Non-small-cell lung cancer
Non-small-cell lung cancer is the biggest cancer killer, and the proving ground for precision medicine: a dozen targetable mutations, immunotherapy for the rest, and ADCs and bispecifics arriving now.
Non-small-cell lung cancer is ~85% of lung cancer and the leading cause of cancer death worldwide (~1.8 million deaths a year, all lung cancer). Adenocarcinoma (~50%) and squamous cell carcinoma (~25-30%) dominate; large-cell and other histologies make up the rest. Roughly half of adenocarcinomas carry a targetable driver (EGFR ~15% Western/40-50% East Asian, KRAS ~30% Western, ALK ~5%, MET ex14 ~3%, HER2 ~2-3%, BRAF V600E ~2%, RET ~1-2%, ROS1 ~1-2%, NTRK <1%), which makes broad genomic profiling at diagnosis mandatory. Tobacco drives most squamous and KRAS-mutant disease; never-smoker adenocarcinoma, increasingly common in East Asian women, is EGFR- and ALK-enriched.
Care is organised by stage and driver. Low-dose CT screening (NLST, NELSON) cuts mortality but is under-used. Early-stage disease is resected (lobectomy or, for small peripheral tumours, segmentectomy) or ablated with SBRT; perioperative immunotherapy (CheckMate 816, KEYNOTE-671) and adjuvant targeted therapy (ADAURA for EGFR, ALINA for ALK) are standard. Stage III unresectable disease gets chemoradiation followed by durvalumab (PACIFIC) or osimertinib if EGFR-mutant (LAURA). Metastatic driver-positive disease receives a matched TKI or bispecific first (osimertinib or amivantamab-lazertinib; lorlatinib or alectinib; repotrectinib or zidesamtinib; sotorasib or adagrasib after chemo-IO; selpercatinib; capmatinib or tepotinib; zongertinib or sevabertinib; dabrafenib-trametinib), then chemotherapy and ADCs (Dato-DXd approved 2025 in EGFR-mutant disease). Driver-negative metastatic disease gets PD-(L)1 blockade with or without platinum doublets depending on PD-L1 TPS, with tremelimumab-durvalumab-chemotherapy for PD-L1-negative and STK11/KEAP1-altered tumours.
The frontier is fourfold: (1) beating osimertinib and pembrolizumab head-to-head (MARIPOSA succeeded; HARMONi-2 succeeded in China while HARMONi-3 missed its interim PFS analysis in May 2026, with an FDA decision on ivonescimab due 14 November 2026); (2) next-generation TKIs that clear compound resistance (neladalkib PDUFA 27 November 2026; divarasib superior to first-generation KRAS inhibitors in Krascendo 1); (3) ADCs and bispecific ADCs after TKI failure, tempered by HERTHENA-Lung02's failure to improve survival and TROPION-Lung01's mixed result; and (4) earlier intervention via MRD-guided adjuvant therapy, neoadjuvant targeted therapy (NeoADAURA), and AI-assisted screening.
State of the art today
- First regimen to beat osimertinib (MARIPOSA) and first to beat pembrolizumab (ivonescimab, China).
- Twelve targetable drivers each have an approved matched therapy; two oral HER2 TKIs (zongertinib, sevabertinib) arrived in 2025-26.
- First-in-class bispecific ivonescimab beat pembrolizumab on PFS and OS in China; the US decision (PDUFA 14 Nov 2026) hinges on HARMONi.
Show survival figures (7)
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.
- 5-year PFS 60% with lorlatinib in ALK+ disease.
- Adjuvant osimertinib halves death risk.
- Lorlatinib: 5-year PFS 60% in ALK-positive disease, the longest for any targeted therapy in metastatic solid tumours.
- Adjuvant osimertinib halves the risk of death (ADAURA, OS HR 0.49); adjuvant alectinib cuts recurrence by 76% (ALINA).
- Amivantamab + lazertinib is the first regimen to beat osimertinib, with median OS more than 12 months longer (MARIPOSA).
- Perioperative chemo-immunotherapy improves survival in resectable disease (CheckMate 816, KEYNOTE-671).
- 5-year survival with pembrolizumab in PD-L1-high disease is ~32%, unthinkable a decade ago.
~85% of lung cancer; lung cancer kills ~1.8 million people a year, more than any other cancer.
Where the cases are
Site: Trachea, bronchus and lung (shared total; subtype split not reported). World: 2,480,675 new cases, 1,817,469 deaths.
| # | Country | New cases | Deaths | Incidence ASR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | China | 1,060,584 | 733,291 | |
| 2 | United States of America | 226,033 | 127,653 | |
| 3 | Japan | 136,723 | 83,243 | |
| 4 | India | 81,748 | 75,031 | |
| 5 | Russian Federation | 70,362 | 51,887 | |
| 6 | Germany | 62,025 | 47,731 | |
| 7 | United Kingdom | 50,700 | 35,394 | |
| 8 | France (metropolitan) | 49,613 | 36,876 | |
| 9 | Brazil | 44,213 | 38,292 | |
| 10 | Italy | 43,808 | 35,668 |
GLOBOCAN does not split lung cancer by histology. NSCLC is roughly 85% of lung cancer; figures are for all lung cancer.
Annual low-dose CT for high-risk smokers (NLST, NELSON); AI nodule scoring emerging.
Surgery or SBRT; perioperative chemo-immunotherapy; adjuvant osimertinib (EGFR) or alectinib (ALK).
Chemoradiation → durvalumab (PACIFIC) or osimertinib (LAURA, EGFR).
Matched TKI or bispecific; ADCs after progression.
PD-(L)1 ± chemotherapy; docetaxel or ADC/TTFields second line.
Annual low-dose CT with Lung-RADS reporting; AI nodule scoring emerging; robotic bronchoscopy for peripheral nodule biopsy.
Lobectomy or segmentectomy (small peripheral) with nodal staging; SBRT if inoperable. Stage IB-IIIA: neoadjuvant chemo-IO (CheckMate 816) or perioperative chemo-IO (KEYNOTE-671); adjuvant osimertinib if EGFR-mutant (ADAURA), alectinib if ALK-positive (ALINA); adjuvant chemotherapy otherwise for stage II+.
Concurrent platinum chemoradiation → durvalumab 1 year (PACIFIC), or osimertinib until progression if EGFR-mutant (LAURA). Proton therapy in selected cases.
