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🗺️ Disease Atlas · Respiratory or thoracic disease

lung cancer

A malignant neoplasm involving the lung.

🔔 Follow weekly

🧬16465genes / proteins with evidence

💊261drugs and clinical candidates

🧪12+recruiting trials worldwide

✅8approved

📈33phase 3

🧬

Understand lung cancer

Cancer · Cells that grow out of control

🎓 Learn more

What it is

Lung cancer is cancer that forms in tissues of the lung, usually in the cells that line the air passages. It is the leading cause of cancer death in both men and women.

There are two main types: small cell lung cancer and non-small cell lung cancer. These two types grow differently and are treated differently. Non-small cell lung cancer is the more common type.

Who is more likely to develop lung cancer?

From MedlinePlus: Lung Cancer (US National Library of Medicine) ↗

🧬 Cancer: Cancer is a group of diseases in which some of the body's cells grow and divide without control, and can spread to other parts of the body.

❓ Why it happens

Changes (mutations) build up in the genes that tell a cell when to grow, divide and die.
Most of these changes happen during life: tobacco, too much sun, alcohol, some infections (such as HPV and hepatitis B and C), radiation, obesity and ageing all raise the risk.
Some people inherit a faulty gene that raises their risk, such as BRCA1 or BRCA2.

🫀 What it does to the body

Cancer cells form a lump (tumour) that can press on or invade nearby organs.
They can travel through the blood or lymph to start new tumours elsewhere (metastasis).
Blood cancers crowd out healthy blood cells in the bone marrow.

🧱 Why it is hard to cure

Every cancer is different, even between two people with the same type - and inside one tumour.
Cancer cells keep changing, so they can learn to resist a medicine that worked at first.
Cancer cells are the body's own cells, so killing them without harming healthy cells is hard.
Many cancers cause no symptoms until they have spread, and a new medicine often takes more than ten years to go from the lab to patients.

🚀 What research is trying now

Targeted medicines against the exact gene change in a tumour (for example EGFR, ALK or KRAS).
Immunotherapy that helps the immune system recognise cancer, including CAR-T cell therapy.
Personalised cancer vaccines built from each tumour's mutations, now in late trials.
Blood tests that look for tumour DNA to find cancer earlier, and AI to read scans and slides.

General information about cancer, reviewed by people; it does not describe any one person. Below: the evidence for lung cancer itself.

🤖

AI briefing

Where the science on lung cancer stands, from the evidence on this page

26 Oct 2026

Lung cancer therapy now integrates immune checkpoint inhibitors, targeted tyrosine‑kinase inhibitors (TKIs) for oncogenic drivers such as EGFR, ALK, and KRAS G12C, and conventional chemotherapy. Recent late‑stage trials are testing combinations of KRAS inhibitors with PD‑1/PD‑L1 blockade, and novel antibody‑drug conjugates for TROP2‑positive disease. Molecular profiling and biomarker‑guided strategies are increasingly central to treatment selection.

💊 Treatments today

Atezolizumab – PD‑L1 inhibitor used as first‑line or maintenance therapy for metastatic non‑small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) [provided drug list].
Pembrolizumab – PD‑1 inhibitor approved for tumors with PD‑L1 ≥1% as first‑line therapy and for higher expression as monotherapy [provided drug list].
Cemiplimab – PD‑1 inhibitor approved for NSCLC after prior therapy [provided drug list].
Alectinib – ALK (and RET) TKI approved for ALK‑rearranged NSCLC [provided drug list].
Olmutinib – EGFR (erbB1) inhibitor approved for EGFR‑mutant NSCLC [provided drug list].
Sotorasib – KRAS G12C inhibitor (approved in many regions; listed as phase 3 in the data) for KRAS‑mutant NSCLC [provided drug list].
Standard chemotherapy agents (cisplatin, carboplatin, paclitaxel, vinorelbine, etoposide, pemetrexed) remain backbone regimens in combination with targeted or immunotherapies [provided drug list].

🧪 In late trials

NCT06561386 – Nivolumab + Relatlimab + chemotherapy vs. Pembrolizumab + chemotherapy in PD‑L1 ≥1% stage IV/recurrent NSCLC (Phase 3) [NCT06561386].
NCT06119581 – Olomorasib (KRAS G12C inhibitor) + Pembrolizumab ± chemotherapy in advanced KRAS G12C‑mutant NSCLC (Phase 3) [NCT06119581].
NCT06875310 – Adagrasib + Pembrolizumab + carboplatin vs. placebo + Pembrolizumab + carboplatin in untreated KRAS G12C NSCLC (Phase 3) [NCT06875310].
NCT06345729 – Calderasib (KRAS G12C inhibitor) + Pembrolizumab in KRAS G12C NSCLC with PD‑L1 TPS ≥ 50% (Phase 3) [NCT06345729].
NCT07291037 – Datopotamab deruxtecan vs. docetaxel in TROP2‑positive advanced NSCLC without actionable genomic alterations (Phase 3) [NCT07291037].
NCT07100080 – Izalontamab‑brentuximab (EGFR‑mutated NSCLC after EGFR‑TKI failure) vs. platinum‑pemetrexed (Phase 2/3) [NCT07100080].

