Lung cancer (all types)
Lung cancer splits into non-small-cell (about 85 percent) and small-cell (about 15 percent) disease, which behave and are treated very differently. The subtype pages carry the detail; this page covers screening, staging and what the types share.
Overview
Lung cancer is divided by histology into non-small-cell lung cancer, itself split into adenocarcinoma, squamous and large-cell carcinoma, and small-cell lung cancer, a fast-growing neuroendocrine tumour almost always linked to smoking. Non-small-cell disease has more than a dozen targetable driver mutations and is treated with surgery, radiotherapy, targeted drugs and immunotherapy by stage and biology; small-cell disease is treated with chemotherapy, immunotherapy and radiotherapy and relapses quickly. Low-dose CT screening of heavy smokers cuts lung cancer deaths by about a fifth, and tobacco control remains the largest lever. Mesothelioma and thymic tumours are separate thoracic cancers.
State of the art
- Immunotherapy and targeted drugs have doubled or tripled survival in metastatic non-small-cell disease over a decade.
- CT screening is now recommended in the US, UK and much of Europe but uptake is low.
- Small-cell lung cancer has gained immunotherapy and the DLL3 T-cell engager tarlatamab after decades without progress.
Anatomy and lymph node drainage
Central tumours arise in the large airways, peripheral ones in the alveoli; both drain to hilar then mediastinal nodes, and the pleural lining is a separate cancer site.
- Central airways (squamous, small-cell)Non-small-cell lung cancer (adenocarcinoma, squamous, large cell) · Small-cell lung cancer · Carcinoid and other neuroendocrine tumours of the lung · Pleuropulmonary blastoma (childhood)
- Periphery (adenocarcinoma)Non-small-cell lung cancer (adenocarcinoma, squamous, large cell)
- Apex (Pancoast)
- Pleura (mesothelioma)
- Thymus (anterior mediastinum)Non-small-cell lung cancer (adenocarcinoma, squamous, large cell)
- hilar (N1)
- mediastinal (N2)
- supraclavicular (N3)
Same organ: Non-small-cell lung cancer, Small-cell lung cancer, Mesothelioma, Pleural mesothelioma, Thymoma and thymic carcinoma, Childhood lung and airway tumours (pleuropulmonary blastoma, tracheobronchial tumours), Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumour (IMT)
Show survival figures (1)
Averages across everyone diagnosed, often years ago. Your stage, subtype, age, fitness and the treatment you receive matter more than the average, and the numbers are improving quickly.
- The leading cause of cancer death worldwide, with about 2.5 million new cases and 1.8 million deaths a year; most cases are caused by smoking, and survival depends heavily on the stage at diagnosis.
- AI in radiologyEstablished
- cfDNA fragmentomicsEstablished
- Colorectal cancer screening (colonoscopy, FIT, stool DNA, blood)Standard of care
- DNA methylation profilingEstablished
- HCC surveillance in cirrhosis (ultrasound + AFP)Standard of care
- High-risk pancreatic surveillance (CAPS / PRECEDE)Established
- A 28-day national pathway for people with a positive multi-cancer blood test
- A breath test to rule out cancer in people with vague symptoms
- A cancer blood test for older people arriving at A&E with unexplained symptoms
- A legislated, publicly reported 28-day standard from urgent referral to diagnosis
- A live national dashboard of stage at diagnosis as the scorecard for early detection
- A single 'cancer check at 60' appointment bundling all screening tests
Background: Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), Barrett's oesophagus, CA 19-9, Early detection, Faecal immunochemical test (FIT). Also on OnCo: Symptoms and red flags · Early detection roadmap.
Cases by country
No country-level case numbers. This cancer is not mapped to a GLOBOCAN site.
Annual low-dose CT for people aged about 50 to 80 with a heavy smoking history (NLST, NELSON).
CT, PET-CT, bronchoscopy or CT-guided biopsy, endobronchial ultrasound of nodes, brain MRI; molecular testing on every non-squamous non-small-cell tumour.
By type and stage on the subtype pages: surgery or stereotactic radiotherapy for early disease, chemoradiation with immunotherapy for locally advanced, targeted or immune therapy for metastatic disease.
Subtypes & biomarkers
top- Non-small-cell lung cancer (adenocarcinoma, squamous, large cell)
- Small-cell lung cancer
- Carcinoid and other neuroendocrine tumours of the lung
- Pleuropulmonary blastoma (childhood)
How often this target appears
- 1950Doll and Hill link smoking to lung cancer
- 2004EGFR mutations explain gefitinib responses
- 2011NLST: CT screening cuts lung cancer deaths by 20 percent
- 2015Nivolumab approved: immunotherapy enters lung cancer
- 2024Tarlatamab: first targeted drug for small-cell lung cancer
What is in development for Lung cancer (all types), drawn from the whole corpus: 0 items. Drugs are grouped by the most advanced trial phase they have reached anywhere; approved treatments sit under standard of care. Technologies are the methods being tested for this cancer, trials are the studies recorded here, and ideas are proposals not yet in a trial.
