Nivolumab and ipilimumab, two therapeutic immune checkpoint inhibitor antibodies 
that block PD-1 and CTLA-4, respectively, have indications in cancer as single 
agents and in combination. In this Review, we examine the potential role of dual 
immune checkpoint inhibition with nivolumab plus ipilimumab in the management of 
patients with previously untreated advanced non-small-cell lung cancer, based on 
results from the Phase III CheckMate 227 study. Immunotherapies with indications 
in the first-line treatment of non-small-cell lung cancer include pembrolizumab 
alone and combined with chemotherapy, and atezolizumab combined with bevacizumab 
and chemotherapy. CheckMate 227 is the first Phase III study evaluating 
first-line chemotherapy-sparing combination immunotherapy and including tumor 
mutational burden as a biomarker for patient selection.