Lung Cancer Weekly News

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.”

New Orleans native author releases book about her health care journey with lung cancer
“Shira Kupperman Boehler called herself an avid runner. A kale enthusiast. She abides by all routine scans: annual Pap smears, colonoscopies, skin checks.”

LungDxFormer: a transformer-CNN hybrid model with dynamic spatial attention for accurate lung cancer detection and classification
“Using patient-wise cross-validation on the public LIDC-IDRI dataset, our method achieves 97.35% overall accuracy with high precision, recall, and AUC across all three classes, including the clinically challenging indeterminate class.”

What’s missing from the conversation on the ‘absurd’ new study linking vegetables to lung cancer
“New research presented at AACR on April 17 is stumping docs: 187 patients included in a USC Norris study—all diagnosed with lung cancer before age 50, with most of them being never-smokers—had higher quality diets than the average American (ie, they eat more fruits, vegetables, legumes, and whole grains).”

AACR: 2020 to 2024 Saw Drop in Number of Unique Lung Cancer Trial Sites
“(HealthDay News) — There was a decrease in the number of unique sites where phase 1 clinical trials for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) were conducted between 2020 and 2024, according to a study presented at the annual meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research, held from April 17 to 22 in San Diego.”

Marshall Health Network enrolling patients in lung cancer clinical trial evaluating personalized immunotherapy approach
“The study is investigating the use of an individualized therapy designed with a tumor’s unique biology from a surgical sample to help the immune system better recognize and attack cancer cells when used alongside the immunotherapy drug pembrolizumab.”

Illusion of Comprehensive Testing in Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer: Why Coverage, Sensitivity, and Reporting Matter
“The promise of precision oncology in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) rests on the ability to identify actionable genomic alterations and match patients to targeted therapies that can dramatically improve outcomes. Actionable genomic alterations are found in approximately 35%-45% of patients with NSCLC, and therefore, a significant proportion of patients stand to derive benefit. A central, yet underappreciated detail threatens to undermine this promise: not all comprehensive molecular assays are created equal. This gap between perception and reality has direct implications for patient care since incomplete molecular profiling can lead to suboptimal treatment sequencing. Incomplete molecular testing results in more than one in every eight patients with advanced NSCLC being systematically deprived of effective targeted therapy—despite having treatable, guideline-recommended biomarkers.”

Study shows new promise against locally advanced lung cancer
“New findings of an Alliance Foundation Trials study show combining immunotherapy and chemotherapy before surgery improves outcomes for some patients with locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer, according to the results of AFT-16/CHIO3 published in Lung Cancer.”

New KRAS-Targeted Drugs Show Early Signals in Advanced Lung Cancer
“In two early stage studies, the investigational drugs elisrasib and zoldonrasib were shown to shrink tumors or slow cancer growth in patients whose disease had already progressed after chemotherapy, immunotherapy and in some cases earlier targeted treatments.”

Survival outcomes in patients with metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer treated with nivolumab: a comparison between ECOG performance status 0–1 and 2
“Conclusions. ECOG PS was identified as a strong, independent prognostic factor for survival in patients with mNSCLC treated with nivolumab. In addition, negative PD-L1 expression, de novo metastatic presentation, and bone metastases were independently associated with poorer survival.”

First-Line Zongertinib Shows Strong Activity in HER2-Mutant Lung Cancer
“For years, patients with HER2-mutant non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) have occupied a frustrating gap in precision oncology. While targeted therapies have transformed outcomes for EGFR– and ALK-driven lung cancers, HER2-mutant disease has lagged behind, with chemotherapy remaining the standard first-line option. New data from the Phase Ia/Ib Beamion LUNG-1 trial, published in The New England Journal of Medicine, suggest that this may be changing. The oral HER2 inhibitor zongertinib demonstrated high response rates and durable clinical benefit in treatment-naïve patients, positioning it as a potential new first-line standard.”

Sustainable advocacy is the goal. Let’s unpack this together during this week’s #SundayStrides.

Unexpected findings on lung cancer CT scans may point to other non-lung cancers, study finds
“Because CT scans capture areas of the body beyond the lungs, doctors often see abnormalities that might indicate cancer in other parts of the body, including the kidneys, liver and lymph nodes. For the new study, the researchers focused on certain types of these abnormalities and found that people with these findings were more likely to be diagnosed with a cancer outside of the lungs (extrapulmonary) within a year of screening.”

