Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has been a leading cause of cancer-related deaths for many years, often because it’s caught too late for effective treatment. But there’s good news: recent breakthroughs in diagnosing, staging, and treating NSCLC are offering more hope than ever before.

In this article, we’ll explore the latest breakthroughs and advances in diagnosing and treating NSCLC. We’ll explain new changes in treatment guidelines, the latest drug approvals, and promising therapies for metastatic NSCLC.

Advances in Diagnosing NSCLC

Early diagnosis of NSCLC is one of the most important factors influencing treatment outcomes and prognosis (outlook). In the past, NSCLC has been difficult to diagnose in the early stages. This is because symptoms either are not yet present or are vague, such as persistent cough, chest pain, or shortness of breath. These subtle signs can be mistaken for less serious conditions, leading to delays in detection.

New diagnostic techniques allow doctors to diagnose NSCLC earlier for better outcomes.

In recent years, diagnostic tools for NSCLC have improved a lot. One of the most exciting developments is the growing use of liquid biopsies. Traditional biopsies require tissue samples from the lungs and can be risky. However, liquid biopsies can detect cancer cells using a simple blood draw. This test can also look for specific genetic mutations (changes) in NSCLC. Your doctor may be able to use the results to predict which targeted therapy treatment is most likely to work. It is important to mention that although liquid biopsies are useful, they do not replace traditional biopsies.

Imaging techniques have also become more detailed and reliable. Positron emission tomography (PET) scans, computed tomography (CT) scans, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) have been around for a while. But scientists have been working on ways to make these imaging scans even more sensitive. For example, low-dose CT scans are now recommended for high-risk individuals. Combined with artificial intelligence (AI) methods, it’s now easier to interpret the results of these scans for greater accuracy.

Improvements in Staging NSCLC

Cancer staging is used to determine how far the cancer has spread or grown. It’s an essential step of the treatment planning process.

The American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) updated its staging guidelines in January 2025. The guidelines now include more detailed descriptions of tumors based on size, lymph node involvement, and metastases. Early studies also show the new guidelines can better predict overall outcomes for people with lung cancer.

With several new targeted therapies and immunotherapy drugs approved in recent years, there are more treatment options than ever for advanced NSCLC.

A technique called endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) has also brought new advances to the staging and early detection of NSCLC. This is a minimally invasive procedure in which doctors biopsy lymph nodes in the chest. This helps them determine whether the cancer has spread. The EBUS procedure involves inserting a flexible tube through your mouth and into your trachea (windpipe) and lungs. The end of the tube has a camera and ultrasound probe attached to create detailed images of your lungs and nearby lymph nodes. Recent studies show that EBUS is very accurate and may improve the overall survival of people with lung cancer.

Newer Treatments for Metastatic NSCLC

Treating metastatic NSCLC is challenging. However, new lung cancer treatments may significantly improve the outlook for many with advanced stage cancer. In the past few years, several drugs and treatment combinations have been approved or expanded for use in metastatic NSCLC.

Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy helps the immune system recognize and attack cancer cells. It works by removing certain “brakes” that prevent the immune system from working at full strength. A key part of this process involves PD-1, a protein found on immune cells, and PD-L1, a protein on both normal cells and some cancer cells. Normally, when PD-1 binds to PD-L1, it sends signals for the immune system to stand down, allowing cancer cells to hide. PD-1 inhibitors, a type of checkpoint inhibitor, block this interaction and allow the immune system to attack the cancer. CTLA-4 inhibitors are another type of checkpoint inhibitor that can be used in the treatment of NSCLC.

Immune checkpoint inhibitors for NSCLC target either PD-1, PD-L1, or CTLA-4. For NSCLC, the drugs currently available include:

• Atezolizumab (Tecentriq) — Targets PD-L1
• Cemiplimab (Libtayo) — Targets PD-L1
• Durvalumab (Imfinzi) — Targets PD-L1
• Ipilimumab (Yervoy) — Targets CTLA-4
• Nivolumab (Opdivo) — Targets PD-L1
• Pembrolizumab (Keytruda) — Targets PD-1
• Tremelimumab (Imjudo) — Targets CTLA-4

Researchers are investigating new types of treatment for NSCLC, including personalized vaccines, in clinical trials.

Nivolumab and pembrolizumab have received expanded approvals for earlier stages of NSCLC, and they can also now be used as combination therapies. This means that these drugs can now be used as neoadjuvant therapy (pretreatment) or adjuvant therapy (posttreatment). For example, it may be given before or after use with a chemotherapy drug, such as paclitaxel or carboplatin. Cemiplimab, approved in 2023, is now available as a first-line treatment for metastatic NSCLC with high PD-L1 expression.

Targeted Therapies

Targeted therapies focus on specific genetic mutations (changes) or proteins that drive cancer growth. For NSCLC, these include mutations in targets include:

• EGFR (epidermal growth factor receptor)
• ALK (anaplastic lymphoma kinase)
• KRAS (Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog)
• BRAF (V-raf murine sarcoma oncogene homolog B1)
• ROS1 (c-ros oncogene 1)
• BRAF V600E
• NTRK (neurotrophic tyrosine receptor kinase) 1/2/3
• MET (mesenchymal epithelial transition factor receptor)
• RET (rearranged during transfection)
• HER2/ERBB2 (human epidermal growth factor receptor 2/erythroblastic oncogene B2)

The list of targeted therapies approved for NSCLC is growing rapidly. In the last few years, several new drugs have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Some of the latest ones include:

• Ensartinib (Ensacove) — Approved in 2024 for people with ALK-positive advanced or metastatic NSCLC
• Lazertinib (Lazcluze) — Approved in 2024 for people with advanced or metastatic NSCLC with certain EGFR mutations

Antibody-Drug Conjugates

Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) are a newer class of treatments for NSCLC. They can deliver chemotherapy directly to cancer cells while avoiding healthy ones. In 2022, the FDA approved trastuzumab deruxtecan (Enhertu) for HER2-mutant NSCLC. Studies show that the drug can significantly shrink tumors in people with advanced disease.

Emerging Therapies and Clinical Trials

Research into new NSCLC treatments is currently booming. Several new types of therapies are under investigation, with promising results in clinical trials. One area of focus is the use of personalized vaccines that stimulate the immune system to target cancer cells based on the unique genetic makeup of a person’s tumor. Although this strategy is not yet approved, early results are encouraging.

Another approach is the use of bispecific antibodies. These drugs work by binding to two different targets at once, boosting the immune system’s ability to attack cancer.

If you or a loved one has NSCLC, these advances may provide new options and more hope. Talk with your healthcare team or an oncology (cancer) specialist about new treatments and clinical trials that might be a good fit for you. With continued progress, the future will keep looking brighter for people facing advanced non-small cell lung cancer.

Talk With Others Who Understand

On MyLungCancerTeam, the social network for people with lung cancer and their loved ones, more than 14,000 people from around the world come together to ask questions, offer support and advice, and connect with others who understand life with lung cancer.

Have you spoken with your oncologist about new NSCLC treatment options? Share your story in the comments below or by posting on your Activities page.