First line: osimertinib ± platinum-pemetrexed (FLAURA2) or amivantamab + lazertinib (MARIPOSA, OS benefit). Progression: re-biopsy/ctDNA; amivantamab + chemotherapy (MARIPOSA-2), Dato-DXd (TROPION-Lung05), platinum doublet; MET TKI add-on if MET-amplified; platinum-etoposide if small-cell transformation.
Amivantamab + platinum-pemetrexed (PAPILLON); sunvozertinib later line.
Lorlatinib (CROWN; 5-year PFS 60%) or alectinib first line; on progression, neladalkib (under review) or lorlatinib if not used; local therapy for oligoprogression; chemotherapy.
Repotrectinib or zidesamtinib (2026) first line; entrectinib/crizotinib alternatives.
First line: PD-(L)1 ± chemotherapy by PD-L1 (G12C inhibitor + IO combinations in phase 3: olomorasib SUNRAY-01, divarasib Krascendo 2). Second line: sotorasib or adagrasib (CodeBreaK 200, KRYSTAL-12); divarasib superior head-to-head (Krascendo 1, 2026).
Dabrafenib + trametinib or encorafenib + binimetinib first line; chemo-IO as alternative.
Capmatinib or tepotinib first line; telisotuzumab vedotin for c-Met-overexpressing EGFR-wild-type disease after chemotherapy (accelerated 2025).
Selpercatinib first line (LIBRETTO-431); pralsetinib alternative.
First line: zongertinib (2026) or chemo-IO; sevabertinib (Nov 2025) or T-DXd after prior therapy.
Larotrectinib, entrectinib, or repotrectinib (tumour-agnostic).
Pembrolizumab (KEYNOTE-024) or cemiplimab monotherapy; add chemotherapy for high burden or rapid progression. Ivonescimab beat pembrolizumab in China (HARMONi-2); not approved in the US.
Pembrolizumab + platinum doublet (KEYNOTE-189 non-squamous; KEYNOTE-407 squamous); nivolumab + ipilimumab ± chemotherapy; tremelimumab + durvalumab + chemotherapy for PD-L1-negative or STK11/KEAP1-altered disease. Second line: docetaxel ± ramucirumab, TTFields, or trials of ADCs.
Pembrolizumab + carboplatin + (nab-)paclitaxel (KEYNOTE-407); no ADC approved (TROPION-Lung01 showed no benefit in squamous); ivonescimab + chemotherapy under study (HARMONi-3).
Subtypes & biomarkers
top- Adenocarcinoma
- Squamous
- EGFR-mutant
- ALK-rearranged
- KRAS-mutant
- PD-L1-high
- Adenocarcinoma (~50%)
- Squamous cell carcinoma (~25-30%)
- Large-cell / NOS
- EGFR-mutant (exon 19 del, L858R, exon 20 ins, uncommon)
- ROS1-rearranged
- KRAS G12C and non-G12C
- BRAF V600E
- MET exon 14 skipping / MET-amplified
- RET-fusion
- HER2-mutant
- NTRK-fusion
- Driver-negative PD-L1-high (TPS ≥50%)
- Driver-negative PD-L1-low/negative
- STK11/KEAP1 co-mutated (IO-resistant)
- EGFR
- ALK
- ROS1
- BRAF V600E
- MET ex14 / amplification / c-MET IHC
- RET
- NTRK
- KRAS G12C
- HER2 mutation
- PD-L1 TPS
- ctDNA
- PD-L1 TPS (22C3)
- EGFR (exon 19 del, L858R, exon 20 ins, T790M, C797S)
- ALK fusion
- ROS1 fusion
- KRAS G12C (and G12D/V)
- MET exon 14 skipping, MET amplification, c-Met IHC
- RET fusion
- HER2 (ERBB2) mutation
- NTRK fusion
- STK11 / KEAP1 (prognostic, IO resistance)
- TP53 / RB1 (transformation risk)
- ctDNA (genotyping, MRD, resistance tracking)
- TMB (limited use)
Target prevalence in this cancer
| Target / alteration | Prevalence | Measure | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| HER3 EGFR-mutant NSCLC in HERTHENA-Lung01 | 80-90% | IHC, any expression | Wikipedia |
| Folate receptor alpha | 70-80% | Adenocarcinoma, any expression | Wikipedia |
| TROP2 Adenocarcinoma and squamous | 60-70% | IHC, moderate-high | PMC |
| PD-1 | 20-45% | Response by PD-L1 stratum (proxy) | Wikipedia |
| KRAS G12C ~13% of adenocarcinoma | 25-30% | Adenocarcinoma, any KRAS mutation | cBioPortal (TCGA) |
| PD-L1 ~60-65% TPS >=1% | 25-30% | TPS >=50% | Wikipedia |
| MAGE-A4 | 20-30% | Squamous enriched | Wikipedia |
| CEACAM5 Non-squamous, CARMEN threshold | 20-25% | High expression (>=50% cells 2+/3+) | Wikipedia |
| PRMT5 (MTAP-deleted cancers) | 15% | MTAP deletion | |
| EGFR 40-50% in East Asian adenocarcinoma | 10-15% | Activating mutation (US/Europe) | cBioPortal (TCGA) |
| ATR | 5-10% | ATM loss/mutation (sensitising context) | cBioPortal (TCGA) |
| ALK Younger never-smokers | 3-5% | Rearrangement | cBioPortal (TCGA) |
| MET Amplification in 5-20% post-EGFR TKI; c-MET overexpression ~25% of non-squamous | 3-4% | Exon 14 skipping | cBioPortal (TCGA) |
| BRAF | 2-4% | V600E and non-V600 | cBioPortal (TCGA) |
| HER2 | 2-3% | ERBB2 exon 20 mutation | cBioPortal (TCGA) |
| RET | 1-2% | Fusion | cBioPortal (TCGA) |
| TIGIT | n/a | Immune-cell target; PD-L1 used for selection | Wikipedia |
How common each drug target or alteration is in this cancer. Population-level and approximate; see the target page for detail. Full matrix.
- 2002Gefitinib approved; dramatic responses in a minority
- 2004EGFR mutations explain gefitinib responses
- 2004EGFR mutations explain gefitinib responses
Lynch, Paez, and Pao identify activating EGFR mutations; the birth of lung cancer precision medicine.
