Lung Cancer Weekly News

Specialist Microscopy and AI Analysis Can Improve Lung Cancer Testing
“Research shows fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM) combined with a form of artificial intelligence (AI) known as deep learning can predict if a person has lung cancer-related EGFR mutations with no need for genetic testing or tissue staining.”

Kelun’s Merck & Co.-partnered ADC scores late-stage win in front-line PD-L1-negative NSCLC
“Top-line results showed the trial met its primary endpoint of blinded independent central review (BICR)-assessed progression-free survival (PFS) at a pre-specified interim analysis, with the sac-TMT plus Keytruda regimen demonstrating a statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvement over Keytruda plus chemotherapy, alongside a positive trend on overall survival.”

Ageing stress signalling: metastatic plasticity and metabolic vulnerability in lung cancer
“Ageing and cancer share several fundamental features, including proteostasis imbalance, epigenetic drift, mitochondrial dysfunction, and altered nutrient sensing. However, how these changes are integrated into tumour-intrinsic signalling networks is still not fully understood. This issue is particularly relevant in lung cancer, where most patients are elderly, while experimental models are typically based on young animals. Given that metastasis accounts for the majority of cancer-related deaths, identifying signalling pathways that connect ageing to metastatic progression remains an important challenge.”

Molecular models show promise for predicting lung cancer recurrence
“Molecular biomarkers such as gene expression profiles and DNA methylation markers can predict recurrence and survival in early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with moderate to good accuracy, but most of the models built around them have never been tested outside the patient population where they were developed, according to a systematic review and meta-analysis published in Thoracic Cancer.”

Surgical Outcomes of Perioperative Toripalimab in Stage III Resectable Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer
Post Hoc Analysis of the Neotorch Randomized Clinical Trial
“Findings: Among the surgical patients in this phase 3 randomized clinical trial, preoperative toripalimab plus chemotherapy showed significantly improved survival through effective tumor downstaging without new safety signals.”

UF researchers discover first-of-its-kind compound to target lung cancer cells
“JUPITER, Fla. — Inside cells, a large family of proteins known as heat shock proteins function like attentive mother hens. They shepherd less sophisticated proteins across cell membranes and help proteins assume the shape they need to function correctly.”

Tiny molecules, big possibilities: Researchers explore a new way to slow lung cancer
“Cancer develops when the body’s systems for controlling cell growth break down, allowing cells to multiply unchecked. Texas A&M researchers have identified two naturally occurring molecules that appear to help restore those controls, offering a potential new strategy for slowing the progression of lung cancer.”

Handling missing data: AI approach for survival prediction in lung cancer despite missing data
“Optimal cancer prognostication combines multimodal data including biopsy results, CT scan, patient characteristics, and clinical trajectory thus far. However, many patients do not have all modalities of data available, so requiring physicians to have all patient data modalities to use an AI prediction algorithm limits the tool’s clinical utility. To increase the clinical potential of these AI algorithms, Ruffini et al. developed a “missing data aware” survival prediction approach that is able to handle inputs with missing data for risk stratification in non-small cell lung cancer patients.”

Fibroblast-specific ablation of MHC-I antigen presentation via the IGF2 axis cripples CD8+ T cell surveillance in lung cancer
“How cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) dictate CD8+ T cell dysfunction during lung cancer remains unclear. Through single-cell analysis of 84 human NSCLC samples, we identified insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF2) as a key immunosuppressive factor in a specific CAF subset.”

Wildfire Smoke and Cancer Risk: What Patients Should Know
“Key Takeaways: Wildfire PM2.5 differs from routine air pollution by composition, with higher elemental and organic carbon fractions that increase free-radical burden and intensify oxidative stress–mediated lung inflammation. Carcinogenic constituents include particulate matter and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, despite wildfire smoke not being formally classified as an IARC Group 1 carcinogen.”

Durvalumab With Radiation Shows Promise in Chemotherapy-Ineligible Locally Advanced NSCLC
“A phase II study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology evaluated a chemotherapy-free approach for patients with inoperable locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer who were not eligible for concurrent chemoradiotherapy. The study, known as DART, investigated durvalumab given concurrently with definitive radiation therapy and continued as consolidation treatment in patients considered unsuitable for standard concurrent platinum-based chemoradiotherapy because of age, comorbidities, or frailty.”

Allostatic Load: The Role of Chronic Stress in Predicting Early-Onset Cancer Risk
“Early-onset cancers, defined as cancers diagnosed in individuals younger than 50 years, have emerged as a growing public health concern worldwide, with incidence rates increasing across multiple tumor types despite advances in screening and prevention.”

Thoracic Radiotherapy Added to Atezolizumab Raised Toxicity in SCLC
“Key Takeaways: Early termination after 68 randomizations reflected a 61% serious AE rate and 19% treatment-related deaths with radiotherapy, versus 18% and 3% on atezolizumab alone. Overall survival numerically worsened with consolidative thoracic radiotherapy (median 6.7 vs 13.4 months; 1-year OS 30% vs 57%), despite no PFS improvement.”

Improving neoadjuvant and perioperative therapy in non-small-cell lung cancer
“Neoadjuvant chemoimmunotherapy, comprising an anti-PD-(L)1 antibody and platinum-doublet chemotherapy, given alone or as part of a perioperative regimen with the addition of adjuvant anti-PD-(L)1 therapy, has become the standard of care for patients with early-stage, resectable non-oncogene-driven non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC).”

Lung cancer screening models show variable performance across populations
“In this cohort study, 16 lung cancer risk prediction models demonstrated variation in screening efficiency and sensitivity across racial and ethnic groups, while generally identifying more individuals for screening compared with current guideline-based criteria. Most models underestimated lung cancer risk in non-Hispanic White participants, and all models underestimated risk in non-Hispanic Black participants.”

INSIGHT Trial: De-Escalating Immunotherapy After Lung Cancer pCR
“Clinically, INSIGHT addresses a pressing de-escalation question in early-stage NSCLC care: if positive, the results could establish active surveillance as a viable, lower-toxicity alternative to continued immunotherapy for patients who achieve pCR—potentially sparing many patients from a year of unnecessary treatment and its associated adverse effects.”

When Standard Therapy Is Not Feasible in Stage III Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer
“Edgardo Santos, MD, The Oncology Institute, Hollywood, Florida, reviews the evidence supporting concurrent chemoradiotherapy followed by durvalumab as the standard of care while explaining how treatment tolerance, radiation feasibility, and comprehensive biomarker testing informed an alternative therapeutic approach. He also highlights the evolving role of molecular profiling, PD-L1 expression, and circulating tumor DNA in guiding personalized treatment decisions and assessing response.”

Cancer’s biggest treatment challenge may be getting solved 250 miles above Earth
“For more than two decades, precision oncology has been promoted as the future of cancer treatment, matching therapies to the unique biology of a patient’s tumor. Yet despite billions invested and hundreds of targeted therapies developed, studies suggest up to 93% of patients ultimately do not benefit from precision-medicine approaches due to drug resistance, delivery challenges, tumor complexity, and the limited number of actionable targets.”