Targeted Therapy Improves Long-Term Outcomes for Patients with Rare Mutations Driving Lung Cancer
“In some non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLCs), changes to the RET gene (known as RET fusions) can drive tumor growth. In a phase 1/2 clinical study with a 42-month-long follow-up period, researchers from Mass General Brigham Cancer Institute evaluated the long-term efficacy and safety of the FDA-approved drug pralsetinib, which targets RET. Investigators found that treatment led to durable responses with manageable safety profiles in 281 patients with advanced or metastatic RET fusion-positive NSCLCs. Results are published in Journal of Clinical Oncology”

Much Ado About Nothing? Time of Day May Not Matter for Immunotherapy in Lung Cancer
“The time of day when immunotherapy is administered to patients with lung cancer does not appear to affect overall survival, according to investigators from the ETOP-Roche i-TIMES study. The results, presented at the 2026 European Lung Cancer Congress in Copenhagen, Denmark, contradict those from the recently published LungTIME-C01 study. As reported by Oncology News Central, that study indicated that among patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) without known targetable mutations, immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) infusions administered earlier in the day were associated with significantly better survival outcomes compared with infusions delivered in the midafternoon or later.”

Ai Predicts Chemotherapy Response in Lung Cancer Patients
“RT’s Three Key Takeaways: Predictive AI Tool: Researchers developed a tool called PhenopyCell that uses artificial intelligence to predict if patients with extensive-stage small cell lung cancer will respond to platinum-based chemotherapy before treatment begins. No Additional Biopsies: The system analyzes existing pathology slides from diagnostic biopsies, eliminating the need for further procedures, tissue collection, or added costs for patients. Immune Cell Organization: The tool identifies organized groups of immune cells surrounding tumor clusters as a biological marker for better treatment outcomes, which is not visible through manual analysis.”

Humanetics Corporation Announces Investigator-Initiated Phase 2 Trial in Patients with Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer and Underlying Interstitial Lung Disease
“MINNEAPOLIS, March 31, 2026–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Humanetics Corporation (Humanetics) announced today the launch of a new investigator-initiated clinical trial (IIT) of BIO 300 Oral Suspension (BIO 300), led by Dr. Narek Shaverdian, Director of Thoracic Radiation Oncology at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK). This study is designed to evaluate the efficacy of BIO 300 in reducing the toxicity of thoracic radiation therapy in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and concomitant interstitial lung disease (ILD), compared to historical results. The trial will enroll approximately 24 participants at MSK in New York.”

“Another Negative Study”: Phase 3 Failure for Lung Cancer Combo
“It is a disappointing but all-too-familiar story: A drug combination that showed promise in phase 2 trials failed to meet its primary survival endpoint in a phase 3 study. The combination in question this time is the investigational ATR kinase inhibitor ceralasertib plus durvalumab (Imfinzi) in patients with locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) without targetable genetic mutations who had disease progression on or after an immune checkpoint inhibitor and platinum-based chemotherapy.”

Mount Sinai Study Finds Lung Cancer Surgery Safe for Many Patients Over 80
“New York, NY (April 02, 2026)  Researchers at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and the Mount Sinai Tisch Cancer Center have found that adults aged 80 and older with early-stage lung cancer can safely undergo surgery and achieve outcomes comparable to younger patients, challenging longstanding assumptions about age and cancer treatment.”

Molecular phenotypes stratify small cell lung cancer for targeted therapy and immunotherapy
“This study identified three distinct SCLC phenotypes with unique therapeutic vulnerabilities. An ANXA1High subset within the immune-rich infiltrated phenotype showed ICI resistance, offering new strategies to enhance ICI efficacy.”

Even after a clear scan, smokers face an elevated lung cancer risk
“Key Takeaways: Long-term incidence after a negative LDCT was nontrivial, with 76 lung cancers detected, reinforcing that baseline negativity is not synonymous with durable low risk. Smoking exposure drove subsequent risk, with ~3-fold higher incidence in ever-smokers and clinically meaningful inflection around ≥20 pack-years.”