🎯 Targets with the strongest evidence

EGFR — High Open Targets association (0.90) and multiple approved small‑molecule inhibitors; driver of proliferation in many NSCLCs.
KRAS — Association score 0.86; KRAS G12C inhibitors (sotorasib, adagrasib, olomorasib) are in late‑stage trials and show clinical activity.
ALK — Score 0.83; ALK rearrangements are targetable with approved TKIs (alectinib) and resistance mechanisms remain a research focus.
MET — Score 0.82; MET amplification drives resistance to EGFR TKIs and is druggable with antibodies and small molecules (e.g., capmatinib).
ROS1 — Score 0.81; ROS1 fusions respond to crizotinib‑type inhibitors, representing a niche actionable alteration.
BRAF — Score 0.81; BRAF V600E mutations are targetable with MAPK pathway inhibitors (e.g., trametinib).
RET — Score 0.78; RET fusions are actionable with multikinase inhibitors and emerging selective RET inhibitors.
PIK3CA — Score 0.78; PI3K‑AKT‑mTOR pathway activation contributes to resistance; small‑molecule PI3K inhibitors are in development.

❓ Still unknown

What are the optimal sequencing and combination strategies for KRAS G12C inhibitors with immune checkpoint blockade?
Which molecular mechanisms underlie primary and acquired resistance to EGFR and ALK TKIs in the context of heterogeneous tumor microenvironments?
How can ferroptosis regulators such as USP5 (PMID:42927416) be therapeutically leveraged to enhance treatment efficacy?
What reliable biomarkers can predict response to PD‑1/PD‑L1 inhibitors in PD‑L1‑negative or low‑expressing tumors?
Can PROTAC technology effectively target loss‑of‑function tumor suppressors like TP53 in lung cancer?

💛 ['Current lung‑cancer treatment combines immunotherapy, targeted drugs for specific gene changes, and chemotherapy to improve outcomes.', 'Clinical trials are testing new combinations, especially for KRAS‑mutated cancers, and may offer additional options you can discuss with your oncologist.']

Written by AI from the public sources cited on this page. It may be incomplete or wrong, it is not medical advice, and it does not know you. Discuss it with your doctor before making any decision. Terms of use

🎯

Top targets

Genes and proteins ranked by Open Targets evidence (0-1)

EGFR epidermal growth factor receptorPROTACantibodyothersmall molecule🧊 AlphaFold structure ↗ 0.90

KRAS KRas proto-oncogene, GTPasePROTACantibodysmall molecule🧊 AlphaFold structure ↗ 0.86

ERBB2 erb-b2 receptor tyrosine kinase 2PROTACantibodyothersmall molecule🧊 AlphaFold structure ↗ 0.84

ALK ALK receptor tyrosine kinasePROTACantibodyothersmall molecule🧊 AlphaFold structure ↗ 0.83

MET MET proto-oncogene, receptor tyrosine kinasePROTACantibodyothersmall molecule🧊 AlphaFold structure ↗ 0.82

TP53 tumor protein p53PROTACothersmall molecule🧊 AlphaFold structure ↗ 0.82

ROS1 ROS proto-oncogene 1, receptor tyrosine kinasePROTACantibodysmall molecule🧊 AlphaFold structure ↗ 0.82

BRAF B-Raf proto-oncogene, serine/threonine kinasePROTACantibodysmall molecule🧊 AlphaFold structure ↗ 0.81

DICER1 dicer 1, ribonuclease IIIPROTAC🧊 AlphaFold structure ↗ 0.80

RB1 RB transcriptional corepressor 1PROTACsmall molecule🧊 AlphaFold structure ↗ 0.80

PIK3CA phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate 3-kinase catalytic subunit alphaPROTACantibodysmall molecule🧊 AlphaFold structure ↗ 0.78

RET ret proto-oncogenePROTACantibodyothersmall molecule🧊 AlphaFold structure ↗ 0.78

ERBB4 erb-b2 receptor tyrosine kinase 4PROTACantibodyothersmall molecule🧊 AlphaFold structure ↗ 0.77

EML4 EMAP like 4PROTACothersmall molecule🧊 AlphaFold structure ↗ 0.76

STK11 serine/threonine kinase 11PROTACsmall molecule🧊 AlphaFold structure ↗ 0.75

Green labels: what the target is known to be druggable by. The score combines genetics, somatic mutations, drugs, expression and literature.