Roche orchestrates phase 3 KRAS lung cancer win over Amgen, BMS
“The open-label Krascendo 1 trial enrolled 338 people with previously treated, KRAS G12C-mutated non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Patients who had already tried a KRAS G12C inhibitor or pan-KRAS/RAS inhibitor were excluded from the trial. Participants took either divarasib once daily, Lumakras once daily or Krazati twice daily.”

Optimizing lung cancer diagnosis using improved fungal growth optimizer-based medical image segmentation
“Medical image segmentation is one of the most important processes in computer-aided diagnosis. It plays a critical role in detecting and analyzing diseases since it isolates the region of interest in medical scans.”

Are lung cancer tumors hijacking the nervous system?
“Highlights: Cachexia, a syndrome marked by unwanted weight loss, sickness, and loss of appetite that accompanies and amplifies chronic illness, affects roughly half of all cancer patients and is responsible for a quarter of all cancer deaths. Incoming Salk professor discovers that some lung cancer tumors can induce cachexia by communicating directly with the brain using a lipid signaling molecule—hijacking the nervous system and impacting behavior. Findings suggest that tumors affect the peripheral nervous system and dietary changes could be used to treat cachexia and improve outcomes in lung cancer patients.”

Amphiregulin-mediated EGFR activation drives both intrinsic and acquired resistance to KRAS G12C inhibitors in KRAS G12C–mutant non-small cell lung cancer
“In conclusion, AREG-mediated EGFR activation is a key driver of resistance to KRAS inhibitors in patients with KRAS G12C–mutant NSCLC. Combining EGFR and KRAS inhibition represents a promising strategy to overcome therapeutic resistance and may enhance and prolong clinical benefit in patients.”

State Medicaid Budgetary Implications of New Cancers
“Conclusions: Our results quantify the cost and health care resource utilization burden borne by state Medicaid programs following a new cancer diagnosis. These findings can inform policy makers about the budgetary considerations associated with investing in reducing late-stage cancer diagnoses, such as through early detection and increased access to care.”

Performance of Lung Cancer Risk Prediction Models Across Racial and Ethnic Groups in the United States
“These findings suggest that using risk prediction models for lung cancer screening eligibility could yield a better balance of benefits and harms, with smaller differences across racial and ethnic groups. However, further research is needed to optimize prediction models for the diverse population in the United States.”

TP53 Status and Time Toxicity Shape Sequencing Decisions in EGFR-Mutated NSCLC
“Key Takeaways: Frontline intensification in TP53-comutated EGFR L858R disease gains support from TOP, FLAURA2, and MARIPOSA, showing meaningful PFS benefit versus osimertinib, with OS signals still immature. Case-based consensus favored combination systemic therapy for symptomatic bilateral brain metastases, with regimen selection split between osimertinib–platinum/pemetrexed and amivantamab–lazertinib.”

Obesity Promotes Lung Cancer by Suppressing Immune Response, Roswell Park Study Shows
“BUFFALO, N.Y. — A research team led by experts at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center has documented new evidence that excess abdominal fat increases the risk of developing non-small cell lung cancer. Published in the Journal of Thoracic Oncology, the findings show that the immune system’s attack on developing tumors is undermined in obese patients, contradicting earlier studies suggesting that patients with a high body mass index (BMI) are at lower risk for the disease.”

Access to blood-based lung cancer screening test raises screening rate in primary care
“Key takeaways: The proportion of patients who received any lung cancer screening was significantly greater in clinics with vs. without FirstLook Lung blood test access. This was also the case for low-dose CT receipt.”

Northwestern Medicine study finds lung transplant dramatically improves survival for patients with terminal lung cancer
“In a study of patients with medically refractory, lung-limited stage IV non-small cell lung cancer (patients with terminal lung cancer confined to the lungs who are out of treatment options), Northwestern Medicine physicians and scientists found that lung transplantation was associated with substantially better early survival than medical management (chemotherapy, radiation, immunotherapy, etc.) alone.”

Osimertinib After Chemoradiotherapy Shows Manageable Safety in NSCLC
“Key Takeaways: A global double-blind phase 3 design randomized 216 patients (2:1) post-CRT to osimertinib 80 mg daily vs placebo, with longer median exposure on osimertinib (24.0 vs 8.3 months). Any-cause AEs occurred in 98% vs 88%, with common events including radiation pneumonitis (48% vs 38%), diarrhea (36% vs 14%), and rash (24% vs 14%).”

Novel technology could aid targeted lung cancer treatment
“Scientists have developed a new method for accurately predicting gene changes that cause lung cancer, without the need for slower, more expensive lab techniques. The technology was able to identify specific genetic changes with high accuracy, offering a potentially faster, more efficient and cheaper testing option than traditional methods.”

AI-powered light scan could speed up targeted lung cancer treatments
“AI is steadily transforming oncology by spotting patterns in vast data that humans might miss, speeding up diagnoses and personalising treatments in ways once unimaginable. Now, Scottish scientists have delivered a breakthrough that could slash waiting times for key lung cancer insights from weeks to minutes. Researchers at the University of Edinburgh and NHS Lothian developed an AI-assisted technique that predicts epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene mutations directly from untreated tissue samples.”

Biopsy-to-biomarker results still take 27 days for lung cancer, according to study
“Even as biomarker testing has become increasingly important for selecting the right lung cancer treatment, the time it takes to order these tests hasn’t improved. Overall, the time from biopsy to biomarker results is about twice as long as most doctors think it is, and that wait can affect whether patients get started on the correct first-line treatment to match their cancer, such as targeted therapy or immunotherapy.”

Pfizer’s first new ADC from Seagen acquisition fails phase 3 NSCLC trial
“The potential first-in-class ADC failed to significantly improve overall survival (OS) compared with docetaxel chemotherapy in patients with previously treated nonsquamous NSCLC, causing the phase 3 SigVie-002 trial, also known as Be6A Lung-01, to miss its primary endpoint.”

IMforte Trial Results and Efficacy Data
“Dr. Chiang presents the IMforte trial results, representing the first positive maintenance study in SCLC with both progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) benefits. Patients completing induction chemotherapy with atezolizumab were randomized to lurbinectedin plus atezolizumab versus atezolizumab alone, demonstrating OS improvement from approximately 10 to 13 months, representing a 3-month benefit.”

Biomass burning, PM2.5 peaks, and trends in lung adenocarcinoma diagnoses: an ecological study in São Paulo State, Brazil
“Lung adenocarcinoma diagnoses have increased globally despite declining tobacco exposure, raising questions about non–tobacco-related contributors. The role of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) peaks related to biomass burning in shaping population-level lung cancer patterns remains unexplored.”

