Background: Immune checkpoint inhibitors with chemotherapy have been shown to exhibit remarkable efficacy for advanced non-small-cell lung carcinoma and are under investigation as an induction therapy. But the significance of preoperative therapy with pembrolizumab + chemotherapy for surgically resected non-small-cell lung carcinoma still remains unclear. Case presentation: We herein report a case of stage IIIB non-small-cell lung carcinoma who underwent salvage surgery after three cycles of

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... brolizumab + carboplatin + nab-paclitaxel. Computed tomography revealed the remarkable decrease in tumor volume by 81%. A pathological examination showed that viable neoplastic cells were observed in less than one percent of the total tumorous lesion suggesting near pathological complete response. Conclusions: This case suggests that this regimen might be a good option as induction therapy for non-small-cell lung carcinoma.