Non-small cell lung cancer accounts for about 85% of all lung cancers. Treatment depends heavily on the cancer's genetic profile — mutations in genes like EGFR, ALK, and KRAS now guide which drugs are used. Immunotherapy has transformed outcomes for many people, and targeted therapies can turn some advanced cancers into manageable chronic conditions.
What's actually going on in research
Trials are testing combinations of immunotherapy drugs, new antibody-drug conjugates that deliver chemotherapy directly to cancer cells, and targeted therapies for KRAS mutations (once considered undruggable). Research also focuses on early detection through blood tests, better brain penetration for drugs, and determining which people benefit most from surgery plus immunotherapy versus other approaches.
KRAS G12C inhibitors
Drugs like sotorasib and adagrasib target a specific KRAS mutation found in about 13% of lung adenocarcinomas. Trials are now testing these drugs earlier in treatment and in combination with chemotherapy or immunotherapy.
Antibody-drug conjugates
These drugs attach chemotherapy to antibodies that seek out cancer cells, sparing healthy tissue. Several are in late-stage trials for lung cancer with specific protein markers on the cell surface.
Neoadjuvant immunotherapy
Giving immunotherapy before surgery appears to improve survival in early-stage disease. Trials are refining which combinations work best and how long treatment should continue after surgery.
What to know before you search
Eligibility typically depends on cancer stage, specific mutations or biomarkers, prior treatments, and overall health. Many trials require recent tissue or blood testing to confirm genetic features.
What types of trials are currently open
- Targeted therapy trials — Testing drugs designed for specific mutations (EGFR, ALK, ROS1, KRAS, MET, RET, BRAF). These trials usually require a biopsy showing the mutation.
- Immunotherapy trials — Testing checkpoint inhibitors like pembrolizumab and nivolumab, often combined with chemotherapy or other immune drugs. Some trials measure PD-L1 expression to predict response.
- Combination trials — Testing two or more treatments together — often immunotherapy plus chemotherapy, or targeted therapy plus immunotherapy — to see if the combination works better than either alone.
- Early detection studies — Testing blood tests or low-dose CT scans to find lung cancer earlier, when it's more treatable.
- Surgical trials — Comparing different surgical approaches or testing whether adding immunotherapy or chemotherapy before or after surgery improves outcomes in early-stage disease.
Recently added Non-small Cell Lung Cancer trials
A Study to Learn About the Study Medicine Called PF-08098488 in People With Advanced Solid Tumors.
The purpose of this clinical study is to learn about the safety and effects of the study medicine (called PF-08098488) in people with advanced solid tumors (cancer that cannot be removed with surgery or has spread to other parts of the body). PF-08098488 is being studied as a possible treatment for certain types of cancer. These include non-small cell lung cancer, pancreatic cancer, stomach or gastroesophageal junction cancer, and esophageal cancer. This study will also help researchers learn how the study medicine moves through and affects the body. This study is seeking adults who: * Have advanced non-small cell lung cancer, pancreatic cancer, stomach or gastroesophageal junction cancer, or esophageal cancer. * Have received at least 1 previous treatment for their cancer. * Have cancer that has grown, returned, or is no longer responding to available treatments. All participants in this study will receive PF-08098488 as an IV infusion (given directly into a vein) at the study clinic. Researchers will study different dose levels and dosing schedules to find the dose that is safe and may work best. Participants will be monitored closely during treatment, especially after their first infusion. They may continue receiving the study medicine as long as their cancer is not getting worse and they are tolerating treatment. The study includes a screening period of up to 28 days. Participants will have regular visits to the study clinic for treatment and health assessments. These assessments include scans to monitor the cancer and blood sample collection. Tumor tissue samples will also be collected when available or medically feasible. After treatment ends, participants will have a follow-up visit about 1 month later. They will then be contacted about every 12 weeks to check on their health.
Analysis of Whole Exome and Transcriptome Sequencing to Identify Prognostic Biomarkers in Patients With Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC)
This is a non-interventional translational research study aiming to comprehensively characterize the genomic and transcriptomic landscape of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The study will employ whole-exome sequencing (WES) and RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) on tumor tissue samples and matched germline DNA to identify genomic alterations, mutational signatures, and transcriptomic profiles associated with prognosis and response to immunotherapy. A total of approximately 300 patients with histologically confirmed NSCLC will be included, comprising both metastatic and early-stage disease. Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tumor tissue and, where available, fresh frozen samples will be analyzed. Peripheral blood samples will also be collected for germline DNA assessment. The study aims to identify clinically actionable genomic alterations, measure tumor mutational burden (TMB), characterize immune-related gene expression signatures, and investigate associations between molecular findings and clinical outcomes. In addition, a pilot sub-study will evaluate circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) dynamics in approximately 20 patients with unresectable stage III NSCLC treated with concurrent chemoradiation followed by durvalumab maintenance therapy. Longitudinal plasma samples will be collected at predefined timepoints to assess minimal residual disease (MRD), ctDNA kinetics, and correlations with clinical outcomes including progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). The results of this study are expected to improve understanding of tumor biology and immune landscape in NSCLC and support the identification of prognostic and predictive biomarkers for immunotherapy and other treatment strategies.
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