Phase 2 data from ROSETTA Lung-02, a global randomized phase 2/3 trial of pumitamig (PD-L1 × VEGF-A bsAb) + chemotherapy in 1L NSCLC
“The therapy demonstrated strong antitumor activity and high rates of tumor shrinkage across both major disease histologies and all biomarker expression levels. Furthermore, the treatment regimen exhibited a manageable safety profile with minimal severe side effects, supporting its continued evaluation in an ongoing large-scale phase three clinical trial.”

Safety and efficacy results of the Phase 2 study of silevertinib (BDTX-1535) in treatment-naïve patients with non-small cell lung cancer with non-classical EGFR mutations
“Silevertinib is a brain-penetrant therapeutic option designed to target a wide range of non-classical EGFR mutations in non-small cell lung cancer. In its Phase 2 evaluation for first-line treatment, the drug demonstrated meaningful systemic tumor reduction and notable central nervous system activity for individuals presenting with brain metastases.”

Retraction Note: Time-of-day immunochemotherapy in non-small cell lung cancer: a randomized phase 3 trial
“After publication, concerns were raised about substantial changes made to the study registration on (NCT05549037). Key elements, including endpoints, eligibility criteria, sample size, and study design, appear to have been inconsistently reported and modified over time.”

FDA Grants Fast Track Designation to VS-7375 for KRAS G12D-Mutated Advanced NSCLC
“Key Takeaways: FDA fast track designation targets a high-unmet-need, post-platinum/post–PD-(L)1 KRAS G12D–mutant NSCLC population with no approved mutation-specific therapies. VS-7375 inhibits KRAS G12D in both GTP-bound “ON” and GDP-bound “OFF” states, differentiating it from investigational agents predominantly targeting a single conformer.”

Introduction and Frontline Treatment Options for EGFR-Mutated NSCLC
“Dr. Benjamin Levy introduces an expert panel to discuss the increasingly complex landscape of EGFR-mutant advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treatment. The frontline setting now includes three viable options representing a significant shift from the previously straightforward osimertinib monotherapy approach.”

Circulating tumor-associated autoantibody signatures for diagnosis and prognosis in small-cell lung cancer and lung adenocarcinoma
“Conclusions: Distinct TAAb panels were identified for SCLC and LUAD, serving as accurate diagnostic markers that enable early detection and as indicators of prognosis in different clinical contexts.”

New alliance study tests immunotherapy to prevent lung cancer recurrence
“The Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology has launched a new national study to see if an immune-boosting drug can help keep early-stage lung cancer from coming back after surgery. Alliance A082302 aims to enroll 336 participants in this phase III trial specifically focusing on patients with stage I non-small cell lung cancer.”

Next-Generation KRAS Inhibitors Show Promising Activity in Advanced Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer
“Two investigational KRAS inhibitors showed activity in previously treated KRAS-mutant non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), according to findings presented during the Clinical Trials Plenary Session at the 2026 American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting in San Diego. Elisrasib was evaluated in KRAS G12C–mutated NSCLC, including patients previously treated with a KRAS G12C inhibitor, whereas zoldonrasib was studied in KRAS G12D–mutated NSCLC, a subset with no approved RAS-targeted therapy.”

Pralsetinib Shows Improved Response in RET Fusion–Positive Advanced or Metastatic Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer
“Sanjay Popat, PhD, FRCP, medical oncologist at The Royal Marsden Hospital in London, England, discusses results from the phase 3 AcceleRET-Lung trial evaluating first-line pralsetinib versus standard-of-care histology-specific chemotherapy with or without pembrolizumab in patients with advanced RET fusion-positive non-small cell lung cancer.”

Biological aging and generational shifts in early-onset cancer risk
“Incidence of early-onset cancer is rising globally in recent generations, which underscores the need to elucidate the influence of emerging generational risk factors. Systemic and organ-specific aging reflects the cumulative impact of exposures and may provide an integrative and complementary approach to understand early-onset cancer risk.”

LETTER | Tell EPA to Protect Public Health from Toxic PFAS in Drinking Water
“The safety of drinking water is at risk. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed to eliminate legally enforceable limits for four PFAS found in drinking water and delay the enforcement of limits on two more PFAS.”

Major review finds vaping likely causes lung and oral cancer
“Researchers have concluded that nicotine vapes are likely to cause lung and oral cancers, based on evidence ranging from human biomarkers to animal and laboratory studies. The findings challenge the idea that vaping is a harmless alternative to smoking and suggest health risks may be emerging much sooner than many expected.”

Boehringer Ingelheim accelerates precision oncology research with initiation of three Phase III trials in hard-to-treat cancers
“The company has initiated two Phase III clinical trials within the DAREON® program: DAREON®-Lung-1 in small cell lung cancer (SCLC) and DAREON®-NEC-1 in extrapulmonary neuroendocrine carcinoma (epNEC). In parallel, the Phase III Beamion LUNG-3 trial has been initiated in HER2 (ERBB2)-mutant non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).”

Performance of smoking duration–based lung cancer screening eligibility criteria: a comparative modeling study
“Conclusion: Duration-based screening may be as efficient as current US guidelines. Given their potential to reduce disparities in eligibility shown in recent studies and simpler implementation, duration-based criteria warrant consideration.”

Marked under-diagnosis of Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome (LEMS) in small cell lung cancer: An analysis of real-world claims data
“The presentation highlights the clinical implications of missed LEMS diagnoses, including avoidable morbidity despite available therapies, and emphasizes the need for greater oncology awareness, timely referral, and targeted efforts to improve recognition of this paraneoplastic disorder.”

Scientists found a lung cancer clue in the fine particles people breathe during haze season
“Smoking has long been the main suspect in lung cancer, so declining smoking rates should push cases down. In northern Thailand, however, one form of the disease has continued to climb, and it appears most often in people who never smoked.”

Maintenance Pemetrexed May Not Improve Survival With Pembrolizumab in Advanced Nonsquamous NSCLC
“In a propensity score-weighted study of US Veterans Affairs data, maintenance pemetrexed plus pembrolizumab was not associated with improved overall survival compared with maintenance pembrolizumab alone. The combination was, however, associated with higher risks of acute kidney injury, neutropenia, and anemia. The findings, published in JCO Oncology Practice, suggest that the incremental value of maintenance pemetrexed deserves prospective reassessment in the immunotherapy era.”

Retevmo lowers recurrence risk in early-stage RET-positive lung cancer
“Key Takeaways: LIBRETTO-432 randomized 151 adults with stage 1B–3A RET fusion–positive NSCLC post-surgery/radiotherapy ± systemic therapy to selpercatinib versus placebo for up to three years. In stage 2–3A, 2-year EFS was 92% versus 61%, corresponding to an 83% reduction in recurrence/progression/death and fewer recurrences (4 vs 19).”

Do Clinical Trial Results Hold Up in the Real World? A New Study on ALK+ Lung Cancer Says Yes—Mostly
“Key Takeaways: Claims-based comparative effectiveness showed alectinib outperformed crizotinib in overall survival and treatment persistence, supporting second-generation ALK inhibition as preferred first-line therapy in routine practice. Real-world outcome patterns closely mirrored ALEX, strengthening confidence that randomized trial benefits translate to older, sicker, and multi-morbid patients often excluded by performance status or organ dysfunction criteria.”

