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Resectable lung cancer: cemiplimab and fianlimab before surgery

Cemiplimab and Fianlimab Before Surgery for the Treatment of Stage IB-IIIB Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

  • PhasePhase 2
  • StatusRecruiting
  • Planned enrollment60 people
  • Recruiting US sites2
  • SponsorMayo Clinic
  • RegistryNCT06918132

Recruitment re-checked on ClinicalTrials.gov Oct 30, 2026. Public record; not medical advice.

Resectable lung cancer: cemiplimab and fianlimab before surgery: a one-minute explainerNCT069181321 min

Eligibility

Who can join

The film gives the main points. The full list below is copied from the registry; the study team makes the final decision.

  • Age18 Years to no maximum
  • SexAll
  • Healthy volunteersNo

You may be able to join if

  • Age ≥ 18 years
  • Disease characteristics:
  • Histologically or cytologically confirmed stage IB-IIIB (N2) non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) per American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) Cancer Staging Manual Eighth Edition
  • T4 tumors will only be eligible if they are defined as T4 based only on their size (more than 7 cm). All other T4 tumors will be ineligible.
  • Pathologic status of lymph nodes must be known for suspicious or enlarged lymph nodes. Note: suspicious or enlarged lymph nodes must be discussed with sponsor/principal investigator.
  • PD-L1 expression ≥ 1% by tumor proportion score (TPS) using immunohistochemistry (IHC)
  • Group A: PD-L1 expression ≥ 1% < 50%
  • Group B: PD-L1 expression ≥ 50%
  • Complete surgical resection of the primary NSCLC must be deemed achievable by thoracic surgeon at screening
  • Measurable disease per Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) v1.1 NOTE: Tumor lesions in a previously irradiated area are not considered measurable disease; Disease that is measurable by physical examination only is not eligible
  • Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status (PS) 0 or 1
  • Adequate pulmonary function ascertained by treating surgeon obtained ≤ 42 days prior to registration. A pre- or post-bronchodilator forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) of 1.0 L or > 40% postoperative predicted value or diffusing capacity of the lungs for carbon monoxide (DLCO) > 40% predicted value are required prior to enrollment
  • Hemoglobin ≥ 8.0 g/dL (obtained ≤ 15 days prior to registration)
  • Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) ≥ 1500/mm^3 (obtained ≤ 15 days prior to registration)
  • Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm^3 (obtained ≤ 15 days prior to registration)
  • Total bilirubin ≤ 1.5 x upper limit of normal (ULN) (obtained ≤ 15 days prior to registration)
  • Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST) ≤ 3 x ULN (obtained ≤ 15 days prior to registration)
  • Prothrombin time (PT)/international normalized ratio (INR)/activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) ≤ 1.5 x ULN OR if patient is receiving anticoagulant therapy and INR or aPTT is within target range of therapy (obtained ≤ 15 days prior to registration)
  • Calculated creatinine clearance ≥ 45 ml/min using the Cockroft-Gault formula (obtained ≤ 15 days prior to registration)
  • Negative pregnancy test done ≤ 8 days prior to registration, for persons of childbearing potential only
  • Provide written informed consent
  • Willingness to provide mandatory blood specimens for correlative research
  • Willingness to provide mandatory tissue blocks and slides for correlative research
  • Willing to return to enrolling institution for follow-up (during the Active Monitoring Phase of the study)

You cannot join if

  • Any of the following because this study involves an investigational agent, the genotoxic, mutagenic, and teratogenic effects of which on the developing fetus and newborn are unknown:
  • Pregnant persons
  • Nursing persons
  • Persons of childbearing potential or able to father a child who are unwilling to employ highly effective contraception during the study and up to 6 months after the last dose
  • Presence of targetable alterations [Epiderman Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR), anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK), receptor tyrosine kinase (ROS1)] in tumor or circulating tumor DNA
  • Unresectable or metastatic disease
  • Active or history of the following:
  • Prior systemic anti-cancer therapy or radiation therapy for the same cancer being studied in this protocol
  • Interstitial lung disease (e.g., idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis or organizing pneumonia), or active, noninfectious pneumonitis that required immune-suppressive doses of glucocorticoids to assist with management, or pneumonitis within the last 5 years
  • Autoimmune disease (including any history of inflammatory bowel disease)
  • Any syndrome that required systemic steroids or immunosuppressive medications EXCEPTIONS: patients with vitiligo; resolved childhood asthma/atopy; residual hypothyroidism that requires only hormone replacement; or psoriasis not requiring systemic treatment, type-1 diabetes mellitus, or rheumatoid arthritis managed without disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs or >10 mg prednisone equivalent
  • Patients requiring systemic treatment with either corticosteroids (> 10 mg daily prednisone equivalents) or other immunosuppressive medications ≤14 days prior to registration.
  • NOTE: Inhaled or topical steroids and adrenal replacement doses < 10 mg daily prednisone equivalents are permitted in the absence of active autoimmune disease
  • Patients with organ transplantation
  • History of myocardial infarction ≤ 6 months prior to registration, or congestive heart failure requiring use of ongoing maintenance therapy for life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias; or prior immune-related myocarditis
  • Uncontrolled intercurrent non-cardiac illness including, but not limited to:
  • Ongoing or active infection
  • Psychiatric illness/social situations
  • Dyspnea at rest due to complications of advanced malignancy or other disease that requires continuous oxygen therapy
  • Any other conditions that would limit compliance with study requirements
  • Uncontrolled infection with HIV, hepatitis B virus (HBV), or hepatitis C virus (HCV) or diagnosis of immunodeficiency that is related to, or results in chronic infection.
  • Note: No testing is required for this study unless mandated by local health authority.
  • EXCEPTIONS:
  • Patients with known HIV who have controlled infection [undetectable viral load and cluster of differentiation 4 (CD4) count above 350 either spontaneously or on a stable antiviral regimen] are permitted. For patients with controlled HIV infection, monitoring will be performed per local standards.
  • Patients with known hepatitis B (hepatitis B surface antigen positive [HBsAg+]) who have controlled infection (serum hepatitis B virus DNA polymerase chain reaction (PCR) that is below the limit of detection AND receiving anti-viral therapy for hepatitis B) are permitted. Patients with controlled infections must undergo periodic monitoring of HBV DNA per local standards and must remain on anti-viral therapy for at least 6 months beyond the last dose of investigational study drug.
  • Patients who are known hepatitis C virus antibody positive (HCV Ab+) who have controlled infection (undetectable HCV ribonucleic acid (RNA) by PCR either spontaneously or in response to a successful prior course of anti-HCV therapy) are permitted.
  • Patients with HIV or hepatitis must be reviewed by a qualified specialist (e.g., infectious disease or hepatologist) managing this disease prior to commencing and regularly throughout the duration of their participation in the trial NOTE: Patients known to be HIV positive, but without clinical evidence of an immunocompromised state, are eligible for this trial
  • Receiving any other investigational agent which would be considered as a treatment for the primary malignancy
  • Co-morbid systemic illnesses or other severe concurrent disease which, in the judgment of the investigator, would make the patient inappropriate for entry into this study or interfere significantly with the proper assessment of safety and toxicity of the prescribed regimens
  • Patients with a prior or concurrent malignancy whose natural history or treatment does have the potential to interfere with the safety or efficacy assessment of the investigational regimen
  • Known hypersensitivity to the active substances or to any of the excipients
  • Receipt of live vaccine ≤ 30 days prior to registration