- 2007EML4-ALK fusion discovered
- 2007EML4-ALK fusion discovered
Soda et al.; crizotinib approved 2011.
- 2011NLST: CT screening reduces mortality 20%
- 2011NLST: low-dose CT screening reduces mortality 20%
- 2015Nivolumab beats docetaxel; immunotherapy era
- 2015Nivolumab beats docetaxel: immunotherapy era
CheckMate 017/057; pembrolizumab first line for PD-L1 ≥50% follows (KEYNOTE-024, 2016).
- 2017PACIFIC: durvalumab consolidation in stage III
- 2018Osimertinib first line (FLAURA); first tumour-agnostic approval (larotrectinib)
- 2020ADAURA: adjuvant osimertinib; MET and RET inhibitors approved
- 2021First KRAS inhibitor (sotorasib)
- 2021Sotorasib: first KRAS inhibitor; amivantamab for exon 20 insertions
- 2022CheckMate 816: neoadjuvant immunotherapy; tremelimumab-durvalumab (POSEIDON)
- 2023MARIPOSA beats osimertinib; KEYNOTE-671 perioperative IO; ALINA adjuvant alectinib; repotrectinib approved
- 2024LAURA (osimertinib after chemoradiation); HARMONi-2: ivonescimab beats pembrolizumab in China; lazertinib approved
- 2025First MET ADC and first-line amivantamab OS benefit
- 2025First MET ADC (telisotuzumab vedotin); Dato-DXd in EGFR-mutant disease; MARIPOSA OS benefit; HER3-DXd BLA withdrawn; zongertinib and sevabertinib approved
- 2026Zongertinib first line; zidesamtinib (ROS1) approved; divarasib beats first-generation KRAS inhibitors; neladalkib and ivonescimab under FDA review
Open problems
- Resistance to every TKI.
- Squamous histology has few targets.
- Screening uptake below 20% in the US.
- Screening uptake is under 20% in the US and lower elsewhere; never-smoker adenocarcinoma has no screening pathway.
- Resistance to every TKI is near-universal in metastatic disease; C797S has no approved fourth-generation EGFR inhibitor and small-cell transformation is undetectable by ctDNA.
- Squamous cell carcinoma has almost no targeted options and no approved ADC.
- KRAS G12C inhibitors add only ~1-2 months of PFS over docetaxel; non-G12C KRAS (G12D, G12V) remains undrugged outside trials.
- STK11/KEAP1 co-mutated and PD-L1-negative tumours respond poorly to immunotherapy.
- ADCs after TKI failure have not yet shown a survival benefit over platinum chemotherapy (HERTHENA-Lung02, TROPION-Lung01), and ILD limits combinations.
- Brain metastases occur in 30-50% of driver-positive patients; CNS activity now drives TKI choice but leptomeningeal disease remains lethal.
- Global access: most of the world's lung cancer patients never receive genomic profiling.
Trials
topRecruiting now (live from ClinicalTrials.gov)
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Landmark trials in OnCo
Expert centres
topCentres linked to this cancer in OnCo
- via Proton therapy
- via Proton therapy
- via Datopotamab deruxtecan, Trastuzumab deruxtecan
- via this cancer
- Johns Hopkins Hospital / Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer CenterBaltimore, USNewsweek oncology #10NCI comprehensivevia Pembrolizumab
- via Datopotamab deruxtecan, Trastuzumab deruxtecan
- via this cancer
- via Proton therapy
- via Proton therapy
- via Robotic & minimally invasive surgery
- via Proton therapy
- via Encorafenib
- via SBRT / SABR (stereotactic radiotherapy)
- via this cancer
- via Sacituzumab tirumotecan
- via Izalontamab brengitecan
- Shanghai Chest HospitalShanghai, CNvia this cancer, Ivonescimab, Osimertinib, Amivantamab +6
- National Cancer Center Hospital EastKashiwa, Chiba, JPvia this cancer, MRD / molecular residual disease testing, Nivolumab, Proton therapy +4
- Guangdong Provincial People's HospitalGuangzhou, CNvia this cancer, ADAURA, Osimertinib, FLAURA2 +2
- Shanghai Pulmonary HospitalShanghai, CNvia this cancer, CT (computed tomography), Robotic & minimally invasive surgery, EGFR +1
- via this cancer, Lorlatinib, ROS1, NTRK +1
- Apollo Hospitals (Apollo Cancer Centres)Chennai, INvia this cancer, SBRT / SABR (stereotactic radiotherapy), Robotic & minimally invasive surgery, Proton therapy
- Hokkaido University HospitalSapporo, JPvia this cancer, SBRT / SABR (stereotactic radiotherapy), IMRT / IGRT (modern external beam), Proton therapy
- IRCCS Humanitas Research HospitalRozzano (Milan), ITvia this cancer, SBRT / SABR (stereotactic radiotherapy), Durvalumab, IMRT / IGRT (modern external beam)
- National Taiwan University HospitalTaipei, TWvia this cancer, Osimertinib, Proton therapy, EGFR
- Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Institute and Research CentreNew Delhi, INvia this cancer, SBRT / SABR (stereotactic radiotherapy), IMRT / IGRT (modern external beam), Robotic & minimally invasive surgery
- via this cancer, SBRT / SABR (stereotactic radiotherapy), IMRT / IGRT (modern external beam), Proton therapy
- Aarhus University HospitalAarhus, DKvia SBRT / SABR (stereotactic radiotherapy), IMRT / IGRT (modern external beam), Proton therapy
- Aichi Cancer CenterNagoya, JPvia this cancer, EGFR, ALK
- American Society for Radiation OncologyArlington, VA, USvia SBRT / SABR (stereotactic radiotherapy), IMRT / IGRT (modern external beam), Proton therapy
- via this cancer, MRD / molecular residual disease testing, Proton therapy
- Chang Gung Memorial HospitalTaoyuan, TWvia this cancer, Robotic & minimally invasive surgery, Proton therapy
- Children's Hospital of PhiladelphiaPhiladelphia, PA, USvia Lorlatinib, Proton therapy, ALK
- Erasmus MC Cancer InstituteRotterdam, NLvia this cancer, CT (computed tomography), Proton therapy
- European Society for Radiotherapy and OncologyBrussels, BEvia SBRT / SABR (stereotactic radiotherapy), IMRT / IGRT (modern external beam), Proton therapy
- Hospital Universitario 12 de OctubreMadrid, ESvia this cancer, MRD / molecular residual disease testing, Durvalumab
- International Association for the Study of Lung CancerDenver, CO, USvia this cancer, AI in radiology, CT (computed tomography)
- Istituto di Candiolo IRCCS – FPOCandiolo, ITvia MET, HER2, EGFR
