Dr. Rizvi on Pseudo-Progression in Lung Cancer

Naiyer A. Rizvi, MD, an associate attending physician, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, discusses the phenomenon of pseudoprogression in patients with lung cancer after they receive immunotherapy treatment.

Rizvi says in a small number of patients that are treated with immunotherapy, early scans may show what looks to be signs of tumor growth. However, this may be a delayed benefit of the treatment or tumor inflammation as T cells become activated.

This phenomenon occurs in less than 10% of the patients, Rizvi says. Physicians should consider the patient’s well being in addition to scans in order to make a decision.