Downstaging and RATS After Neo-Chemo-IO: Impact on Surgical Outcomes in NSCLC

Inclusion Criteria: * Age ≥18 years * Histologically confirmed NSCLC * AJCC 9th clinical stage IIB-III, M0, deemed resectable or potentially resectable by the multidisciplinary tumour discussion (MDT) * Planned neoadjuvant chemo-immunotherapy (PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor + platinum doublet; additional neoadjuvant RT is allowed) with curative-intent surgery * Received ≥1 cycle of chemo-IO (capture the intended 2-4 cycles) * Baseline chest CT±PET-CT within 6 weeks before starting neoadjuvant therapy * Restaging 2-6 weeks after last neoadjuvant dose with chest CT±PET-CT * Curative-intent resection planned; surgery performed 2-10 weeks after last dose * Performing systematic nodal dissection * ECOG performance status 0-2. * Complete 90-day postoperative follow-up * Ability to provide informed consent Exclusion Criteria: * Metastatic disease (M1) at baseline or on restaging * No immunotherapy component in the neoadjuvant regimen (unless enrolled in a prespecified comparator cohort; otherwise exclude from primary analysis) * Prior systemic therapy or thoracic radiotherapy for the current lung cancer before starting neoadjuvant chemo-IO * Planned neoadjuvant chemoradiation (exclude unless including immunotherapy) * Definitive decision against surgery before starting neoadjuvant therapy * Active autoimmune disease requiring systemic immunosuppression within 2 years, prior organ transplant, or history of grade ≥2 pneumonitis/ILD * Uncontrolled infection, pregnancy/lactation, or any condit…