Nothing recorded in development for this cancer yet.
Open problems and what is being done
Most patients still present with advanced disease.
and how the field plans to fix it →What is being done about thisFinding cancer earlierAvailable now- AI in radiologyEstablished
- cfDNA fragmentomicsEstablished
- Colorectal cancer screening (colonoscopy, FIT, stool DNA, blood)Standard of care
- DNA methylation profilingEstablished
- HCC surveillance in cirrhosis (ultrasound + AFP)Standard of care
- High-risk pancreatic surveillance (CAPS / PRECEDE)Established
In trialsIdeas and roadmaps- A 28-day national pathway for people with a positive multi-cancer blood test
- A breath test to rule out cancer in people with vague symptoms
- A cancer blood test for older people arriving at A&E with unexplained symptoms
- A legislated, publicly reported 28-day standard from urgent referral to diagnosis
- A live national dashboard of stage at diagnosis as the scorecard for early detection
- A single 'cancer check at 60' appointment bundling all screening tests
Background: Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), Barrett's oesophagus, CA 19-9, Early detection, Faecal immunochemical test (FIT). Also on OnCo: Symptoms and red flags · Early detection roadmap.
Resistance to every targeted drug emerges within one to three years.
and how the field plans to fix it →What is being done about thisResistance to treatmentAvailable now- AmivantamabApproved
- CamizestrantApproved
- Comprehensive genomic profilingStandard of care
- Liquid biopsy (ctDNA)Standard of care
- LorlatinibApproved
- MRD / molecular residual disease testingEstablished
In trials- ADC payload neutralisersPhase 1
- BGB-16673Phase 3
- Bispecific ADCPhase 3
- BRUIN CLL-321Positive
- CaDAnCe-304Recruiting
- CIRCULATE-Japan (GALAXY / VEGA / ALTAIR)Active
Ideas and roadmaps- A clone report from blood at every treatment cycle
- A fast route to the matched drug when it is licensed for another cancer
- A multi-cancer platform trial of adaptive (dose-holiday) therapy
- A national rapid research autopsy network for end-stage cancer
- A standard evolvability score for every tumour
- A standing platform trial that assigns treatment by how the tumour escaped
Background: ADC sequencing, Antigen escape (antigen loss, lineage switch), BCG-unresponsive, Castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC), Circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA). Also on OnCo: Resistance atlas · Lines of therapy.
Screening reaches a small fraction of those eligible.
and how the field plans to fix it →What is being done about thisFinding cancer earlierAvailable now- AI in radiologyEstablished
- cfDNA fragmentomicsEstablished
- Colorectal cancer screening (colonoscopy, FIT, stool DNA, blood)Standard of care
- DNA methylation profilingEstablished
- HCC surveillance in cirrhosis (ultrasound + AFP)Standard of care
- High-risk pancreatic surveillance (CAPS / PRECEDE)Established
In trialsIdeas and roadmaps- A 28-day national pathway for people with a positive multi-cancer blood test
- A breath test to rule out cancer in people with vague symptoms
- A cancer blood test for older people arriving at A&E with unexplained symptoms
- A legislated, publicly reported 28-day standard from urgent referral to diagnosis
- A live national dashboard of stage at diagnosis as the scorecard for early detection
- A single 'cancer check at 60' appointment bundling all screening tests
Background: Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), Barrett's oesophagus, CA 19-9, Early detection, Faecal immunochemical test (FIT). Also on OnCo: Symptoms and red flags · Early detection roadmap.
Small-cell lung cancer survival remains under a year for most with extensive disease.
Trials
topTrials recruiting now
Country and place are remembered in this browser only. A postcode is sent to OpenStreetMap's Nominatim service to find coordinates when you press the button; nothing else leaves your device.