Active surveillance may significantly improve survival among patients with lung cancer
“Key takeaways: Medical oncologists ordered concordant chest CT scans more than other specialties. Guideline-recommended chest CT surveillance after definitive treatment was associated with improved NSCLC survival.”

New NIH Funding to Advance Lung Cancer Screening Technology
“Biomedical engineers at UConn have been awarded a R33 grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to develop a breakthrough diagnostic smartphone-based platform to make early lung cancer detection faster, more affordable, accessible and less invasive.”

Bispecific Antibody Ivonescimab Added to Chemotherapy in EGFR-Variant Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer
“Conclusions and Relevance: Ivonescimab plus chemotherapy provided a statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvement in overall survival with an acceptable safety profile in patients with EGFR-variant NSCLC after EGFR-TKI therapy.”

Targeted Therapy Improves Survival in EGFR-Mutated Lung Cancer After TKI Failure
“Survival outcomes were significantly better with sacituzumab tirumotecan monotherapy than with standard pemetrexed plus platinum-based chemotherapy in patients with EGFR-mutated advanced non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) that progressed after epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) therapy. Researchers reported the findings in The New England Journal of Medicine.”

Phase 3 LAGOON Trial Fails to Confirm Survival Benefit of Lurbinectedin in Relapsed SCLC
“Key Takeaways: A 724-patient, 3-arm randomization showed median OS of 8.7 months (lurbinectedin), 10.9 months (lurbinectedin–irinotecan), and 10.7 months (control), without statistically significant hazard ratios. Broader eligibility versus the phase 2 dataset included prior CNS metastases, potentially diluting benefit signals and complicating cross-trial comparisons supporting accelerated approval.”

KRAS Q61-Mutant NSCLC Shows Distinct Molecular Patterns and Better Outcomes With Immunotherapy-Based Regimens
“The findings suggest that KRAS Q61-mutant NSCLC is not a single uniform disease group. The two dominant subtypes, KRAS Q61H and KRAS Q61L, showed distinct clinical and co-mutational profiles. Importantly, immunotherapy-based first-line treatment was associated with more favorable outcomes than chemotherapy alone.”

Jazz Pharmaceuticals lung cancer drug fails main trial goal
“June 12 (Reuters) – Jazz Pharmaceuticals said on Friday its lung cancer drug Zepzelca failed to ‌meet the main goal of improving overall survival ‌in a late-stage study, potentially risking its current regulatory status.”

New Lung Cancer Screening Criteria Expand Eligibility in Large Veterans Health Administration Study
“Key Points: Although lung cancer is now the leading cause of cancer-related mortality both in the United States and globally, as few as 15% to 20% of currently eligible individuals are getting screened for lung cancer. A large cohort study from the Veterans Health Administration database showed that a new lung cancer screening metric centering on tobacco smoking duration (TSD) decreases potentially missed cancers. Changing the criteria also expanded the number of eligible former smokers who qualified for lung cancer screening, especially among underrepresented subgroups, such as female veterans, Black veterans, and Hispanic and Latino veterans.”

Adjuvant Nivolumab vs Observation in Resected Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer
“Adjuvant nivolumab did not reduce the risk of disease recurrence in patients with resected NSCLC who completed planned standard care adjuvant therapy.”

ASCO26: key readouts in lung cancer
“With several targeted therapies in the pipeline for subtypes under the wider lung cancer umbrella, there has already been a huge influx of fascinating readouts from the event. Pharmaceutical Technology gives you the highlights, with readouts from key players like Johnson & Johnson (J&J), Pfizer, Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS) and more.”

Updates in Small Cell Lung Cancer Treatment: No Longer Too Small to Ignore—A Review of Recent Therapeutic Advances
“In this study, we review the current landscape of both systemic therapy as well as radiation therapy for SCLC, with a focus on major developments over the past decade, current standards of care, and novel therapeutics that are expected to revolutionize the treatment of this aggressive malignancy.”

A blood signature for lung cancer risk: 14 proteins identified that may help people who could benefit from cancer prevention drugs
“Researchers at the Francis Crick Institute and University College London (UCL), funded by Cancer Research UK and the European Research Council (ERC), have identified a 14-protein signature in blood that is associated with an increased risk of developing lung cancer more than five years before diagnosis. By combining this protein signature with knowledge of how inflammation triggers cancers, the team could identify people at higher risk who would benefit from drugs to stop lung cancer taking hold, a major step towards precision cancer prevention.”

Resistance to Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Treatment in Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer Clinical Trials: A Perspective From Lung-MAP Investigators
“The Lung Master Protocol (Lung-MAP) has been focusing on evaluating novel therapeutics for previously treated advanced non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) since 2014. Lung-MAP’s initial studies of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) were for immune therapy-naïve disease. As standard of care changed to include ICI alone or in combination with chemotherapy for first-line advanced NSCLC, Lung-MAP changed its focus to evaluating novel therapies for advanced NSCLC previously treated with ICI and chemotherapy.”

New breakthrough in developing more personalized treatments for lung cancer
“A study by the University of Barcelona has discovered why the two main types of lung cancer—adenocarcinoma of the lung and squamous cell carcinoma—respond differently to anti-angiogenic therapy, that is, drugs that block the formation of new blood vessels that tumors need in order to grow.”

Pumitamig Shows 70% Response in Advanced Lung Cancer Regardless of PD-L1 Status
“Key Takeaways: Dual PD-L1 and VEGF-A blockade with pumitamig plus chemotherapy yielded a 70% overall response rate and 100% disease control in evaluable first-line advanced NSCLC without actionable alterations. Clinically notable activity was observed in PD-L1–low tumors (<1%), suggesting potential benefit beyond populations most responsive to PD-1/PD-L1 monotherapy-based regimens.”

Lung Cancer Disparities in the United States: The Role of Smoking, Comorbidities, Socioeconomic Status, and Regional Variation
“Conclusions: Significant racial and regional disparities exist in lung cancer burden and hospital outcomes. Targeted interventions addressing socioeconomic barriers, screening inequities, and comorbidity management are needed to reduce these disparities.”

Personal and Family History of Cancer and Primary Lung Cancer Prevalence Among Never Smoking Disaggregated Asian American Women
“The rise in the prevalence of primary lung cancer in never-smoking Asian American women compared to their Non-Hispanic White (NHW) counterparts suggests additional factors associated with prevalence (personal or family history of cancer) in this demographic. However, the aggregation of a large, diverse group of Asian Americans often obscures the heterogeneity and specific factors associated with prevalence in a certain ethnicity. In this study, we analyzed the association of having a family or personal history of cancer to explain the high prevalence of lung cancer in disaggregated Asian Americans (Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, Filipino, and Other Asian). We found that Korean women with a personal history of any cancer and Chinese women with a family history of any cancer have a higher prevalence of primary lung cancer compared to their NHW counterparts. Our findings call for history-informed and ethnic-specific lung cancer screenings to identify higher-prevalence subgroups.”