💊

Drugs and candidates

Every medicine linked to lung cancer, by how far it has got

Approved · 8

AlectinibALK tyrosine kinase receptor inhibitor; Tyrosine-protein kinase receptor RET inhibitorApproved

AtezolizumabProgrammed cell death 1 ligand 1 inhibitorApproved

CemiplimabProgrammed cell death protein 1 inhibitorApproved

EtoposideDNA topoisomerase II inhibitorApproved

Methotrexate SodiumDihydrofolate reductase inhibitorApproved

OlmutinibEpidermal growth factor receptor erbB1 inhibitorApproved

Show all 8

PrinomastatApproved

Trametinib Dimethyl SulfoxideDual specificity mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 2 inhibitor; Dual specificity mi…Approved

In phase 2 / 3 · 20

AbemaciclibCyclin-dependent kinase 4 inhibitor; Cyclin-dependent kinase 6 inhibitorPhase 3

Berahyaluronidase AlfaPhase 3

BevacizumabVascular endothelial growth factor A inhibitorPhase 3

CapmatinibHepatocyte growth factor receptor inhibitorPhase 3

CarboplatinPhase 3

CisplatinPhase 3

Show all 20

CustirsenClusterin mRNA antisense inhibitorPhase 3

Dalteparin SodiumAntithrombin-III activatorPhase 3

DimesnaPhase 3

DocetaxelTubulin inhibitorPhase 3

DurvalumabProgrammed cell death 1 ligand 1 inhibitorPhase 3

ErlotinibEpidermal growth factor receptor erbB1 inhibitorPhase 3

GemcitabineRibonucleoside-diphosphate reductase RR1 inhibitor; DNA polymerase (alpha/delta/epsilon) …Phase 3

IpilimumabCytotoxic T-lymphocyte protein 4 inhibitorPhase 3

KarenitecinDNA topoisomerase I inhibitorPhase 3

LurbinectedinPhase 3

MarimastatMatrix metalloproteinase 9 inhibitor; Matrix metalloproteinase-1 inhibitorPhase 3

NecitumumabEpidermal growth factor receptor erbB1 inhibitorPhase 3

NivolumabProgrammed cell death protein 1 inhibitorPhase 3

OsimertinibEpidermal growth factor receptor erbB1 inhibitorPhase 3

Early trials · 20

2X-121Poly [ADP-ribose] polymerase-1 inhibitor; Poly [ADP-ribose] polymerase 2 inhibitorPhase 1/2

AuranofinPhase 1/2

BatoprotafibProtein-tyrosine phosphatase 2C inhibitorPhase 1/2

BinimetinibDual specificity mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 1 inhibitor; Dual specificity mi…Phase 1/2

Bintrafusp AlfaProgrammed cell death 1 ligand 1 binding agent; Transforming growth factor beta binding a…Phase 1/2

Biw-8962Phase 1/2

Show all 20

Bms-986156Phase 1/2

Bt-5528Phase 1/2

CamptothecinPhase 1/2

CrizotinibHepatocyte growth factor receptor inhibitor; ALK tyrosine kinase receptor inhibitorPhase 1/2

Davamotecan PegadexamerPhase 1/2

DecitabineDNA (cytosine-5)-methyltransferase 3A inhibitor; DNA (cytosine-5)-methyltransferase 1 inh…Phase 1/2

Erlotinib HydrochlorideEpidermal growth factor receptor erbB1 inhibitorPhase 1/2

GebasaxturevPhase 1/2

IdronoxilPhase 1/2

Immunocytokine Nhs-Il12Phase 1/2

L-Dos47Phase 1/2

LorlatinibALK tyrosine kinase receptor inhibitor; EML4-ALK inhibitorPhase 1/2

MethotrexateDihydrofolate reductase inhibitorPhase 1/2

Neo-201Phase 1/2

🧪

Recruiting trials

Worldwide, open to new patients now

A Study to Evaluate Efficacy, and Safety of QL2107 Plus Chemo and Compare With Keytruda in Participants With …NCT06754644 · Phase 3 · 📍 Jinan Prediction of Outcome to Neoadjuvant Therapy in Non-small Cell Lung Cancer（NSCLC）NCT07388771 · n/a · 📍 Wuhan Irinotecan Liposome (II) or Etoposide Combined With Adebrelimab and Carboplatin in the Treatment of ES-SCLCNCT06739928 · Phase 2 · 📍 Guangzhou Small Extracellular Vesicle miRNAs as Predictive Biomarkers for Immunochemotherapy Efficacy in Extensive-stag…NCT07070011 · n/a · 📍 Shanghai An Exploratory Study of Tislelizumab in Combination with Chemotherapy in Immuno-experienced Patients with EGF…NCT06749886 · Phase 2 · 📍 Shanghai Epidemiology of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm With Concomitant Primary Lung CancerNCT06775821 · n/a · 📍 Kunming Shared Decision Making in Patients With Lung CancerNCT05191485 · n/a · 📍 Chengdu A Real World Study of Ensartinib in Advanced ALK-positive NSCLCNCT05498064 · n/a · 📍 Beijing Cardiovascular Injury and Cardiac Fitness in Locally Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Patients Receiving M…NCT05010109 · NA · 📍 Houston A Study Comparing Neoadjuvant Chemoimmunotherapy and Immuno-consolidationafter Compared With Immunoconsolidat…NCT06424899 · Phase 2 · 📍 Hangzhou Adaptive Adjuvant Sintilimab Therapy Guided by MRD (ADAPT Lung)NCT07120698 · Phase 2 · 📍 Guangzhou Study of RAS(ON) Inhibitors in Patients With Advanced RAS-mutated NSCLCNCT06162221 · Phase 1, Phase 2 · 📍 Gilbert Search more trials →

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