The treatment

How it is intended to work

This is how the treatment is meant to work. Whether it helps, and how safe it is, is what this trial is testing.

cemiplimab-rwlc. A human monoclonal antibody directed against the negative immunoregulatory human cell surface receptor programmed cell death 1 (PD-1, PCD-1) protein, with potential immune checkpoint inhibitory and antineoplastic activity. Upon administration, cemiplimab-rwlc binds to PD-1, inhibits its binding to the PD-1 ligand programmed cell death-1 ligand 1 (PD-L1), and prevents the activation of its downstream signaling pathways. This may restore immune function through the activation of cytotoxic T cells. PD-1, a transmembrane protein in the immunoglobulin superfamily expressed on activated T cells, negatively regulates T-cell activation and effector function when activated by its ligand; it plays an important role in tumor evasion from host immunity. NCI Drug Dictionary

fianlimab. A monoclonal antibody directed against the inhibitory receptor lymphocyte activation gene-3 protein (LAG-3; LAG3; CD223), with potential immune checkpoint inhibitory and antineoplastic activities. Upon administration, fianlimab binds to LAG-3 expressed by tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) and blocks LAG-3 binding to tumor cells expressing major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II molecules. This may activate antigen-specific T lymphocytes and enhance cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL)-mediated tumor cell lysis, which leads to a reduction in tumor growth. LAG-3, a member of the immunoglobulin superfamily (IgSF), is expressed on various immune cells; its expression on TILs is associated with tumor-mediated immune suppression and the negative regulation of both cellular proliferation and T-cell activation. NCI Drug Dictionary

Treatments listed in the registry

  • Biospecimen Collection (Procedure): Undergo tissue and blood sample collection
  • Cemiplimab (Biological): Given IV
  • Fianlimab (Biological): Given IV
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging (Procedure): Undergo MRI
  • Surgical Procedure (Procedure): Undergo SOC surgery
  • Computed Tomography (Procedure): Undergo CT and PET/CT
  • Positron Emission Tomography (Procedure): Undergo PET/CT

The study

Treatment groups

Na · Single Group · masking: None

Treatment (cemiplimab, fianlimab) (Experimental)

Patients receive cemiplimab IV over 30 minutes on day 1 of each cycle and fianlimab IV over 30 minutes on day 1 of each cycle. Cycles repeat every 21 days for up to 3 cycles in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients undergo MRI during screening, tissue sample collection on study, and blood sample collection, CT, and PET/CT throughout the study. Patients may undergo SOC surgery post-treatment.

What it involves

Procedures

As the registry describes them. Requirements to join, such as a tissue sample, are in the eligibility list above even when on-study procedures are optional. Ask the study team which steps apply to you.

  • blood samples: Part of the study plan
  • CT scans: Part of the study plan
  • MRI: Part of the study plan
  • PET scans: Part of the study plan
  • surgery: Part of the study plan; some time points described as optional

Goals

What the study measures

Main goals

  • Major pathologic response (MPR) rate (Group A) (Up to 2 years)
  • MPR rate (Group B) (Up to 2 years)

Other goals

  • Event-free survival (EFS)
  • Overall survival (OS)
  • Disease-free survival (DFS)
  • Overall response rate (ORR)
  • Pathologic complete response (pCR) rate
  • Surgical feasibility - to surgery
  • Surgical feasibility - complete surgery
  • Incidence of adverse events

Planned enrollment: 60 (estimated).

Where

Recruiting US sites

  • Mayo Clinic in Florida, Jacksonville, Florida
  • Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Rochester, Minnesota

Site status as of Oct 30, 2026. Check the live record before contacting a site.

Sources

Where this comes from

Registry record reviewed as fetched Oct 30, 2026, last updated by the sponsor Oct 28, 2026. Public record; not medical advice.

For you, or someone you love

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