- via this cancer, Nivolumab, Ipilimumab
- Kyushu University HospitalFukuoka, JPvia this cancer, Robotic & minimally invasive surgery, RET
- via this cancer, IMRT / IGRT (modern external beam), Proton therapy
- via this cancer, Low-dose CT lung screening, Proton therapy
- National Cancer Center KoreaGoyang, KRvia this cancer, CT (computed tomography), Proton therapy
- National Cancer Centre SingaporeSingapore, SGvia this cancer, Proton therapy, EGFR
- TROG Cancer ResearchNewcastle, NSW, AUvia this cancer, SBRT / SABR (stereotactic radiotherapy), IMRT / IGRT (modern external beam)
- via this cancer, Osimertinib, EGFR
- Velindre Cancer CentreCardiff, GBvia this cancer, SBRT / SABR (stereotactic radiotherapy), IMRT / IGRT (modern external beam)
- via Nivolumab, Proton therapy, Ipilimumab
- via this cancer, Osimertinib, EGFR
- Zhejiang Cancer HospitalHangzhou, CNvia this cancer, IMRT / IGRT (modern external beam), Proton therapy
- via Nivolumab, Proton therapy
- Alliance for Clinical Trials in OncologyChicago, IL, USvia Pembrolizumab, Carboplatin
- via this cancer, Robotic & minimally invasive surgery
- Cancer Research UK Manchester InstituteManchester, GBvia this cancer, MRD / molecular residual disease testing
- Centre Antoine LacassagneNice, FRvia IMRT / IGRT (modern external beam), Proton therapy
- Centre Oscar LambretLille, FRvia SBRT / SABR (stereotactic radiotherapy), IMRT / IGRT (modern external beam)
- via this cancer, KRAS & RAS inhibitors
- via SBRT / SABR (stereotactic radiotherapy), Robotic & minimally invasive surgery
- via MRD / molecular residual disease testing, IMRT / IGRT (modern external beam)
- Chinese Society of Clinical OncologyBeijing, CNvia this cancer, Ivonescimab
- Cleveland Clinic Abu DhabiAbu Dhabi, AEvia Robotic & minimally invasive surgery, Proton therapy
- Comprehensive Cancer Center Freiburg (CCCF)Freiburg im Breisgau, DEvia SBRT / SABR (stereotactic radiotherapy), IMRT / IGRT (modern external beam)
- via Nivolumab, Ipilimumab
- FDA Oncology Center of ExcellenceSilver Spring, MD, USvia MRD / molecular residual disease testing, Tumour-agnostic (tissue-agnostic) approval
- Fundación Arturo López PérezSantiago, CLvia SBRT / SABR (stereotactic radiotherapy), Robotic & minimally invasive surgery
- German Breast Group (GBG)Neu-Isenburg, DEvia Durvalumab, Carboplatin
- via IMRT / IGRT (modern external beam), Robotic & minimally invasive surgery
- Hacettepe University Cancer InstituteAnkara, TRvia SBRT / SABR (stereotactic radiotherapy), IMRT / IGRT (modern external beam)
- via this cancer, SBRT / SABR (stereotactic radiotherapy)
- HealthCare Global EnterprisesBengaluru, INvia this cancer, SBRT / SABR (stereotactic radiotherapy)
- Hunan Cancer HospitalChangsha, CNvia this cancer, IMRT / IGRT (modern external beam)
- Institute of Oncology LjubljanaLjubljana, SIvia IMRT / IGRT (modern external beam), Carboplatin
- Instituto Alexander FlemingBuenos Aires, ARvia this cancer, HER2
- IRCCS Ospedale San RaffaeleMilan, ITvia Robotic & minimally invasive surgery, HER2
- via this cancer, Robotic & minimally invasive surgery
- Istanbul University Institute of OncologyIstanbul, TRvia this cancer, IMRT / IGRT (modern external beam)
- via MRD / molecular residual disease testing, IMRT / IGRT (modern external beam)
- Koo Foundation Sun Yat-Sen Cancer CenterTaipei, TWvia this cancer, SBRT / SABR (stereotactic radiotherapy)
- Kyoto University HospitalKyoto, JPvia this cancer, Nivolumab
- via this cancer, Nivolumab
- via this cancer, Pembrolizumab
- via this cancer, Low-dose CT lung screening
- via Proton therapy, HER2
- via this cancer, Robotic & minimally invasive surgery
- via IMRT / IGRT (modern external beam), Proton therapy
- Osaka International Cancer InstituteOsaka, JPvia this cancer, Robotic & minimally invasive surgery
- via Osimertinib, Trastuzumab deruxtecan
- Queen Mary Hospital / University of Hong KongHong Kong, HKvia this cancer, Robotic & minimally invasive surgery
- Rigshospitalet – Copenhagen University HospitalCopenhagen, DKvia this cancer, IMRT / IGRT (modern external beam)
- Royal Adelaide HospitalAdelaide, AUvia IMRT / IGRT (modern external beam), Proton therapy
- Shizuoka Cancer CenterNagaizumi, Shizuoka, JPvia this cancer, Proton therapy
- Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol UniversityBangkok, THvia IMRT / IGRT (modern external beam), Robotic & minimally invasive surgery
- via MRD / molecular residual disease testing, Proton therapy
- via IMRT / IGRT (modern external beam), Robotic & minimally invasive surgery
- UMC Utrecht Cancer CenterUtrecht, NLvia SBRT / SABR (stereotactic radiotherapy), IMRT / IGRT (modern external beam)
- via this cancer, Proton therapy
- via this cancer, Proton therapy
- via this cancer, Optune / Optune Pax (TTFields)
- University of Maryland Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer CenterBaltimore, MD, USNCI comprehensivevia SBRT / SABR (stereotactic radiotherapy), Proton therapy
- UZ Leuven / Leuven Cancer InstituteLeuven, BEvia Proton therapy, EGFR
- via this cancer, IMRT / IGRT (modern external beam)
- Weizmann Institute of ScienceRehovot, ILvia HER2, EGFR
- West Japan Oncology GroupOsaka, JPvia this cancer, Osimertinib
- A.C. Camargo Cancer CenterSão Paulo, BRvia Robotic & minimally invasive surgery
- American Society of HematologyWashington, DC, USvia MRD / molecular residual disease testing
- via SBRT / SABR (stereotactic radiotherapy)
- via this cancer
- via MRD / molecular residual disease testing
- via KRAS & RAS inhibitors
- Canadian Cancer Trials Group (CCTG)Kingston, ON, CAvia SBRT / SABR (stereotactic radiotherapy)
- Cancer Council AustraliaSydney, AUvia this cancer
- Cancer Grand ChallengesLondon, GBvia this cancer
- via MRD / molecular residual disease testing
- via Proton therapy
- Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CHUM)Montréal, QC, CAvia this cancer
- via IMRT / IGRT (modern external beam)