Subcutaneous Amivantamab is a ‘Way to Move Forward’ in EGFR+ NSCLC Care
“In a conversation with CancerNetwork®, Nicolas Girard, MD, PhD, detailed the results and clinical implications of the PALOMA-2 trial (NCT05498428), evaluating subcutaneous amivantamab (Rybrevant Faspro) in combination with lazertinib (Lazcluze) for patients with advanced non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) harboring EGFR mutations. According to data that he and colleagues presented in a poster session at the 2026 European Lung Cancer Congress, treatment with subcutaneous amivantamab demonstrated consistent efficacy compared with the agent’s intravenous formulation, while exhibiting the added tolerability and convenience benefits of subcutaneous administration.”

This Little-Known Japanese Fruit Could Help Stop Lung Cancer Before It Starts
“One unexpected candidate is a small fruit known as “Sarunashi” (Actinidia arguta), commonly referred to as the kiwiberry, which is being studied by researchers at Okayama University. In a study published in the journal Genes and Environment, the team found that juice from the fruit reduced lung tumor formation in mice exposed to NNK, a tobacco-related carcinogen. The juice also lowered the number of tumor nodules in the lungs, while one of its best-known compounds, isoquercetin (isoQ), showed protective effects of its own.”

Researchers find way to treat lung cancer and associated muscle wasting at the same time
“The study, published in the Journal of Controlled Release, involves lipid nanoparticles delivering therapeutic genetic material to lung tumors. In a mouse model, scientists led by Oleh Taraula and Yoon Tae Goo of the OSU College of Pharmacy showed that a type of nanocarrier loaded with follistatin messenger RNA is able to accumulate in tumors. Once there, the mRNA triggers cells to produce the follistatin protein, which plays a key role both in inhibiting tumors and promoting muscle tissue growth.”

Next-generation therapies to outsmart drug-resistant lung cancer
“The Gray Lab is developing next-gen therapies, including protein degraders and “dual-grip” inhibitors, to overcome drug resistance in lung cancer.”

PFOS, PFHA, Mono-Iso-Nonyl-Phthalate Can Predict Lung Cancer Mortality
“Researchers observed associations for higher circulating levels of PFOS, PFHA, and mono-iso-nonyl-phthalate with an increased risk for lung cancer death, but not with lung cancer incidence.”

Embryonic proteins reactivated in lung tumors may drive faster growth
“Researchers have uncovered how proteins normally active only before birth can drive aggressive lung cancer, opening new avenues for future treatments. The study found that more aggressive lung cancers switch on a pair of embryonic proteins (proteins not usually found in healthy adult cells), resulting in poorer patient outcomes.”

VATS vs Open Lobectomy in Early-Stage Lung Cancer: Survival Meta-Analysis Shows Overall Survival Benefit
“A new individual patient data meta-analysis provides the strongest answer to date. By pooling patient-level data from all eligible randomized trials, the investigators found that VATS lobectomy was associated with a 21% reduction in the risk of death compared with open lobectomy, with no compromise in disease-free survival (Harris et al., 2026). These results strengthen the scientific rationale for prioritizing VATS when technically feasible in patients with early-stage NSCLC.”

AI-driven technology does not speed up lung cancer diagnosis
“The LungIMPACT trial, the largest randomised trial of its kind and led from UCLH, ran across five NHS trusts in England and found no significant reduction in the time from X-ray to cancer diagnosis when AI flagged abnormal scans so that a radiologist could prioritise these for early review. The study, published today in Nature Medicine, only tested the impact of AI prioritisation and did not change the usual care pathway.”

Barry Manilow Details Lung Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment, Says It ‘Made Me Take Stock of My Life’ at 82 (Exclusive)
““You just don’t even think about [how fragile life is]. And suddenly, you have lung cancer. But I’m still here. I’m not all here; there’s part of me that isn’t here — they took out a part of me, and now I’ve got to figure out, ‘What do I do?’” Manilow says.”

Sunvozertinib Monotherapy Bests Platinum-Doublet Chemotherapy in EGFR Exon 20+ NSCLC
“Key Takeaways: Phase 3 WU-KONG28 randomized treatment-naïve stage IIIB/IIIC/IV nonsquamous NSCLC with confirmed EGFR exon 20 insertions to sunvozertinib 300 mg daily or carboplatin/pemetrexed ± pemetrexed maintenance. Blinded independent central review–assessed PFS per RECIST 1.1 was the primary end point, and overall survival was a key secondary end point in this confirmatory global program.”