Landmark trials
Expert centres
topExpert centres
- via Small-cell lung cancer
- via Small-cell lung cancer
- via Small-cell lung cancer
- via Non-small-cell lung cancer
- via Non-small-cell lung cancer, Small-cell lung cancer
- via SBRT / SABR (stereotactic radiotherapy)
- via Non-small-cell lung cancer
- Hospital Universitario 12 de OctubreMadrid, ESvia Non-small-cell lung cancer, Small-cell lung cancer, Tarlatamab
- via Non-small-cell lung cancer, Small-cell lung cancer, SBRT / SABR (stereotactic radiotherapy)
- Apollo Hospitals (Apollo Cancer Centres)Chennai, INvia Non-small-cell lung cancer, SBRT / SABR (stereotactic radiotherapy)
- Cancer Research UK Manchester InstituteManchester, GBvia Non-small-cell lung cancer, Small-cell lung cancer
- Guangdong Provincial People's HospitalGuangzhou, CNvia Non-small-cell lung cancer, Gefitinib
- via Non-small-cell lung cancer, SBRT / SABR (stereotactic radiotherapy)
- HealthCare Global EnterprisesBengaluru, INvia Non-small-cell lung cancer, SBRT / SABR (stereotactic radiotherapy)
- Hokkaido University HospitalSapporo, JPvia Non-small-cell lung cancer, SBRT / SABR (stereotactic radiotherapy)
- via Non-small-cell lung cancer, Small-cell lung cancer
- International Association for the Study of Lung CancerDenver, CO, USvia Non-small-cell lung cancer, Small-cell lung cancer
- IRCCS Humanitas Research HospitalRozzano (Milan), ITvia Non-small-cell lung cancer, SBRT / SABR (stereotactic radiotherapy)
- via Non-small-cell lung cancer, Nivolumab
- Koo Foundation Sun Yat-Sen Cancer CenterTaipei, TWvia Non-small-cell lung cancer, SBRT / SABR (stereotactic radiotherapy)
- Kyoto University HospitalKyoto, JPvia Non-small-cell lung cancer, Nivolumab
- via Non-small-cell lung cancer, Nivolumab
- National Cancer Center Hospital EastKashiwa, Chiba, JPvia Non-small-cell lung cancer, Nivolumab
- Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Institute and Research CentreNew Delhi, INvia Non-small-cell lung cancer, SBRT / SABR (stereotactic radiotherapy)
- Shanghai Chest HospitalShanghai, CNvia Non-small-cell lung cancer, Small-cell lung cancer
- Shanghai Pulmonary HospitalShanghai, CNvia Non-small-cell lung cancer, Small-cell lung cancer
- TROG Cancer ResearchNewcastle, NSW, AUvia Non-small-cell lung cancer, SBRT / SABR (stereotactic radiotherapy)
- Velindre Cancer CentreCardiff, GBvia Non-small-cell lung cancer, SBRT / SABR (stereotactic radiotherapy)
- West Japan Oncology GroupOsaka, JPvia Non-small-cell lung cancer, Small-cell lung cancer
- Aarhus University HospitalAarhus, DKvia SBRT / SABR (stereotactic radiotherapy)
- via Nivolumab
- Aichi Cancer CenterNagoya, JPvia Non-small-cell lung cancer
- American Society for Radiation OncologyArlington, VA, USvia SBRT / SABR (stereotactic radiotherapy)
- via SBRT / SABR (stereotactic radiotherapy)
- via Non-small-cell lung cancer
- via Non-small-cell lung cancer
- Canadian Cancer Trials Group (CCTG)Kingston, ON, CAvia SBRT / SABR (stereotactic radiotherapy)
- Cancer Care Alberta (Alberta Health Services)Calgary, AB, CAvia PET (positron emission tomography)
- via Non-small-cell lung cancer
- Cancer Council AustraliaSydney, AUvia Non-small-cell lung cancer
- Cancer Grand ChallengesLondon, GBvia Non-small-cell lung cancer
- Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CHUM)Montréal, QC, CAvia Non-small-cell lung cancer
- Centre Oscar LambretLille, FRvia SBRT / SABR (stereotactic radiotherapy)
- via Non-small-cell lung cancer
- via SBRT / SABR (stereotactic radiotherapy)
- Chang Gung Memorial HospitalTaoyuan, TWvia Non-small-cell lung cancer
- Chinese Society of Clinical OncologyBeijing, CNvia Non-small-cell lung cancer
- Chinese Thoracic Oncology GroupGuangzhou, CNvia Non-small-cell lung cancer
- Comprehensive Cancer Center Freiburg (CCCF)Freiburg im Breisgau, DEvia SBRT / SABR (stereotactic radiotherapy)
- via Nivolumab
- Erasmus MC Cancer InstituteRotterdam, NLvia Non-small-cell lung cancer
- ETOP IBCSG Partners FoundationBern, CHvia Non-small-cell lung cancer