Sunvozertinib in NSCLC With EGFR Exon 20 Insertion Mutations
“As reported at the 2026 ASCO Annual Meeting and in The New England Journal of Medicine by Zhou et al, the phase III WU-KONG28 trial has shown that first-line sunvozertinib improved progression-free survival vs chemotherapy in patients with advanced nonsquamous non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with EGFR exon 20 insertion mutations.”

Effect of Structured Perioperative Education on Postoperative Pain Following Lung Cancer Surgery: A Prospective Non-randomized Interventional Study With 12-Month Follow-Up
“Conclusion: Structured perioperative education was associated with improved postoperative pain outcomes following lung cancer surgery. Educational interventions incorporating caregiver involvement and reinforcement during the early postoperative period may represent a feasible and low-risk supportive strategy to improve postoperative recovery and pain management in patients undergoing thoracic surgery. Further randomized multicenter studies are warranted to confirm these findings.”

Real-world outcomes of immunotherapy in advanced NSCLC patients with comorbidities
“Conclusions: Survival among patients with comorbidities improved following ICI introduction, however the benefit varied by comorbidity and treatment modality, supporting more individualised treatment strategies.”

Video:

Joel W. Neal, MD, PhD, on the CHRYSALIS-2 Study in Atypical EGFR-Mutated Advanced NSCLC
“Joel W. Neal, MD, PhD, of Stanford Cancer Institute, discusses updated overall survival data from cohort C of the CHRYSALIS-2 trial, which looked at first-line amivantamab plus lazertinib in previously untreated patients with atypical EGFR-mutated advanced non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) (Abstract 8501)”

Lung Cancer Screening Programme in England is helping to detect thousands of cancer early
“New figures released by the NHS show that more than 10,600 lung cancers have been identified through the Lung Cancer Screening Programme since it began in 2019. Over three-quarters of those cases were detected at stage one or stage two, when treatment is far more likely to be successful.”

Silencing of NUP62 overcomes osimertinib resistance via ubiquitination of survivin in non-small cell lung cancer cells
“Conclusion: NUP62 knockdown reverses OSI resistance by promoting ubiquitination of survivin in OSI-resistant NSCLC cell lines. Silencing of NUP62 may, therefore, be an effective strategy to overcome OSI resistance and enhance therapeutic efficacy.”

Ivonescimab May Improve Overall Survival in Patients With Advanced Squamous Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
““This is the first large prospective trial to prove that an anti-PD-1/VEGF bispecific therapy plus chemotherapy is superior to the established standard of PD‑1 inhibitor plus chemotherapy in patients with advanced squamous lung cancer. While this study included participants from China and efficacy data from global populations are pending, it provides a vital new path forward for patients with these difficult-to-treat cancers who have limited treatment options,” said David R. Spigel, MD, FASCO, President and Chief Medical Officer at Sarah Cannon Research Institute and an ASCO Expert in lung cancer.”

Lung cancer cells switch identity to resist treatment
“Research published today [27 May] in Molecular Oncology reveals how lung cancer cells can become more aggressive and harder to treat by reactivating a process involved in early lung development.”

Evaluation of Lung Cancer Probability Models and Guideline Recommendations in Settings With a High Prevalence of Cancer
“When doctors find a pulmonary nodule, which is a small spot in the lung, they often try to estimate the chance that it is cancer before deciding on the next test or treatment. This study looked at how well four commonly used prediction models—the Mayo, Brock, Veterans Affairs (VA), and Peking University (PKU) models—worked in a setting where lung cancer was very common.”

Five things governments can do to turn the tide on lung cancer
“Lung cancer is the world’s biggest cancer killer. In the WHO European Region in 2021, it claimed 444,900 lives, cost societies €233 billion, and accounted for 10 million healthy years of life lost. Behind every number is a patient who deserved better: an earlier diagnosis, access to treatment while the disease was still more treatable, and a care pathway designed with them in mind. This must, and can, change. Here are five critical actions governments can take to reduce the burden and societal impact of lung cancer.”

AI could clear a path for precision medicine in lung cancer
“‘Tissue is the issue’ is a well-known phrase in the lung cancer field. Even while precision medicine transforms treatment, progress is constrained by a fundamental challenge: the limited tissue available for the genetic and molecular testing that guides a targeted response.”

Never smoked? Good, but you could still get lung cancer
“Lung cancer in people who have never smoked is now recognized as a distinct disease with its own treatments and preventative strategies.”

FDA Grants Priority Review to Neladalkib NDA for ALK-Positive NSCLC
“Key Takeaways: Priority review was granted for neladalkib in TKI-pretreated advanced ALK-positive NSCLC, reflecting a regulatory timeline culminating in a November 27, 2026, PDUFA action date. ALKOVE-1 (phase 1/2) provides the clinical foundation, enrolling ALK-positive NSCLC and other ALK-altered solid tumors after prior TKI therapy, with expanded adolescent and pediatric cohorts.”

FDA Grants Breakthrough Therapy Designation for Calderasib (MK-1084), an Investigational KRAS G12C Inhibitor, for Certain Patients with Newly Diagnosed Metastatic KRAS G12C-Mutant Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC)
“First Breakthrough Therapy designation for calderasib, supported by positive data from the Phase 1 KANDLELIT-001 trial. Calderasib is an investigational, highly potent and specific next-generation KRAS G12C covalent inhibitor.”

Seven-Year Analysis from Pfizer’s LORBRENA CROWN Trial Shows Longest Progression-Free Survival Reported to Date in Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
“Patients had a 55% likelihood of remaining alive without disease progression at seven years, and median progression-free survival was not reached with LORBRENA. Updated follow-up analysis solidifies LORBRENA as a preferred standard of care, building upon five-year results.”

Lung cancer patients who smoke and don’t quit before surgery still have positive outcomes, says study
“Researchers at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine have found that patients who continue to smoke ahead of lung cancer surgery have a higher risk of pulmonary complications, but their short-term mortality rate is similar to patients who were able to stop smoking before surgery.”

Targeted therapy reduces risk of lung cancer recurrence by 83% in rare genetic subtype
“The international phase 3 clinical trial, called LIBRETTO-432, found that after two years, 92% of patients with stage II–IIIA RET fusion-positive NSCLC who received selpercatinib after standard treatment were alive without their cancer returning — a measure known as event-free survival — compared with 61% of patients who received a placebo. Overall, the treatment reduced the risk of cancer recurrence or death by 83%.”

