As the most common cancer type across the globe, lung cancer impacts approximately 2 million people each year and is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths for both men and women in the world. Lung cancer claims more lives every year than do breast, prostate, and colon cancer combined. Lung cancer is subdivided into two major types: Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) comprises approximately 85-90% of all known lung cancers cases. The majority of NSCLCs, approximately 25-30%, are the non-squamous type, meaning that they that arise from cells other than the flat squamous cells that line the inside of the airways of the lung. Adenocarcinomas, which arise from cells in the lung that secrete substances such as mucous, comprise approximately 40% of NSCLCs. Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) comprises approximately 10-15% of all known lung cancer cases. When most lung cancer patients become symptomatic and are diagnosed, the disease has already advanced to late stage (at stage IIIb/IV or higher). At these stages, surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation are only minimally effective. New treatments are needed for patients facing an advanced lung cancer diagnosis. For this reason, lung cancer is one of the major cancer types for which new immune-based cancer treatments are currently in development. SUBSCRIBE TO EMAIL ALERTS Lung Cancer Treatment Options Conventional treatment options for lung cancer include surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. Since the majority of lung cancer patients are diagnosed with advanced disease (stage IIIb/IV), conventional treatment options are unlikely to result in complete cures, though they may significantly improve survival and provide symptom relief. Recent clinical studies are encouraging, and show that immunotherapy alone or in combination with conventional treatments can significantly improve patient outcomes. These successes have resulted in FDA approval of six immunotherapy options for certain lung cancer patients. Targeted Antibodies Bevacizumab (Avastin®): a monoclonal antibody that targets the VEGF/VEGFR pathway and inhibits tumor blood vessel growth; approved for subsets of patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), including as a first-line therapy Necitumumab (Portrazza®): a monoclonal antibody that targets the EGFR pathway; approved for subsets of patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), including as a first-line therapy Immunomodulators Atezolizumab (Tecentriq®): a checkpoint inhibitor that targets the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway; approved for subsets of patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) Durvalumab (Imfinzi™): a checkpoint inhibitor that targets the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway; approved for subsets of patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) Nivolumab (Opdivo®): a checkpoint inhibitor that targets the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway; approved for subsets of patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) as well as those with metastatic small cell lung cancer (SCLC) that has advanced following treatment with platinum-based chemotherapy and at least one other line of treatment Pembrolizumab (Keytruda®): a checkpoint inhibitor that targets the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway; approved for subsets of patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), including as a first-line therapy These checkpoint immunotherapy approvals were landmark events for the treatment of lung cancer. With these immunotherapies, many advanced-stage lung cancer patients are starting to see long-lasting remissions and longer survival rates. Several immunotherapy agents are currently being tested in lung cancer clinical trials. FIND A LUNG CANCER CLINICAL TRIAL CRI's Impact in Lung Cancer Since its founding, the Cancer Research Institute (CRI) has dedicated numerous grants and fellowships to the research of lung cancer immunotherapy. We continue to fund the science of immune-based therapies for lung cancer, supporting the best scientists working to advance the field of this promising treatment. CRI-funded discoveries and breakthroughs, along with ongoing studies, include: A recent study led by members of the CRI-SU2C Dream Team that highlighted the benefits of anti-PD-1 checkpoint immunotherapy prior to surgery in patients with advanced lung cancer. Discovery of the connection between the number of genetic mutations of lung tumors and patient responses to treatment with anti-PD-1 checkpoint immunotherapy by a team led by Naiyer Rizvi, M.D., of Columbia University Medical Center Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy as a treatment for lung cancer by a team led by Michel Sadelain, M.D., Ph.D., and colleagues at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center Development of a vaccine targeting the NY-ESO-1 antigen that led to responses in lung cancer patients through the CRI/Ludwig Cancer Antigen Discovery Collaborative. See what lung cancer-specific research we’re currently funding. With your help, we can fund more research and revolutionize the way lung cancer is treated, forever—helping more people and saving more lives.