PDCD1 and non-small cell lung carcinoma: Biological rationale translated into clinical research starting from a pilot study by Forde et al. In this single group study, two preoperative doses of PD-1 inhibitor nivolumab were administered 4 and 2 weeks prior to planned surgery in early resectable (stage I to IIIA) NSCLC achieving a MPR and a pathological complete response (pCR) in 9 (45%) and 2 (10%) of 20 of resected tumors, respectively.