Lung cancer research was in the spotlight at this year’s European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) meeting held October 17-21 in Berlin, Germany. With approximately 30,000 attendees from over 100 countries, this meeting gathered an international audience of clinicians, researchers, patient advocates, and representatives from the healthcare industry to discuss cutting-edge cancer research and share practice-changing clinical trial data. We saw data from studies that aim to build upon existing treatments, to optimize combination approaches, and to address some of the unmet needs of people

On November 19, 2025, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced the accelerated approval of sevabertinib (Hyrnuo®) to treat patients with locally-advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with specific mutations in the HER2 gene. This approval is for patients who have been previously treated with HER2-targeted therapies, as well as patients who have received previous treatment that did not target HER2. Mutations in the HER2 gene (also called the ERBB2 gene) are responsible for approximately 2%-3% of nonsquamous NSCLCs. These mutations activate the HER2 protein and

For people with advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), the treatment landscape has changed dramatically in recent years. Researchers are learning how to optimize existing therapies and are exploring entirely new treatment approaches. At the 2025 World Conference on Lung Cancer (WCLC), several studies highlighted progress in treating newly diagnosed individuals as well as those who need new options after standard therapies stop working. Combining Chemotherapy and Targeted Therapy to Treat EGFR-positive Lung Cancer One of the most anticipated studies at WCLC was the phase 3

The annual World Conference on Lung Cancer (WCLC), organized by the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer, is the largest global meeting dedicated to lung cancer research. WCLC 2025 showcased several important studies that focused on treating resectable (surgically removable) non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Several studies showed that giving patients immunotherapy (treatments that leverage the body’s natural immune system to fight cancer) around the time of surgery can have a profound impact on patient outcomes. With so many treatment options emerging, additional studies

On August 8, 2025, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced the accelerated approval of zongertinib (Hernexeos®) to treat patients with unresectable or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with mutations in the HER2 gene. This approval is for patients who have been previously treated with a systemic therapy (such as chemotherapy). Mutations in the HER2 gene (also called the ERBB2 gene) are responsible for approximately 2-3% of nonsquamous NSCLCs. These mutations activate the HER2 protein and drive cancer growth. Zongertinib is a type of targeted therapy that is given as a

Michelle knew what was wrong. She knew the headaches, regular vomiting, ear popping, and “whooshing” sounds in her head were all signs of leptomeningeal disease (LMD). The issue, however, is that LMD is so rare—only diagnosed in 5% of people with cancer—she had to advocate for the testing to prove it. “I called my clinic and said I needed a brain MRI because I think I have LMD. They didn’t want to schedule one, so I said, tell my doctor I’m demanding a brain MRI. I can tell him directly if I need to,” says Michelle. Leptomeningeal disease, or LMD, occurs when cancer from somewhere in the body

On May 14, 2025, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced the approval of telisotuzumab vedotin-tllv (EMRELIS™) to treat patients with locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with high levels of c-Met protein who have been previously treated with a systemic therapy, such as immunotherapy or chemotherapy. This ADC, or antibody-drug conjugate, is the first approval of its kind. This ADC treatment is designed with two key elements. One part of the treatment binds specifically to the overexpressed c-Met protein on the surface of cancer cells. The other part of

Historically, approaches to treating lung cancer included surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. The past decade ushered in a new era of treatments with targeted therapy and immunotherapy. Now, we are seeing the emergence of another class of lung cancer treatments called antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), that are a combination of targeted therapy and chemotherapy. ADCs act like a “smart chemotherapy” that aim to deliver the drug compound directly to cancer cells, reducing harm to healthy tissue. As part of LUNGevity’s International Lung Cancer Survivorship Conference last September, we hosted an

What Is Integrative Oncology? Integrative oncology is the use of complementary therapies alongside conventional lung cancer treatments like chemotherapy, targeted therapy, surgery, or immunotherapy. Integrative oncology—also called integrative medicine—is an evidence-informed whole-body approach to health. It is often used to address symptoms and side effects caused by disease or treatment and improve overall quality of life. Specific examples of integrative oncology for lung cancer include: Acupuncture or massages to address pain or nausea Exercise to reduce pain and improve overall quality

Surgery is a treatment option for early-stage lung cancer that involves removing all or part of a lung to treat a cancerous tumor. It is primarily an option for people with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) staged at I, II, or IIIA. Surgery is rarely considered for tumors at stage IIIB or IV because those lung cancers have spread to other parts of the body. It is also rarely used to treat small cell lung cancer (SCLC) because SCLC is typically diagnosed at a later stage. Types of Lung Cancer Surgery Once the medical team decides someone’s lung cancer is resectable (able to be removed by