- Children's Cancer and Leukaemia GroupLeicester, GBvia MRD / molecular residual disease testing
- Chinese PLA General HospitalBeijing, CNvia Robotic & minimally invasive surgery
- Chris O'Brien LifehouseSydney, AUvia Robotic & minimally invasive surgery
- via Proton therapy
- ETOP IBCSG Partners FoundationBern, CHvia this cancer
- European Hematology AssociationThe Hague, NLvia MRD / molecular residual disease testing
- via Robotic & minimally invasive surgery
- European Society of Surgical OncologyBrussels, BEvia Robotic & minimally invasive surgery
- First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen UniversityGuangzhou, CNvia Robotic & minimally invasive surgery
- Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer ResearchFrederick, MD, USvia KRAS & RAS inhibitors
- Geneva University Hospitals (HUG)Geneva, CHvia IMRT / IGRT (modern external beam)
- via HER2
- German Hodgkin Study GroupCologne, DEvia Nivolumab
- via ALK
- GIMEMARome, ITvia MRD / molecular residual disease testing
- GOG FoundationPhiladelphia, PA, USvia Pembrolizumab
- Groote Schuur Hospital / University of Cape TownCape Town, ZAvia IMRT / IGRT (modern external beam)
- Hadassah Medical CenterJerusalem, ILvia SBRT / SABR (stereotactic radiotherapy)
- via IMRT / IGRT (modern external beam)
- Henan Cancer HospitalZhengzhou, CNvia this cancer
- Ho Chi Minh City Oncology HospitalHo Chi Minh City, VNvia IMRT / IGRT (modern external beam)
- via HER2
- Hospital Universitari i Politècnic La FeValencia, ESvia SBRT / SABR (stereotactic radiotherapy)
- HOVONRotterdam, NLvia MRD / molecular residual disease testing
- via MRD / molecular residual disease testing
- via this cancer
- Institut BergoniéBordeaux, FRvia IMRT / IGRT (modern external beam)
- Institut Jules BordetBrussels, BEvia Pembrolizumab
- Institut National d'Oncologie, RabatRabat, MAvia IMRT / IGRT (modern external beam)
- Institut National du CancerBoulogne-Billancourt, FRvia Tumour-agnostic (tissue-agnostic) approval
- Institut Salah AzaïezTunis, TNvia IMRT / IGRT (modern external beam)
- Instituto Nacional de Câncer (INCA)Rio de Janeiro, BRvia this cancer
- Instituto Nacional de Cancerología (Mexico)Mexico City, MXvia this cancer
- via IMRT / IGRT (modern external beam)
- via this cancer
- via IMRT / IGRT (modern external beam)
- International Extranodal Lymphoma Study GroupBellinzona, CHvia IMRT / IGRT (modern external beam)
- via this cancer
- Japan Clinical Oncology Group (JCOG)Tokyo, JPvia this cancer
- Juravinski Cancer Centre / Escarpment Cancer Research InstituteHamilton, ON, CAvia IMRT / IGRT (modern external beam)
- Keio University HospitalTokyo, JPvia Robotic & minimally invasive surgery
- Kenyatta National HospitalNairobi, KEvia IMRT / IGRT (modern external beam)
- via Proton therapy
- King Hussein Cancer CenterAmman, JOvia this cancer
- Korean Cancer Study GroupSeoul, KRvia this cancer
- Korle Bu Teaching HospitalAccra, GHvia IMRT / IGRT (modern external beam)
- Lagos University Teaching HospitalLagos, NGvia IMRT / IGRT (modern external beam)
- via IMRT / IGRT (modern external beam)
- Leiden University Medical CenterLeiden, NLvia Proton therapy
- Lustgarten FoundationWoodbury, NY, USvia KRAS & RAS inhibitors
- via IMRT / IGRT (modern external beam)
- via Proton therapy
- via AI in radiology
- via IMRT / IGRT (modern external beam)
- National Institute of Oncology, HungaryBudapest, HUvia IMRT / IGRT (modern external beam)
- via Ivonescimab
- via Proton therapy
- Ocean Road Cancer InstituteDar es Salaam, TZvia IMRT / IGRT (modern external beam)
- via Immuno-PET
- via Proton therapy
- via IMRT / IGRT (modern external beam)
- Peking Union Medical College HospitalBeijing, CNvia Robotic & minimally invasive surgery
- Peking University Cancer HospitalBeijing, CNvia HER2
- via this cancer
- via Proton therapy
- Rambam Health Care CampusHaifa, ILvia IMRT / IGRT (modern external beam)
- Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern UniversityChicago, IL, USNCI comprehensivevia Optune / Optune Pax (TTFields)
- Rosalind and Morris Goodman Cancer Institute, McGill UniversityMontréal, QC, CAvia HER2
- Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong UniversityShanghai, CNvia Proton therapy
- via Robotic & minimally invasive surgery
- Seoul St. Mary's HospitalSeoul, KRvia Robotic & minimally invasive surgery
- Society of Gynecologic OncologyChicago, IL, USvia Robotic & minimally invasive surgery
- Society of Surgical OncologyRosemont, IL, USvia Robotic & minimally invasive surgery
- via Proton therapy
- Stand Up To CancerLos Angeles, USvia this cancer
- Sunnybrook Odette Cancer CentreToronto, ON, CAvia SBRT / SABR (stereotactic radiotherapy)
- SWOG Cancer Research NetworkPortland, OR, USvia Nivolumab
- via MRD / molecular residual disease testing
- Taipei Veterans General HospitalTaipei, TWvia this cancer
- Tata Medical Center, KolkataKolkata, INvia IMRT / IGRT (modern external beam)
- Tawam HospitalAl Ain, AEvia IMRT / IGRT (modern external beam)
- Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical CenterTel Aviv, ILvia IMRT / IGRT (modern external beam)
- The Francis Crick InstituteLondon, GBvia this cancer
- Tohoku University HospitalSendai, JPvia this cancer
- via this cancer
- via HER2
- via this cancer
- via this cancer
- via Proton therapy
- via this cancer
- University of Malaya Medical CentreKuala Lumpur, MYvia IMRT / IGRT (modern external beam)
- via IMRT / IGRT (modern external beam)
- via Proton therapy
- via this cancer
- Wellcome Sanger InstituteHinxton, GBvia BRAF
- Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan UniversityShanghai, CNvia Robotic & minimally invasive surgery
Questions to ask
topQuestions to ask your oncologist about Non-small-cell 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, BRAF V600E, MET ex14 / amplification / c-MET IHC), 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 Adenocarcinoma, Squamous, EGFR-mutant.