RYBREVANT® (amivantamab-vmjw) plus LAZCLUZE® (lazertinib) demonstrates prolonged clinical benefit as a first-line treatment for atypical EGFR-mutated non-small cell lung cancer
“Median overall survival, a secondary endpoint, reached nearly 3.5 years with Johnson & Johnson’s RYBREVANT® plus LAZCLUZE® in atypical EGFR-mutated disease. Consistent responses observed across atypical EGFR mutation subgroups, including those historically associated with poorer outcomes. ASCO 2026 results reinforce the significance of RYBREVANT®-based regimens for patients across EGFR mutations.”

U.S. Food and Drug Administration Approves FoundationOne®CDx as a Companion Diagnostic for TEPMETKO® (tepotinib) to Identify Patients with MET Exon 14 Skipping Alterations in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
“BOSTON, May 21, 2026 – Foundation Medicine, Inc., a global, patient-focused precision medicine company, today announced that it has received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for FoundationOne®CDx to be used as a companion diagnostic (CDx) for TEPMETKO® (tepotinib) developed by EMD Serono, the healthcare business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany in the U.S. and Canada.”

Global Development Accelerates Further: Henlius’ PD-L1 ADC HLX43 Completes First Patient Dosing in EU for Phase 2 MRCT
“Shanghai, China, May 21, 2026 — Shanghai Henlius Biotech, Inc. (2696.HK) today announced that the first patient in the European Union (EU) has been successfully dosed in Spain in the international multi-center Phase 2 clinical trial (HLX43-NSCLC201) evaluating HLX43, an innovative programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) targeting antibody-drug conjugate (ADC), for the treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).”

Negative Non-Resection Biopsy After Positive LDCT Screening Linked to Lung Cancer Risk
“Key Point: The 10-year incidence of lung cancer was 24.1% in the non-resection biopsy group and 10.7% in the resection biopsy group.”

Taletrectinib and Brain Metastases in Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer
“Brain metastases are a growing concern in patients with non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). As treatment advances allow patients to live longer, the likelihood of developing brain metastases increases—a reflection of the disease’s natural progression over time. Managing these metastases early on is feasible, but the addition of brain radiation carries real costs and risks.”

Histological transformation in lung cancer: a single-arm meta-analysis and systematic review
“Conclusions: Histological transformation occurs in a clinically relevant proportion of EGFR-TKI–resistant EGFR-mutant lung cancer, and is associated with poor post-transformation outcomes.”

Cancer center lung experts help create new national guidelines for safe CT lung cancer screening
“A leading group of 25 medical experts from across the country, including two at UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center, has released new guidelines designed to improve care for patients undergoing low-dose CT (computed tomography) lung cancer screening.”

Checkpoint Inhibitors in Lung Cancer: When One Drug Isn’t Enough
“Understanding how T cells recognize and attack tumors is fundamental to grasping why checkpoint inhibitors work—and why they sometimes don’t. During a Case-Based Roundtable event in Cleveland, Ohio, Neal Ready, MD, Duke Cancer Center, discussed this and the implications for the treatment of patients with non­–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).”

Mayo Clinic in Florida advances lung cancer care with single-port robotic surgery
“Guided by the principle that “the needs of the patient come first,” Mayo Clinic thoracic surgeons have begun using a single-port robotic system for surgeries that was recently cleared by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This minimally invasive approach enables surgeons to operate with enhanced precision and builds upon Mayo Clinic’s leadership in advancing lung cancer care.”

FDA Backs Protocol Changes for LP-300 Trial in Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer
“Key Takeaways: Protocol revisions narrow eligibility to EGFR exon 21 L858R after TKI progression and convert HARMONIC from randomized to single-arm due to control-arm feasibility in a niche, pretreated population. L858R constitutes ~40% of EGFR-mutant NSCLC globally and up to 50% in Asian patients, and is associated with poorer outcomes on osimertinib versus exon 19 deletions.”

Fibroblast-derived HSD11B1 deficiency drives lung cancer in never-smokers through steroid metabolic imbalance
“These findings identify fibroblast-derived HSD11B1 as a gatekeeper of metabolic balance in the lung, with its loss linked to early disease progression and poorer outcomes in patients. By uncovering a metabolic mechanism that is distinct from smoking-related pathways, this work provides fresh insight into why never-smokers develop lung cancer and suggests potential new avenues for prevention and treatment.”

Hafnium Oxide Nanoparticles Show Feasibility in Stage 3 Lung Cancer
“Key Takeaways: Intratumoral/intranodal NBTXR3 injection met protocol feasibility criteria and was performed safely in thoracic lesions and involved nodes. No serious TEAEs emerged, and neither cCRT delivery nor transition to consolidation durvalumab was delayed or compromised.”

Durvalumab plus anlotinib versus durvalumab alone as maintenance treatment in extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer (DURABLE): a multicenter, randomized, phase II trial and biomarker analysis
“Patients with impaired antigen presenting capacity or low bTMB tended to show improved outcomes with combined maintenance therapy. While similar efficacy between the two groups was observed in patients with high antigen presenting capacity or high bTMB. These findings suggest that durvalumab plus anlotinib might be an effective and well-tolerated maintenance treatment option in ES-SCLC.”

DESTINY-Lung03: T-DXd Confirms Activity in HER2-Overexpressing NSCLC, but Triplet Therapy Falls Short
“DESTINY-Lung03 Part 1 provides an important signal for the treatment of HER2-overexpressing non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The study confirms that trastuzumab deruxtecan (T-DXd) monotherapy has clinically meaningful activity in previously treated metastatic HER2-overexpressing NSCLC, while also showing that combining T-DXd with durvalumab plus platinum chemotherapy created unacceptable toxicity and does not support further development of this triplet strategy in this patient population (Planchard et al.).”

65% of eligible lung cancer patients do not receive the most appropriate targeted therapies, Diaceutics report finds
“The updated Clinical Practice Gaps report, based on real-world data from more than 35,800 newly diagnosed aNSCLC patients between 2019 and 2023, reveals that the largest loss of patients now occurs at the treatment decision stage, underscoring a critical disconnect between precision diagnostics and therapy selection.”

Rates of Systemic Treatment for Metastatic Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer Among Older Adults
“Conclusions and Relevance: In this cohort study of older adults with mNSCLC, despite advances in therapy in recent decades, almost half of patients never received systemic therapy, and the proportion treated only minimally improved over time. Approximately one-fifth of those with the most favorable clinical profiles did not receive systemic therapy.”

Zongertinib Delivers 76% Response Rate as a First-Line Therapy in HER2-Mutant NSCLC
“Key Takeaways: Selective HER2 inhibition with sparing of wild-type EGFR aims to mitigate rash and diarrhea seen with less selective pan-HER strategies. In cohort 2, 120 mg once daily yielded a 76% confirmed ORR (11% CR), with median DoR 15.2 months and PFS 14.4 months.”

Simple measurement from routine X-rays accurately predicts post-op lung cancer outcomes
“For the first time, research has identified diaphragmatic dome height measured on chest X-rays as an indicator of what patients’ post-op recovery will look like following surgery for cancer or other lung disorders. Dome height is indicative of diaphragmatic function, which is key for breathing. Lower height could signal poor function and, therefore, may allude to inefficient breathing after lung surgery, researchers proposed.”