Acute and Lifelong Exercise Modulate the Tumorigenic Potential of Human Lung Cancer Cells and Their Susceptibility to Cisplatin
“Significantly, we showed, for the first time, that lifelong exercise increased susceptibility to a chemotherapy agent (cisplatin), which may contribute to the decreased cancer mortality rates found among those who exercise regularly. Similar to the cellular effects, changes to serum cytokine levels – several of them linked to the senescence-associated secretory phenotype – depended on whether serum was conditioned by acute or by chronic exercise.”

Scientists discover why this deadly lung cancer keeps coming back
“Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is among the most aggressive types of lung cancer, with a five-year survival rate of just five percent. Although it often responds well to chemotherapy at first, that success is usually short lived. Most patients experience a relapse, followed by rapid disease progression. Because of this pattern, understanding the biology behind SCLC is critical for extending treatment benefits, preventing relapse, and improving long term outcomes.”

Researchers identify genes for predicting lung cancer recurrence
“Researchers from Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine believe they have, for the first time, identified genes whose activity changes in lung tumors with vascular invasion. Additionally, they also discovered that they could detect these changes in small pieces of the tumor collected during a presurgical biopsy procedure.”

First-in-Class Investigational Drug KRAS G12D Degrader Shows Promise in Lung and Pancreatic Cancers
“Results from the trial were published in the New England Journal of Medicine, in March 2026. The study demonstrated benefit and safety in both lung and pancreatic cancers that had gotten worse on prior treatments. About a third of the patients with metastatic lung cancer responded to setidegrasib with encouraging durability, which means the length of time the drug stays effective. About 60% of the lung cancer patients were alive after one year.”

Nucleosome Liquid Biopsy Shows Promise for Lung Cancer Risk Stratification
“The poster presentation highlighted the use of Volition’s Nu.Q Cancer assays, which measure H3K27Me3-nucleosome levels from a simple blood draw, to predict recurrence-free and overall survival outcomes in lung cancer patients before surgery.”

Lung Cancer Patients Can Safely Receive Half the Usual Radiation Dose — in Just One Treatment
“6-year Roswell Park study shows shorter, lower-dose approach works just as well as longer course of treatment.”

Low-Dose CT Screening Reduces Lung Cancer–Specific Mortality
“The use of low-dose CT screening correlated with lower lung cancer–specific mortality in a non–risk-based lung cancer population, according to findings from the Lung-Care Project (NCT04938804) presented at the 2026 European Lung Cancer Congress.”

Adding Chemo to Osimertinib Doubles PFS in EGFR-Mutated NSCLC With TP53 Mutations
““These findings provide key evidence to support a molecular risk-guided individualized treatment strategy for EGFR-mutated non-small cell lung cancer,” Dr. Yang said during a proffered paper session (Abstract 20).”

Can marijuana cause lung cancer?
“As more states legalize marijuana, many people might be wondering if that means it is safe to use. While smoking tobacco is a known and well-studied cause of lung cancer, linking marijuana to cancer is more complicated, says Brooks Udelsman, MD, a thoracic surgeon with USC Surgery, part of Keck Medicine of USC.”

Hernexeos Shows Strong Responses in HER2 Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
“Researchers reported at the 2026 European Lung Cancer Congress that Hernexeos (zongertinib) led to high response rates and disease control in patients with advanced HER2-mutant non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), including those with active brain metastases, addressing an unmet need for targeted first-line treatment options in this population.”

Vaping Likely Causes Cancer, Major Study Finds
“Nicotine vaping is likely to cause lung and oral cancers, a comprehensive review of more than 100 studies has concluded. According to the analysis, human and animal studies, as well as cell experiments looking at the effects of chemicals found in vape liquid, all point toward carcinogenicity. Those studies, published since 2017, record “increasing concern”, the researchers report.”

Nivolumab-Based Treatment Yields Long-Term Survival in Resectable NSCLC
“Perioperative nivolumab (Opdivo)-based treatment demonstrated long-term survival among patients with resectable stage IIA to IIIA non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), especially among those with a pathological complete response (pCR), according to findings from a phase 2 trial (NCT04015778) presented in a poster session at the 2026 European Lung Cancer Congress.”

Early diagnosis and local solutions are critical to combat lung cancer
“Opinion: Despite advances in prevention and treatment, lung cancer remains the world’s deadliest cancer largely because it is often detected too late. Strengthening local diagnostic capacity is one of the most effective ways to reduce the global burden of lung cancer.”