- 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 high-risk smokers (NLST, NELSON); AI nodule scoring emerging.
Early stage
- For my situation (early stage), which of the standard options do you recommend and why?Why: Guideline options include: Surgery or SBRT; perioperative chemo-immunotherapy; adjuvant osimertinib (EGFR) or alectinib (ALK).
- Am I a candidate for Osimertinib, and what side effects should I expect?Why: Knowing the expected toxicities helps you plan work, family, and supportive care.
- How do the results of ADAURA apply to someone like me?Why: Trial populations differ from individual patients; ask how closely you match.
Stage III unresectable
- For my situation (stage iii unresectable), which of the standard options do you recommend and why?Why: Guideline options include: Chemoradiation → durvalumab (PACIFIC) or osimertinib (LAURA, EGFR).
- Am I a candidate for Durvalumab, and what side effects should I expect?Why: Knowing the expected toxicities helps you plan work, family, and supportive care.
- For my situation (stage iii unresectable), which of the standard options do you recommend and why?Why: Guideline options include: Concurrent platinum chemoradiation → durvalumab 1 year (PACIFIC), or osimertinib until progression if EGFR-mutant (LAURA). Proton therapy in selected cases.
- Am I a candidate for Durvalumab, Osimertinib, and what side effects should I expect?Why: Knowing the expected toxicities helps you plan work, family, and supportive care.
- How do the results of PACIFIC and LAURA apply to someone like me?Why: Trial populations differ from individual patients; ask how closely you match.
Metastatic, driver-positive
- For my situation (metastatic, driver-positive), which of the standard options do you recommend and why?Why: Guideline options include: Matched TKI or bispecific; ADCs after progression.
- Am I a candidate for Osimertinib, Amivantamab, Lorlatinib or related drugs, and what side effects should I expect?Why: Knowing the expected toxicities helps you plan work, family, and supportive care.
Metastatic, driver-negative
- For my situation (metastatic, driver-negative), which of the standard options do you recommend and why?Why: Guideline options include: PD-(L)1 ± chemotherapy; docetaxel or ADC/TTFields second line.
- Am I a candidate for Pembrolizumab, Nivolumab, Optune / Optune Pax (TTFields), and what side effects should I expect?Why: Knowing the expected toxicities helps you plan work, family, and supportive care.
Screening (age 50-80, ≥20 pack-years)
- For my situation (screening (age 50-80, ≥20 pack-years)), which of the standard options do you recommend and why?Why: Guideline options include: Annual low-dose CT with Lung-RADS reporting; AI nodule scoring emerging; robotic bronchoscopy for peripheral nodule biopsy.
- 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.
Stage I-II resectable
- For my situation (stage i-ii resectable), which of the standard options do you recommend and why?Why: Guideline options include: Lobectomy or segmentectomy (small peripheral) with nodal staging; SBRT if inoperable. Stage IB-IIIA: neoadjuvant chemo-IO (CheckMate 816) or perioperative chemo-IO (KEYNOTE-671); adjuvant osimertinib if EGFR-mutant (ADAURA), alectinib if ALK-positive (ALINA); adjuvant chemotherapy otherwise for stage II+.
- Am I a candidate for Osimertinib, Alectinib, and what side effects should I expect?Why: Knowing the expected toxicities helps you plan work, family, and supportive care.
- How do the results of CheckMate 816 and KEYNOTE-671 apply to someone like me?Why: Trial populations differ from individual patients; ask how closely you match.
Metastatic, EGFR exon 19 del / L858R
- For my situation (metastatic, egfr exon 19 del / l858r), which of the standard options do you recommend and why?Why: Guideline options include: First line: osimertinib ± platinum-pemetrexed (FLAURA2) or amivantamab + lazertinib (MARIPOSA, OS benefit). Progression: re-biopsy/ctDNA; amivantamab + chemotherapy (MARIPOSA-2), Dato-DXd (TROPION-Lung05), platinum doublet; MET TKI add-on if MET-amplified; platinum-etoposide if small-cell transformation.
- Am I a candidate for Osimertinib, Amivantamab, Lazertinib or related drugs, and what side effects should I expect?Why: Knowing the expected toxicities helps you plan work, family, and supportive care.
- How do the results of FLAURA2 and MARIPOSA apply to someone like me?Why: Trial populations differ from individual patients; ask how closely you match.
Metastatic, EGFR exon 20 insertion
- For my situation (metastatic, egfr exon 20 insertion), which of the standard options do you recommend and why?Why: Guideline options include: Amivantamab + platinum-pemetrexed (PAPILLON); sunvozertinib later line.
- Am I a candidate for Amivantamab, and what side effects should I expect?Why: Knowing the expected toxicities helps you plan work, family, and supportive care.
Metastatic, ALK-rearranged
- For my situation (metastatic, alk-rearranged), which of the standard options do you recommend and why?Why: Guideline options include: Lorlatinib (CROWN; 5-year PFS 60%) or alectinib first line; on progression, neladalkib (under review) or lorlatinib if not used; local therapy for oligoprogression; chemotherapy.