Urine nanosensor tracks lung cancer signals and early fibrosis, moving toward clinical trials
“A urine test developed by scientists at the University of Cambridge has moved a step closer to clinical use following new findings revealing it could do more than first thought. Originally designed to detect early signs of lung cancer and treatment resistance, the test shows potential in identifying biological signals associated with pulmonary fibrosis—a serious condition where early diagnosis remains a major challenge.”

Incidence, Risk Factors, and Impact of Immunotherapy on Brain Metastasis in Extensive-Stage Small Cell Lung Cancer Without Baseline Brain Involvement
“Conclusion: Adding immunotherapy to chemotherapy did not significantly reduce brain metastasis incidence in ES-SCLC patients without baseline brain involvement. PCI remained the sole evidence-based strategy for brain metastasis prevention in this population, underscoring the need for novel CNS-directed approaches.”

Health behaviors and symptom clusters mediate self-management efficacy and quality of life in lung cancer immunotherapy
“Results suggest that patients with higher self-management efficacy demonstrate greater engagement in proactive health-promoting behaviors. These behaviors, in turn, appear to mitigate the negative impact of treatment-related symptom clusters, ultimately leading to improve quality of life.”

Redefining care for early-stage lung cancer with immunotherapy combo
“The KEYNOTE-671 trial has redefined the standard of care for the treatment of early-stage lung cancer by bringing powerful immunotherapies, previously used in advanced-stage cancer, into treatment for earlier stages. Stanford Cancer Institute Deputy Director Heather Wakelee, MD, the Winston Chen and Phyllis Huang Professor, led the steering committee for this trial, which focused on stage 2 and 3 non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). While technically removable by surgery, the cancer carries a high risk of returning after surgery. By treating the cancer with immunotherapy before and after surgery, a method known as the perioperative or sandwich approach, researchers are seeing improvements in long-term survival.”

Marijuana Use May Raise Lung Cancer Risk, Researchers Warn
“As marijuana becomes legal in more states, many people are asking whether it is actually safe. While the link between tobacco smoking and lung cancer is well established, the connection between marijuana use and cancer remains less clear, according to Brooks Udelsman, MD, a thoracic surgeon with USC Surgery, part of Keck Medicine of USC.”

Investigators Initiate Dosing in Phase 1b/2 Trial of SNB-101 in ES-SCLC
“Investigators have initiated dosing for the first patient enrolled on an international phase 1b/2 trial (NCT07391813) evaluating the investigational nanoparticle agent SNB-101 among patients with extensive-stage small cell lung cancer, according to a press release from the developer, SN Biosciences, Inc.”

U.S. FDA Grants Priority Review to Supplemental New Drug Application for HYRNUO® (sevabertinib) Under Investigation as a First-Line Treatment of HER2-Mutated Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
“WHIPPANY, N.J., May 18, 2026 – Bayer announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted HYRNUO® (sevabertinib) Priority Review status for the first-line treatment of adult patients with locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) whose tumors have HER2 (ERBB2) tyrosine kinase domain (TKD) activating mutations in patients with no prior therapy. HYRNUO is not currently approved in this first-line setting.”

NBTXR3 Shows 57% Complete Response Rate in Stage III Lung Cancer Study
“A 57% complete response rate in stage III unresectable NSCLC stops you cold — the current standard of care, concurrent chemoradiation plus durvalumab, produces complete responses in fewer than 5% of patients. That is the number that frames everything about the Part 1 data from CONVERGE, a J&J-sponsored randomized Phase 2 study of JNJ-1900 (NBTXR3) presented at ESTRO 2026. Seven patients completed the full treatment regimen. Four achieved complete response. Six responded. All seven had disease control. The sample is tiny, but the directional signal is not subtle.”

Vision problem leads to man’s stage 4 lung cancer diagnosis, new drug extends survival
“A former Ironman triathlete was stunned to learn that his vision problems were actually the first sign of stage 4 lung cancer. Dave Nitsche, 57, was initially given just 12 to 24 months to live – but an experimental drug has helped him surpass that timeframe by several years.”

Defining Maintenance Therapy and Unmet Needs in ES-SCLC
“Extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC) remains one of oncology’s most formidable challenges: a disease defined by its aggressive biology, near-universal recurrence, and a treatment landscape that is only beginning to diversify.”

Final Perspectives and Key Messages
“Dr. Wistuba emphasizes the critical need for reinforcing RNA testing alongside DNA testing for comprehensive NGS in lung cancer. Future opportunities include exploring RNA testing in liquid biopsy approaches, despite technical difficulties with RNA-free blood analysis.”

Researchers Find Biomarker of Chemotherapy Resistance in Relapsed Lung Cancer
“Key Takeaways: Standard chemotherapy treatment for small cell lung cancer (SCLC) often leads to resistance and eventual relapse. The YAP1 protein emerges in SCLC tumor samples only after chemotherapy treatment, suggesting it contributes to the acquired resistance. YAP1 is a potential biomarker and therapeutic target to overcome chemotherapy resistance.”

Despite breakthroughs, many go without treatment for metastatic lung cancer
“About half of people diagnosed with metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer never receive treatment, despite advances in options over recent decades that have created meaningful improvements in lifespan and quality of life for many patients.”

Potential of Minimal Residual Disease in Guiding Adjuvant Therapy Decisions in Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer
“Conclusion: ctDNA-based MRD stratifies prognosis after curative resection in NSCLC, with MRD negativity indicating limited benefit from treatment in selected patients and ctDNA clearance reflecting improved outcomes. These findings support the clinical utility of MRD-guided adjuvant treatment strategies.”

Safety and Efficacy of Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy for Centrally Located Early-Stage Non-small Cell Lung Cancer
“Conclusions: A dose of 64 Gy delivered in eight fractions through SBRT exerts good local control and low toxicity for centrally located early-stage NSCLC. This hypofractionated regimen seems to be safe and effective for patients who refuse or are unsuitable for surgery and comparable to results achieved with surgery.”

Investigational Drug Demonstrated Anti-Tumor Activity in Lung and Pancreatic Cancer
“A first-in-human clinical trial led by an international team of researchers and published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that setidegrasib, an investigational targeted therapy drug designed to eliminate a key cancer-driving protein called KRAS G12D, shows encouraging early activity in patients with advanced lung and pancreatic cancers. The therapy shrank tumors in some patients and delayed disease progression, marking a potential step forward for cancers with few targeted treatment options.”

Finding Purpose After a Stage 4 ALK-Positive Lung Cancer Diagnosis
“Patients who are newly diagnosed with cancer should try and focus on continuing to live fully rather than becoming consumed by bitterness or fear, according to Logan Terry, who is living with stage 4 ALK-positive non-small cell lung cancer.”

