <175 mutations/exome was not {OS: hazard ratio, 0.62 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.48-0.80] and 1.09 (95% CI 0.88-1.36); progression-free survival: 0.75 (0.59-0.95) and 1.27 (1.04-1.55), respectively}. Improved OS [hazard ratio (95% CI)] for pembrolizumab versus chemotherapy was observed regardless of STK11 [ STK11 mutant (n = 33): 0.37 (0.16-0.86), STK11 wild-type (n = 396): 0.83 (0.65-1.05)]; KEAP1 [ KEAP1 mutant (n = 64): 0.75 (0.42-1.35), KEAP1 wild-type (n = 365): 0.78 (0.61-0.99)], or KRAS [ KRAS mutant (n = 69): 0.42 (0.22-0.81); KRAS wild-type (n = 232): 0.86 (0.63-1.18)] mutation status. tTMB with a cut point of ≥175 mutations/exome is a potential predictive biomarker for pembrolizumab monotherapy for advanced/metastatic PD-L1 tumor proportion score ≥1% NSCLC. Pembrolizumab is a standard first-line treatment in this setting regardless of STK11 , KEAP1 , or KRAS mutation status. • Pembrolizumab monotherapy is a standard first-line treatment of patients with PD-L1-positive advanced/metastatic NSCLC. • We assessed clinical utility of potential biomarkers among patients receiving pembrolizumab versus chemotherapy. • tTMB ≥175 mutations/exome was associated with improved outcomes among patients receiving pembrolizumab versus chemotherapy. • tTMB has potential clinical utility as a biomarker for pembrolizumab in first-line PD-L1-positive advanced/metastatic NSCLC. • Pembrolizumab improved overall survival versus chemotherapy regardless of STK11 , KEAP1 , or KRAS mutation status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• This ESMO Clinical Practice Guideline provides key recommendations and algorithms for managing oncogene-addicted mNSCLC. • ESMO-MCBS scores are given to describe the levels of evidence for treatment choices. • ESCAT scores are given to describe the evidence level for genomic alterations as biomarkers for using targeted therapies. • Recommendations are based on available scientific data and the authors' collective expert opinion. • In clinical practice, all recommendations provided need to be discussed with patients in a shared decision-making approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• This ESMO Clinical Practice Guideline provides key recommendations and algorithms for managing non-oncogene-addicted mNSCLC. • ESMO-MCBS scores are given to describe the levels of evidence for treatment choices. • ESCAT scores are given to describe the evidence level for genomic alterations as biomarkers for using targeted therapies. • Recommendations are based on available scientific data and the authors' collective expert opinion. • In clinical practice, all recommendations provided need to be discussed with patients in a shared decision-making approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acquired resistance (AR) to programmed cell death protein 1/programmed death-ligand 1 [PD-(L)1] blockade is frequent in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), occurring in a majority of initial responders. Patients with AR may have unique properties of persistent antitumor immunity that could be re-harnessed by investigational immunotherapies. The absence of a consistent clinical definition of AR to PD-(L)1 blockade and lack of uniform criteria for ensuing enrollment in clinical trials remains a major barrier to progress; such clinical definitions have advanced biologic and therapeutic discovery. We examine the considerations and potential controversies in developing a patient-level definition of AR in NSCLC treated with PD-(L)1 blockade. Taking into account the specifics of NSCLC biology and corresponding treatment strategies, we propose a practical, clinical definition of AR to PD-(L)1 blockade for use in clinical reports and prospective clinical trials. Patients should meet the following criteria: received treatment that includes PD-(L)1 blockade; experienced objective response on PD-(L)1 blockade (inclusion of a subset of stable disease will require future investigation); have progressive disease occurring within 6 months of last anti-PD-(L)1 antibody treatment or rechallenge with anti-PD-(L)1 antibody in patients not exposed to anti-PD-(L)1 in 6 months. • In NSCLC, acquired resistance to immunotherapy is common and poorly understood. • A uniform clinical definition is imperative to further characterize patients and develop a rational approach to overcoming acquired resistance. • The proposed definition seeks to unify language for future reports and clinical trials in NSCLC. • We also highlight specific areas of uncertainty in classification of acquired resistance that require urgent attention and could lead to further refinements in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]