- Am I a candidate for Lorlatinib, Alectinib, Neladalkib, and what side effects should I expect?Why: Knowing the expected toxicities helps you plan work, family, and supportive care.
- How do the results of CROWN and ALKOVE-1 apply to someone like me?Why: Trial populations differ from individual patients; ask how closely you match.
Metastatic, ROS1-rearranged
- For my situation (metastatic, ros1-rearranged), which of the standard options do you recommend and why?Why: Guideline options include: Repotrectinib or zidesamtinib (2026) first line; entrectinib/crizotinib alternatives.
- Am I a candidate for Repotrectinib, Zidesamtinib, and what side effects should I expect?Why: Knowing the expected toxicities helps you plan work, family, and supportive care.
Metastatic, KRAS G12C
- For my situation (metastatic, kras g12c), which of the standard options do you recommend and why?Why: Guideline options include: First line: PD-(L)1 ± chemotherapy by PD-L1 (G12C inhibitor + IO combinations in phase 3: olomorasib SUNRAY-01, divarasib Krascendo 2). Second line: sotorasib or adagrasib (CodeBreaK 200, KRYSTAL-12); divarasib superior head-to-head (Krascendo 1, 2026).
- Am I a candidate for Sotorasib, Adagrasib, Divarasib or related drugs, and what side effects should I expect?Why: Knowing the expected toxicities helps you plan work, family, and supportive care.
- How do the results of CodeBreaK 200 and KRYSTAL-12 apply to someone like me?Why: Trial populations differ from individual patients; ask how closely you match.
Metastatic, BRAF V600E
- For my situation (metastatic, braf v600e), which of the standard options do you recommend and why?Why: Guideline options include: Dabrafenib + trametinib or encorafenib + binimetinib first line; chemo-IO as alternative.
- Am I a candidate for Dabrafenib + trametinib, Encorafenib, and what side effects should I expect?Why: Knowing the expected toxicities helps you plan work, family, and supportive care.
Metastatic, MET exon 14 skipping
- For my situation (metastatic, met exon 14 skipping), which of the standard options do you recommend and why?Why: Guideline options include: Capmatinib or tepotinib first line; telisotuzumab vedotin for c-Met-overexpressing EGFR-wild-type disease after chemotherapy (accelerated 2025).
- Am I a candidate for Capmatinib & tepotinib, Telisotuzumab vedotin, and what side effects should I expect?Why: Knowing the expected toxicities helps you plan work, family, and supportive care.
- How do the results of TeliMET NSCLC-01 apply to someone like me?Why: Trial populations differ from individual patients; ask how closely you match.
Metastatic, RET-fusion
- For my situation (metastatic, ret-fusion), which of the standard options do you recommend and why?Why: Guideline options include: Selpercatinib first line (LIBRETTO-431); pralsetinib alternative.
- Am I a candidate for Selpercatinib, Pralsetinib, and what side effects should I expect?Why: Knowing the expected toxicities helps you plan work, family, and supportive care.
- How do the results of LIBRETTO-431 apply to someone like me?Why: Trial populations differ from individual patients; ask how closely you match.
Metastatic, HER2-mutant
- For my situation (metastatic, her2-mutant), which of the standard options do you recommend and why?Why: Guideline options include: First line: zongertinib (2026) or chemo-IO; sevabertinib (Nov 2025) or T-DXd after prior therapy.
- Am I a candidate for Zongertinib, Sevabertinib, Trastuzumab deruxtecan, and what side effects should I expect?Why: Knowing the expected toxicities helps you plan work, family, and supportive care.
- How do the results of SOHO-01 apply to someone like me?Why: Trial populations differ from individual patients; ask how closely you match.
Metastatic, NTRK-fusion
- For my situation (metastatic, ntrk-fusion), which of the standard options do you recommend and why?Why: Guideline options include: Larotrectinib, entrectinib, or repotrectinib (tumour-agnostic).
- Am I a candidate for Repotrectinib, and what side effects should I expect?Why: Knowing the expected toxicities helps you plan work, family, and supportive care.
Metastatic, driver-negative, PD-L1 TPS ≥50%
- For my situation (metastatic, driver-negative, pd-l1 tps ≥50%), which of the standard options do you recommend and why?Why: Guideline options include: Pembrolizumab (KEYNOTE-024) or cemiplimab monotherapy; add chemotherapy for high burden or rapid progression. Ivonescimab beat pembrolizumab in China (HARMONi-2); not approved in the US.
- Am I a candidate for Pembrolizumab, Cemiplimab, Ivonescimab, and what side effects should I expect?Why: Knowing the expected toxicities helps you plan work, family, and supportive care.
- How do the results of KEYNOTE-024 & KEYNOTE-189 and HARMONi-2 apply to someone like me?Why: Trial populations differ from individual patients; ask how closely you match.
Metastatic, driver-negative, PD-L1 TPS <50%
- For my situation (metastatic, driver-negative, pd-l1 tps <50%), which of the standard options do you recommend and why?Why: Guideline options include: Pembrolizumab + platinum doublet (KEYNOTE-189 non-squamous; KEYNOTE-407 squamous); nivolumab + ipilimumab ± chemotherapy; tremelimumab + durvalumab + chemotherapy for PD-L1-negative or STK11/KEAP1-altered disease. Second line: docetaxel ± ramucirumab, TTFields, or trials of ADCs.
- Am I a candidate for Pembrolizumab, Nivolumab, Ipilimumab or related drugs, and what side effects should I expect?Why: Knowing the expected toxicities helps you plan work, family, and supportive care.
Metastatic, squamous
- For my situation (metastatic, squamous), which of the standard options do you recommend and why?Why: Guideline options include: Pembrolizumab + carboplatin + (nab-)paclitaxel (KEYNOTE-407); no ADC approved (TROPION-Lung01 showed no benefit in squamous); ivonescimab + chemotherapy under study (HARMONi-3).
- Am I a candidate for Pembrolizumab, Paclitaxel / nab-paclitaxel, Carboplatin, and what side effects should I expect?Why: Knowing the expected toxicities helps you plan work, family, and supportive care.
- How do the results of TROPION-Lung01 and HARMONi-3 apply to someone like me?Why: Trial populations differ from individual patients; ask how closely you match.
Any stage
- Are there clinical trials I could join, for example of Ivonescimab, Izalontamab brengitecan, Sacituzumab tirumotecan, Tilatamig samrotecan?Why: Trials are how the next standard of care is set; asking early keeps options open.