NASA engineer receives an innovative double-lung transplant at Northwestern Medicine to treat terminal lung cancer
“Chicago, IL – May 10, 2026 – A NASA engineer and mother of two is the first known patient from Houston to receive an innovative double-lung transplant to treat terminal lung cancer. Jodi Graf traveled to Northwestern Medicine in Chicago to participate in a clinical trial known as DREAM, where select patients with advanced lung cancers receive double-lung transplants. Northwestern Medicine is currently the only health system in the country offering this cutting-edge approach for patients with advanced lung cancers who have failed all other treatment options.”

Real-World Considerations for EGFR-Mutated NSCLC Treatment
“This expert roundtable features Sid Devarakonda, MD, director of thoracic medical oncology at the Swedish Cancer Institute; Roy Herbst, MD, deputy director at Yale Cancer Center; and Alex Spira, MD, codirector at the Virginia Cancer Specialists Research Institute, as they explore the rapidly evolving landscape of EGFR-mutated NSCLC management across three key clinical themes.”

Sarasota Memorial IDs lung cancers earlier with analytics platform
“In 2025 alone, 75% of lung cancers diagnosed through the health system’s screening and incidental early detection program were identified at Stage I or II – more than double the national average.”

FDA to Review Updated Taletrectinib Data in ROS1-Positive NSCLC
“A Prescription Drug User Fee Act target date of January 4, 2027 has been set for the application. Taletrectinib is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) designed to suppress the growth of cancer cells expressing ROS1 fusion genes and mutations. It is currently approved under the brand name Ibtrozi® for the treatment of adult patients with locally advanced or metastatic ROS1+ NSCLC.”

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Lambert-Eaton Myasthenic Syndrome in Small Cell Lung Cancer
“Dr. Ticiana Leal from Emory University’s Winship Cancer Institute and Dr. Wade Iams from Tennessee Oncology discussed recognizing and managing Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome (LEMS) in patients with small-cell lung cancer (SCLC). Cancer-associated LEMS affects approximately 3% of patients with SCLC but remains underdiagnosed in up to 90% of cases due to symptom overlap with disease progression or treatment effects in busy oncology settings.”

Lung Cancer Screening Rates in Eligible Adults Remain Low, Uneven
“Key Takeaways: About a quarter of survey respondents who met USPSTF eligibility criteria were up to date with lung cancer screening in 2024 — an increase in prevalence of 6 percentage points since 2022. Lung cancer screening rates were low compared with those for other cancers, including colorectal, cervical, and breast cancers. Up-to-date prevalence was uneven depending on age, race and ethnicity, and insurance status.”

Chemotherapy-Free Regimens in First-Line NSCLC: Insights From ELCC 2026
“Research presented at ELCC 2026, held March 25 to March 28 in Copenhagen, Denmark, included a range of studies evaluating chemotherapy-free regimens for the first-line treatment of NSCLC. Abstracts described real-world studies of first-line osimertinib monotherapy in patients with EGFR-mutant NSCLC, updated results from the PALOMA-2 study (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT05498428) evaluating first-line subcutaneous amivantamab plus lazertinib in EGFR-mutated advanced NSCLC, and long-term data from EMPOWER-Lung 1 (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03088540) regarding first-line cemiplimab monotherapy in patients with advanced NSCLC and PD-L1 ≥50%, among others.”

Lung Cancer Pain Management Options
““Some people feel a dull ache or sharp pain when breathing deeply, coughing, or moving,” says Shunichi Nakagawa, MD, associate professor of medicine in the division of palliative care at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York City. The pain can also be felt in the shoulder, upper back, and neck, especially if the tumor is close to nerves in these areas.”

Evolutionary characterization of lung cancer metastasis
“Limited understanding of the biological processes that govern metastatic dissemination hinders its prevention and treatment. Here, using 501 longitudinally collected primary and metastatic tumour samples from 24 patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) enrolled in the TRACERx lung study and PEACE autopsy programme, we infer tumour evolution from diagnosis to death.”

Oncologist Exercise Advice Increases Physical Activity in Lung Cancer Patients
“Oncologist-delivered exercise recommendations were associated with increased levels of total physical exercise in patients with lung cancer, by approximately 270 minutes per week, measured at 8 weeks in a recent study. Findings were reported in the journal Cancer Medicine.”

How an enzyme helps lung cancer survive radiation, and how to stop it
“Researchers identified a mitochondrial enzyme that shields lung cancer cells from a radiation-induced cell death process — and then found that an existing arthritis drug can disable that shield.”

FDA Accepts NDA for Zipalertinib in EGFR Exon 20-Mutant Lung Cancer
“The FDA has accepted a new drug application (NDA) for zipalertinib (CLN-081), an oral, next-generation EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI). The application seeks approval for the treatment of adult patients with locally advanced or metastatic non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) harboring EGFR exon 20 insertion (ex20ins) mutations who have previously received systemic therapy. The FDA has set a Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) target action date of February 27, 2027.”

Op-Ed: Firefighters face elevated cancer risk – Congress just took a critical step
“Two out of three firefighter deaths in the U.S. are related to cancer. This is why I was encouraged to see Congress earlier this year pass the Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Coverage Act, which was quickly signed into law.”

UB, Roswell Park develop AI tool to assess lung cancer surgery complication risk
“The system, called MIRACLE (Multimodal Integrated Radiomics and Clinical Language-based Explanation), is believed to be the first to combine clinical data, CT imaging and large language model (LLM)-generated explanations to provide personalized risk estimates for patients who may be candidates for lung cancer surgery. It also produces a summary that surgeons can review and refine to reflect their own clinical insight.”

Oncologists on TikTok: 10 Physicians Sharing Cancer Education Online
“Good communication and patient education are central to high-quality oncology care, but those conversations are no longer confined to the clinic. As patients increasingly turn to digital platforms for information, many are arriving at their health care appointments with perspectives shaped by algorithm-driven feeds that vary widely in accuracy, context, and tone.”

Innovative Lung-MAP Trial Expands to Include More Lung Cancer Patients
“Lung-MAP, a precision medicine umbrella trial for patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), has expanded genetic screening options for patients who enroll in this clinical trial of biomarker-driven therapies. The Friends of Cancer Research (Friends) hosted a webinar to explore how Lung-MAP is accelerating lung cancer discovery.”

65 % of eligible lung cancer patients do not receive the most appropriate targeted therapies, Diaceutics report finds
“Diaceutics, the intelligence and engagement company unlocking the full potential of diagnostic-driven therapies, has released new research revealing a critical shift in precision medicine. Despite major advances in biomarker testing, nearly two-thirds of eligible patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (aNSCLC) in the US are still not receiving the most appropriate treatment.”

COA and Flatiron Health Study Finds Patients May Experience Longer Survival in Community Oncology Settings
“Patients diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer and non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) had longer survival compared to national benchmarks when treated in independent community oncology practices, according to a new study commissioned by the Community Oncology Alliance (COA) and conducted by Flatiron Health. The research supports independent community oncologists’ ability to deliver high-quality outcomes for the majority of U.S. patients with cancer who receive care in community oncology settings.”