Abstract: Immunosenescence refers to the progressive decline in immune function associated with aging, characterized by thymic involution, reduced T-cell diversity, and chronic inflammation. In elderly patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), immunosenescence accelerates disease progression by remodeling the tumor microenvironment, promoting the proliferation of immunosuppressive cells, and impairing the antitumor activity of effector T cells. At the molecular level, telomere shortening, epigenetic alterations, and metabolic dysregulation drive this process, influencing the therapeutic efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors. This review synthesizes the biological features of immunosenescence and its mechanistic roles in the progression of NSCLC in the elderly, highlights its profound impact on tumor immunity and provides a theoretical foundation for optimizing treatment strategies.

Key words: immunosenescence, non-small cell lung cancer, aged, tumor microenvironment, immunotherapy