A video summary of the DeLLphi-301 study: tarlatamab as a treatment option for small cell lung cancer
“Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is a very fast-growing lung cancer with few treatment options when standard treatments fail. The DeLLphi-301 study tested a medicine called tarlatamab to see if it shrinks SCLC in patients who had received previous treatments for SCLC. Tarlatamab works by directing the immune system’s T cells to link to and attack cancer cells. The DeLLphi-301 study tested whether a 10 or 100 mg dose would shrink SCLC better and have fewer side effects. It also assessed whether a post-treatment monitoring period could be shortened without compromising safety.”

Blocking lipid production in healthy lung cells can reduce lung metastasis
“Leuven, 17 March, 2026 – Scientists from the VIB–KU Leuven Center for Cancer Biology, in collaboration with the Francis Crick Institute, have discovered how cancer cells can exploit healthy lung cells to support metastatic tumor growth in the lungs. In two complementary studies published in Nature Cell Biology and Cancer Discovery, they show that tumors use lipids produced by lung cells as signals, and that decreasing the lipid production of lung cells can decrease metastasis. The findings point to new therapeutic strategies that target lung cell lipid production, rather than cancer cells themselves, which may also help refine patient selection for ongoing clinical trials targeting this pathway.”

Surgery in Octogenarians With Early-Stage NSCLC: What This Prospective Study Shows About Safety, Survival, And Quality Of Life
“As populations age and lung cancer screening identifies more small, potentially curable tumors, clinicians are increasingly faced with a difficult question: should adults aged 80 years and older undergo lung cancer surgery when early-stage disease is found? Concerns about frailty, postoperative complications, and long-term recovery often influence treatment decisions, yet prospective evidence in this population has remained limited. A new cohort study now adds important data to this discussion, showing that surgery in octogenarians with early-stage NSCLC can be feasible, with favorable long-term outcomes in carefully selected patients (Gros et al., 2026).”

PM2.5, Population Density Linked to Increased Lung Cancer Mortality in China
“The incidence of lung cancer increased in China from 2010 to 2018, with particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.5), average annual temperature, population density, and total grain production significantly associated with mortality, according to study findings published in Respiratory Medicine.”

Freenome Reports Data for Multiomic Blood-Based Screening Test for Lung Cancer
“BRISBANE, Calif., March 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Freenome, an early cancer detection company developing blood-based screening tests, today announced initial development data for its investigational lung cancer screening test. The data demonstrate the potential of a multiomics approach that combines DNA methylation analysis and protein markers to detect lung cancer in high-risk individuals. Freenome investigators will present the data at next month’s AACR Annual Meeting in San Diego.”

VALOR Trial: Comparing SBRT with Surgery in Early Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
“VALOR  Trial randomized clinical trial designed to compare lung cancer surgery with stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) in patients with operable early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Because both approaches are potentially curative, ensuring that treatment is delivered exactly according to protocol is essential for patient safety and for the scientific validity of the study. In this report, investigators described the development and early performance of a centralized quality assurance program for the SBRT arm of VALOR, focusing on the first 100 treated participants across the Veterans Health Administration.”

Delaying immunotherapy does not worsen survival in extensive-stage small cell lung cancer
“Key Takeaways: Real-world timing of atezolizumab or durvalumab initiation (cycle 1 vs cycle ≥2) showed comparable median PFS (~5.8 months) and OS (~10 months) in ES-SCLC. Delayed starts were frequently driven by hospitalization, with additional contributors including radiation scheduling, insurance authorization delays, and hepatic dysfunction impacting treatment sequencing.”

ASCO Updates Guidelines for Advanced NSCLC Without Driver Mutations
“Updates to the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Living Guidelines for stage IV non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) without driver alterations reflect a maturing evidence base rather than sweeping change. As longer-term follow-up from landmark immunotherapy trials accumulates, clinicians are gaining a clearer picture of durability across PD-L1-defined subgroups while still navigating complex, subset-driven decision-making.”