- 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 “Resistance to every TKI”. How does that affect my plan?Why: Open problems are where trials and second opinions matter most.
- I read that “Squamous histology has few targets”. 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
53targets
28drugs
74companies
36institutions
80pathways
12terms
33trials
26pairings
10roadmaps
4ideas
83collections
1people
67bottlenecks
23key papers
19journals
1For the first time a new drug has beaten pembrolizumab, the global first-line standard, in a randomised lung cancer trial, and it did so by combining checkpoint blockade with anti-angiogenesis in one molecule. For patients outside China nothing changes yet: the drug is not approved in the West, the trial was single-country, and survival benefit has not been shown. If confirmed in the global HARMONi-3 and HARMONi-7 trials, PD-1 x VEGF bispecifics could replace PD-1 antibodies as the immunotherapy backbone.
Patients newly diagnosed with EGFR-mutated advanced lung cancer now have a first-line option that improves survival over osimertinib, particularly if they have high-risk features. The trade-off is intravenous (now subcutaneous) infusions and considerably more skin, nail and clotting toxicity, so osimertinib alone remains reasonable for those who prioritise convenience and tolerability. Both this regimen and osimertinib plus chemotherapy (FLAURA2) are approved; there is no direct comparison.
Patients with KRAS G12C lung cancer that has progressed after chemo-immunotherapy can take an oral KRAS inhibitor instead of docetaxel and gain a somewhat longer time to progression with fewer severe side effects, but should understand that most tumours become resistant within a year and that survival is not improved. KRAS G12C testing is worthwhile, but first-generation inhibitors are a step rather than a cure; combinations and next-generation inhibitors are the active research fronts.
Relapse after surgery is driven by particular subclones that can be identified in the primary tumour and tracked in blood, which argues for evolution-aware adjuvant strategies. The pollution finding reframes carcinogenesis: some agents promote already-mutant cells rather than causing mutations.
Patients with operable stage II-III lung cancer without EGFR or ALK alterations should have chemo-immunotherapy discussed before surgery rather than only afterwards. Three pre-operative cycles do not compromise the operation and improve cure rates. Whether to continue immunotherapy after surgery, as the perioperative trials do, and whether patients with pCR need any further treatment, remain open questions.
Checkpoint inhibitors are now given to hundreds of thousands of patients a year, many in community clinics and emergency departments, so a common, explicit playbook for their autoimmune side effects saves lives. The guideline standardised when to stop, when to give steroids and when to escalate, and made multidisciplinary toxicity teams routine. It does not remove the judgement needed for rare events or for patients whose cancer is responding.
Every resected non-squamous lung cancer should be tested for EGFR mutations, because patients who carry one live longer if they take osimertinib for three years after surgery. The trial does not tell us whether adjuvant chemotherapy can be omitted, nor what happens on relapse after osimertinib, and the three-year duration was chosen empirically.
For ALK-positive advanced lung cancer, lorlatinib as the first drug offers the possibility of many years without progression and strong protection against brain metastases. Alectinib and brigatinib remain alternatives with a gentler side-effect profile; the choice weighs lorlatinib's cognitive, metabolic and weight effects against its unmatched duration of control.
Lung screening works when it uses volumetric nodule management, and it works against a no-screening control. The protocol underpins the UK Targeted Lung Health Check programme and European recommendations. Benefit in women remains less precisely estimated.
Anyone diagnosed with advanced lung cancer should have EGFR testing before treatment, because osimertinib as the first drug gives the longest disease control, protects the brain, and is well tolerated. Chemotherapy is not the first step for these patients. The remaining questions are whether to intensify upfront (adding chemotherapy or amivantamab) and how to treat resistance when it develops.
Most patients with newly diagnosed advanced non-squamous lung cancer that lacks a targetable mutation should receive chemotherapy plus pembrolizumab; those with PD-L1 of 50% or more may reasonably receive pembrolizumab alone. About one in five patients is alive at five years, compared with roughly one in ten with chemotherapy alone. Patients with EGFR or ALK alterations were excluded and should have targeted therapy first.
Patients with stage III lung cancer that cannot be removed surgically should receive a year of durvalumab after completing chemoradiotherapy, provided they have not progressed. This roughly doubles the chance of being alive without progression at five years. Whether the benefit extends to PD-L1-negative tumours is contested, and the EGFR-mutated subgroup is better served by osimertinib (LAURA).
Lung cancers keep evolving after they form, and it is ongoing chromosomal instability rather than the number of mutations that best predicts who will relapse. This gives a rationale for targeting the earliest (clonal) drivers and neoantigens and for tracking evolution in blood after surgery.
The most frequently mutated oncogene in cancer stopped being undruggable, and patients with KRAS G12C lung and bowel cancers now have targeted pills. The approach, exploiting a mutation-created chemical handle and an inactive-state pocket, has become a template for other hard targets.
This study is why PD-1 inhibitors were developed across cancers rather than in melanoma alone: unexpected activity in lung cancer, historically thought immune-resistant, changed drug development priorities industry-wide. It also introduced PD-L1 immunohistochemistry as a candidate biomarker and pneumonitis as a signature toxicity. Within five years PD-1 blockade was approved in more than ten cancers.
For people with a heavy smoking history, an annual low-dose CT scan is one of the few screening tests proven to reduce cancer deaths. Most abnormal scans are not cancer, so screening must be paired with careful nodule management. It does not apply to never-smokers or light smokers.
Palliative care is not what happens when treatment stops; it works best alongside cancer treatment from the start. Patients feel better, are less depressed and may live longer. Access remains the constraint: most of the world's patients never see a palliative care specialist.
Smoking is the single largest preventable cause of cancer death, and quitting at any age helps, with the greatest gain from quitting young. Cessation support belongs in every cancer service, including lung screening programmes.
Doll and Hill's 1950 study is where the evidence that smoking causes cancer begins. Everything from cigarette warnings and tax to smoke-free laws and lung screening eligibility descends from this study and the cohort that followed it.
Latest papers
topQuery for this cancer: (TITLE:"Non-small-cell lung cancer" OR ABSTRACT:"Non-small-cell lung cancer") AND (treatment OR therapy OR trial OR survival OR diagnosis). Results are unfiltered search hits about Non-small-cell lung cancer, not a curated reading list.
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