- European Society for Radiotherapy and OncologyBrussels, BEvia SBRT / SABR (stereotactic radiotherapy)
- Fundación Arturo López PérezSantiago, CLvia SBRT / SABR (stereotactic radiotherapy)
- German Hodgkin Study GroupCologne, DEvia Nivolumab
- Hacettepe University Cancer InstituteAnkara, TRvia SBRT / SABR (stereotactic radiotherapy)
- Hadassah Medical CenterJerusalem, ILvia SBRT / SABR (stereotactic radiotherapy)
- Henan Cancer HospitalZhengzhou, CNvia Non-small-cell lung cancer
- Hospital Universitari i Politècnic La FeValencia, ESvia SBRT / SABR (stereotactic radiotherapy)
- Hunan Cancer HospitalChangsha, CNvia Non-small-cell lung cancer
- via Non-small-cell lung cancer
- Instituto Alexander FlemingBuenos Aires, ARvia Non-small-cell lung cancer
- Instituto Nacional de Câncer (INCA)Rio de Janeiro, BRvia Non-small-cell lung cancer
- Instituto Nacional de Cancerología (Mexico)Mexico City, MXvia Non-small-cell lung cancer
- via Non-small-cell lung cancer
- via Non-small-cell lung cancer
- via Non-small-cell lung cancer
- Istanbul University Institute of OncologyIstanbul, TRvia Non-small-cell lung cancer
- Japan Clinical Oncology Group (JCOG)Tokyo, JPvia Non-small-cell lung cancer
- Jiangsu Cancer HospitalNanjing, CNvia Non-small-cell lung cancer
- Jilin Cancer HospitalChangchun, CNvia Small-cell lung cancer
- King Hussein Cancer CenterAmman, JOvia Non-small-cell lung cancer
- Korean Cancer Study GroupSeoul, KRvia Non-small-cell lung cancer
- Kyushu University HospitalFukuoka, JPvia Non-small-cell lung cancer
- via Non-small-cell lung cancer
- via Non-small-cell lung cancer
- via Non-small-cell lung cancer
- via Non-small-cell lung cancer
- Max Healthcare (Max Institute of Cancer Care)New Delhi, INvia Non-small-cell lung cancer
- via Non-small-cell lung cancer
- National Cancer Center KoreaGoyang, KRvia Non-small-cell lung cancer
- National Cancer Centre SingaporeSingapore, SGvia Non-small-cell lung cancer
- via Non-small-cell lung cancer
- National Taiwan University HospitalTaipei, TWvia Non-small-cell lung cancer
- via Non-small-cell lung cancer
- Osaka International Cancer InstituteOsaka, JPvia Non-small-cell lung cancer
- via Non-small-cell lung cancer
- Queen Mary Hospital / University of Hong KongHong Kong, HKvia Non-small-cell lung cancer
- Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University HospitalCopenhagen, DKvia Non-small-cell lung cancer
- Shizuoka Cancer CenterNagaizumi, Shizuoka, JPvia Non-small-cell lung cancer
- Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular ImagingReston, VA, USvia PET (positron emission tomography)
- Stand Up To CancerLos Angeles, USvia Non-small-cell lung cancer
- Sunnybrook Odette Cancer CentreToronto, ON, CAvia SBRT / SABR (stereotactic radiotherapy)
- SWOG Cancer Research NetworkPortland, OR, USvia Nivolumab
- Taipei Veterans General HospitalTaipei, TWvia Non-small-cell lung cancer
- The Francis Crick InstituteLondon, GBvia Non-small-cell lung cancer
- Tohoku University HospitalSendai, JPvia Non-small-cell lung cancer
- via Non-small-cell lung cancer
- UMC Utrecht Cancer CenterUtrecht, NLvia SBRT / SABR (stereotactic radiotherapy)
- via Non-small-cell lung cancer
- via Non-small-cell lung cancer
- via Non-small-cell lung cancer
- via Non-small-cell lung cancer
- via Non-small-cell lung cancer
- via Non-small-cell lung cancer
- via Non-small-cell lung cancer
- University of Maryland Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer CenterBaltimore, MD, USNCI comprehensivevia SBRT / SABR (stereotactic radiotherapy)
- via Non-small-cell lung cancer
- via Non-small-cell lung cancer
- via SBRT / SABR (stereotactic radiotherapy)
- via Non-small-cell lung cancer
- via Nivolumab
- via Non-small-cell lung cancer
- via Non-small-cell lung cancer
- Zhejiang Cancer HospitalHangzhou, CNvia Non-small-cell lung cancer
Questions to ask
topQuestions to ask your oncologist about Lung cancer
Newly diagnosed
- What is my exact diagnosis, stage, and grade, and which tests established them?Why: Everything else follows from an accurate stage and subtype.