When Small Cell Lung Cancer Hides from Immune Cells, Blood Vessels May Hold the Key
“BOSTON — Researchers at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute have uncovered why small cell lung cancer (SCLC) can stay largely out of reach of the immune system, even when the cancer cells themselves are vulnerable to immune attack. In the most common form of neuroendocrine SCLC, investigators found that tumor blood vessels can act like a gatekeeper, preventing natural killer (NK) cells from leaving the bloodstream and entering the tumor. When the researchers activated an immune “alarm” pathway called STING in the tumor’s vascular environment, NK cells were able to get into the tumor and kill cancer cells, with an even stronger effect when STING activation was combined with a DLL3-targeted CAR-NK cell therapy in preclinical models.”

How Much Is Enough? Ultra-Low Doses of Immunotherapy to Improve Access and Affordability
“The immunotherapy revolution has led to improved outcomes for patients with common solid tumors in wealthy countries, which, however, has bypassed many patients in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) because of the unaffordable cost of treatments.”

Utility of Tissue-of-Origin Algorithms in Cases Diagnosed as Lung Squamous Cell Carcinoma
“Molecular profiling has enabled substantial advancements in diagnostics and clinical care, including increasingly precise tumor classification and targeted therapies. Nevertheless, there are areas of diagnostic ambiguity that remain challenging, even with all currently available approaches.”

SystImmune, Inc. to Present New iza-bren (izalontamab brengitecan) Data in Extensive Stage Small Cell Lung Cancer at ELCC 2026
“”The data being presented at ELCC highlight the continued clinical progress of iza-bren and its potential as a novel treatment approach for patients with difficult-to-treat lung cancers,” said Jonathan Cheng, M.D., Chief Medical Officer of SystImmune. “We are encouraged by the safety and efficacy signals observed with iza-bren in combination with serplulimab in treatment-naïve patients with extensive-stage small cell lung cancer. These findings support further exploration of iza-bren–based combinations in earlier lines of therapy as we work to expand therapeutic options for patients with aggressive lung malignancies.””

Study shows AI-assisted risk model for lung nodules is cost-effective
“Risk prediction software using artificial intelligence can help determine whether pulmonary nodules detected during lung cancer screening need to be biopsied.”

PFOS, PFHA, Mono-Iso-Nonyl-Phthalate Can Predict Lung Cancer Mortality
“HealthDay News — A model composed of perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHA), and the plasticizer mono-iso-nonyl-phthalate can predict lung cancer mortality, according to a study published online March 4 in Clinical Cancer Research.”

Multidisciplinary Decision-Making and CNS-Penetrant Therapies Redefine Brain Metastases Management in Lung Cancer
“The growing availability of central nervous system (CNS)–penetrant targeted therapies is reshaping the management of brain metastases in select patients with lung cancer, challenging the long-standing priority of upfront local therapy, according to Laura Alder, MD.”

Biodesix Announces the Largest Lung Nodule Biomarker Clinical Validation Study Ever Published Supporting Earlier Lung Cancer Diagnosis
“LOUISVILLE, Colo., March 20, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Biodesix, Inc. (Nasdaq: BDSX), a leading diagnostics solutions company, announced the publication of the largest lung nodule biomarker clinical validation study ever conducted. This milestone strengthens the clinical foundation for Nodify CDT® tests as a critical decision-support tool in the early detection of lung cancer, addressing a significant unmet need in the management of the millions of lung nodules detected annually in the United States.”

Why Lung Cancer is Now “12 Different Diseases”
“Modern medical advancements have radically transformed our understanding of lung cancer. Rather than viewing it as a singular condition, oncology now treats it as a collection of distinct molecular subtypes. This evolution in targeted therapy presents a significant challenge: the sheer volume of complex information required to match specific molecular profiles with the appropriate treatment stages is staggering. Keeping pace with this rapidly shifting landscape demands a new level of expertise to ensure patients receive the most effective care.”

Bill to require radon mitigation looks to decrease lung cancer risks
“400 Iowans die annually from lung cancer caused by radon exposure results.”

Why lung cancer belongs in the women’s health conversation
“Cancer mortality in the United States has steadily declined for more than three decades, with millions of lives saved through smoking cessation, earlier detection, and improved treatment. But the epidemiology of lung cancer is shifting in ways we can no longer ignore. Beginning in 2021, lung cancer incidence in women under 65 surpassed that of men for the first time. The progress we are making in this disease is real, but it doesn’t tell the whole story.”