- Which biomarkers have been tested on my tumour (for example EGFR, ALK, ROS1, KRAS G12C, BRAF V600E, MET exon 14, RET, NTRK, HER2 mutations, PD-L1 expression, Stage by TNM and PET-CT, Circulating tumour DNA for minimal residual disease), and what were the results?Why: These results decide eligibility for targeted therapy, immunotherapy, and trials.
- Which subtype is my cancer, and does that change the recommended treatment?Why: Recognised subtypes for this cancer include Non-small-cell lung cancer, Small-cell lung cancer, Carcinoid and other neuroendocrine tumours of the lung.
- Is germline (inherited) genetic testing recommended for me or my family?Why: Inherited variants can change treatment and matter for relatives.
Screening
- For my situation (screening), which of the standard options do you recommend and why?Why: Guideline options include: Annual low-dose CT for people aged about 50 to 80 with a heavy smoking history (NLST, NELSON).
- How do the results of NLST & NELSON (low-dose CT screening) apply to someone like me?Why: Trial populations differ from individual patients; ask how closely you match.
Diagnosis and staging
- For my situation (diagnosis and staging), which of the standard options do you recommend and why?Why: Guideline options include: CT, PET-CT, bronchoscopy or CT-guided biopsy, endobronchial ultrasound of nodes, brain MRI; molecular testing on every non-squamous non-small-cell tumour.
Treatment
- For my situation (treatment), which of the standard options do you recommend and why?Why: Guideline options include: By type and stage on the subtype pages: surgery or stereotactic radiotherapy for early disease, chemoradiation with immunotherapy for locally advanced, targeted or immune therapy for metastatic disease.
Any stage
- Would a second opinion at a high-volume centre change anything, and can you help arrange it?Why: Rare or high-stakes decisions benefit from a centre that treats many similar patients.
- What supportive care (symptom control, nutrition, exercise, mental health, financial help) is available from the start?Why: Supportive care improves quality of life and helps patients complete treatment.
- I read that “Most patients still present with advanced disease”. How does that affect my plan?Why: Open problems are where trials and second opinions matter most.
- I read that “Resistance to every targeted drug emerges within one to three years”. How does that affect my plan?Why: Open problems are where trials and second opinions matter most.
Print this page for your appointment (your browser's print command). These prompts are for discussion; your clinical team knows your case.
Direct links plus the targets, companies, and technologies of this cancer's products.
technologies
5targets
4drugs
3companies
3trials
1Latest papers
topQuery for this cancer: (TITLE:"Lung cancer" OR ABSTRACT:"Lung cancer" OR TITLE:"all types" OR ABSTRACT:"all types" OR TITLE:"Bronchogenic carcinoma" OR ABSTRACT:"Bronchogenic carcinoma" OR TITLE:"Lung carcinoma" OR ABSTRACT:"Lung carcinoma") AND (treatment OR therapy OR trial OR survival OR diagnosis). Results are unfiltered search hits about Lung cancer (all types), not a curated reading list.
Similar pages
not linked directly; found by shared links- TrialA Study of Ramucirumab (LY3009806) in Combination With Erlotinib in Previously Untreated Participants With EGFR Mutation-Positive Metastatic NSCLC (RE
Shares Gefitinib, Small-cell lung cancer, Non-small-cell lung cancer.
- TechnologyNHS Targeted Lung Health Check (lung cancer screening programme)
Shares NLST & NELSON (low-dose CT screening), Small-cell lung cancer, Non-small-cell lung cancer.
- PersonSe-Hoon Lee
Shares Tarlatamab, Small-cell lung cancer, Non-small-cell lung cancer.
- TrialA Phase 2 Study of Tarlatamab in Patients With Small Cell Lung Cancer (SCLC)
Shares Tarlatamab, Small-cell lung cancer.
- TrialStudy Evaluating Tarlatamab After Chemoradiotherapy in Limited-Stage Small-Cell Lung Cancer (LS-SCLC)
Shares Tarlatamab, Small-cell lung cancer.
- TrialStudy Evaluating Tarlatamab in Chinese Participants With Advanced Small Cell Lung Cancer After Two or More Prior Lines of Treatment
Shares Tarlatamab, Small-cell lung cancer.
- TrialA Phase 2, Open-label, Randomized, Multicenter Study of Tarlatamab Dosing Regimens in Subjects With SCLC
Shares Tarlatamab, Small-cell lung cancer.
- TrialPhase 3 Trial of Tarlatamab (SC vs IV) in Extensive-Stage Small Cell Lung Cancer After Platinum Based First-line Chemotherapy (ES-SCLC)
Shares Tarlatamab, Small-cell lung cancer.