Common p53 genetic mutation reveals Achilles’ heel in lung cancer
“A team of researchers at VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center has identified a new pathway through which mutations in the tumor suppressor p53 gene—found very frequently in human tumors—hijack DNA replication in cancer cells. The new findings published in Cell Death & Differentiation support an innovative framework for how targeting this new pathway could help to stop the replication of lung tumor cells and thwart tumor growth.”

FDA Cites Manufacturing Issues in Lung Cancer Drug Rejection
“The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) declined the approval of retifanlimab-dlwr (Zynyz) for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) over concerns about the PD-1 inhibitor’s manufacturing plant.”

Picture Health publishes study findings for lung cancer AI biomarker
“Researchers found that QVT scores at the start of treatment independently predicted survival outcomes, and that early decreases in QVT scores during treatment appeared sooner than traditional tumor response measures, Picture Health said.”

Managing Myelosuppression in Small Cell Lung Cancer: The Case for Trilaciclib
“Trilaciclib protects bone marrow before SCLC chemotherapy, sharply reducing neutropenia, anemia, and thrombocytopenia, improving fatigue and keeping treatment on schedule without weakening tumor kill.”

A Bad Case of COVID or Flu May Raise Lung Cancer Risk Years Later
“New research from UVA Health’s Beirne B. Carter Center for Immunology Research and the UVA Comprehensive Cancer Center suggests that severe cases of COVID-19 and influenza may create conditions in the lungs that make cancer more likely to develop later. The study also found that vaccination appears to prevent these harmful effects.”

Tobacco tax, pesticide monitoring could help address Iowa’s high cancer rates, researchers say
“These UI researchers and staff presented preliminary information gathered in a yearlong research project conducted through a UI partnership with the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services. Lawmakers had approved $1 million in funding last year for the project, seeking to identify the factors leading to Iowa’s ranking as having the second-highest rate of new cancer cases in the country, and as one of only two states with a rising rate of new cancers in 2025.”

The telltale lung: A new clue for early-stage lung cancer
“Led by oncologist and cancer researcher Dr. Frank Weinberg, the scientists looked at lung cells and fluids from 20 cancer patients. They noticed the patients’ lungs shared a unique combination of molecules. That combination, they realized, is a telltale warning sign that can help them detect, treat and, perhaps, even prevent lung cancer in its earliest stages.”

Gaps in Lung Cancer Treatment Persist, Yale Study Finds
“In recent decades, lung cancer treatment has been transformed—new surgeries, new radiation techniques, and dramatically improved outcomes. But according to new research from Yale, published in JAMA Network Open, one thing has barely changed: who receives curative care.”

FDA approves HERNEXEOS®, the first targeted therapy for adults with HER2-mutant advanced NSCLC as an initial treatment option
“HERNEXEOS® (zongertinib tablets) approved based on an objective response rate of 76% (N=72) as demonstrated in the Beamion LUNG-1 clinical trial. Accelerated approval follows Breakthrough Therapy Designation and prior FDA approval for previously treated patients in August 2025”

New study identifies growth hormone receptor as possible target to improve lung cancer treatment
“Researchers at Ohio University have discovered what may be a new way to fight lung cancer that is resistant to other treatments. The study, led by Goll-Ohio Eminent Scholar and distinguished professor John J. Kopchick, Ph.D., and his graduate student Arshad Ahmad at the Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, found that blocking the growth hormone receptor may help make lung cancer treatments more effective.”

AI tool could help predict side effects from lung cancer treatment
“The study, published in Reports of Practical Oncology and Radiotherapy, focuses on the lung’s natural subunits, called lobes. Rather than treating the lung as a single organ, researchers have found that the radiation dose administered to specific lobes matters. Damage to certain lobes, particularly the lower ones, raises the risk of lung toxicity and side effects.”

Gut Microbiome as a Predictor of Dual Checkpoint Inhibition Benefit in Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer
“Dual immune checkpoint inhibition with ipilimumab plus nivolumab (I–N) represents an established therapeutic strategy for advanced non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), capable of producing durable responses even in tumors with low PD-L1 expression. However, clinical benefit remains restricted to a subset of patients, and the optimal integration of chemotherapy into dual immunotherapy regimens continues to represent a major unresolved clinical challenge.”

Do the “oldest old” non-small cell lung cancer patients experience the worst outcomes after radiotherapy?
“Conclusion: Patients with NSCLC aged >=80 years show no statistically significant differences in terms of faring even better after receiving radiotherapy for NSCLC with their younger counterparts. However, older patients with NSCLC had a trend of higher rates of severe thrombocytopenia and longer progression-free survival than younger patients with NSCLC. We could not verify our hypothesis; however, curative lung radiotherapy can be an effective and safe treatment for patients aged >=80 years.”

Lung Cancer Research Foundation Launches Small Cell Lung Cancer Grants in Collaboration with AstraZeneca
“NEW YORK, Feb. 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The Lung Cancer Research Foundation (LCRF) announces a new research collaboration with AstraZeneca aimed at driving progress in small cell lung cancer (SCLC) with two grant awards, 2026 LCRF | AstraZeneca Research Award on Strategies Towards Improving the Treatment of Small Cell Lung Cancer and 2026 LCRF | AstraZeneca Research Award on Strategies Using Patient Advocacy to Improve Outcomes in Small Cell Lung Cancer.”

ACS Report Shows 5-Year Survival for All Cancers Combined Has Reached 70%
“New data published by Siegel et al in the American Cancer Society’s (ACS) Cancer Statistics, 2026 report show that, for the first time, the 5-year survival rate for all cancers combined has reached 70% for individuals diagnosed during 2015 to 2021 in the United States. In addition, those diagnosed with high-mortality cancers and advanced diagnoses experienced the largest gains in survival. Still, in the United States, cancer remains the second-leading cause of death overall and the leading cause of death among those younger than age 85.”

Explainable active reinforcement deep learning improves lung cancer detection from CT images
“Lung cancer remains a global health challenge that requires early and accurate diagnosis through medical imaging analysis. This study introduces ARXAF-Net framework which integrates Active Reinforcement deep leaning with strategic feature engineering, selection, advanced classification techniques with Explainable AI.”

Air pollution and lung cancer: an investigation of county-level residual incidence rates with smoking eliminated
“Smoking is the leading cause of lung cancer and this can make it difficult to focus public attention on other preventable causes, like air pollution. To provide easily understandable quantitative information on the relative importance of smoking and air pollution as contributors to lung cancer, we used a two-stage regression method to simulate what would happen to county-level lung cancer rates if smoking were completely eliminated.”

FDA Grants Second Approval under the National Priority Voucher Pilot Program
“The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today issued an approval for the lung cancer drug Hernexeos (zongertinib) as a part of the new Commissioner’s National Priority Voucher (CNPV) pilot program. In the clinical trial data submitted to the agency, a remarkable 76% of previously untreated patients had a substantial decrease in tumor size, representing a significant improvement from the current standard of care whereby 30-45% of patients are typically expected to demonstrate this response.”

Why Lung Cancer Patients Feel Worse at Night: Sleep, Anxiety and Breathing Explained
“Night changes the perceptual landscape of illness. During the day, lung cancer patients are embedded in structure: appointments, imaging, multidisciplinary discussions, treatment planning. Cognitive bandwidth is occupied. Clinical reassurance is accessible. At night, this scaffolding dissolves. What remains is interoception — the awareness of internal bodily signals — and unmoderated cognition.”

How EPA’s New Rollbacks Could Fuel Toxic Pollution Nationwide
“Two years ago, we celebrated a huge victory for public health when the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced stronger rules to clean up power plant pollution. Unfortunately, since then the regulatory landscape has changed dramatically, with drastic consequences for air quality and lung health.”

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Examining Equity Gaps in Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Trials for NSCLC
“Key Takeaways: Persistent underrepresentation of women, older adults, and Black patients in NSCLC immune checkpoint inhibitor trials limits the generalizability of evidence used to guide clinical decision-making. Disparities in trial enrollment may mask clinically meaningful differences in immunotherapy response and survival across age, sex, and racial groups. Improving equitable trial access, community engagement, and diversity among clinical investigators is essential to ensure NSCLC treatment guidelines reflect real-world patient populations.”

Nivolumab plus ipilimumab with chemotherapy as first-line treatment of patients with metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer: final, 6-year outcomes from CheckMate 9LA
“This analysis highlights the durability of first-line nivolumab plus ipilimumab with limited chemotherapy in metastatic NSCLC, demonstrating sustained overall survival and long-term response across PD-L1 expression levels and histologies. The findings reinforce that the survival benefit observed in CheckMate 9LA is maintained in broader clinical practice, including patients with traditionally poorer prognostic features such as PD-L1–negative and squamous disease.”