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 Prospective, Single-center, Non-randomized, Interventional Study on the Effectiveness and Safety of Combined Immunotargeted Therapy in Patients With Metastatic Non-small Cell Cancer With a RET Gene Translocation
This interventional study will evaluate the effectiveness, safety, and tolerability of pembrolizumab in combination with lenvatinib in adults with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who have a confirmed RET gene rearrangement and whose disease has progressed after one or more previous systemic treatments. Participants will receive pembrolizumab intravenously once every 3 weeks in combination with lenvatinib taken by mouth daily until disease progression, unacceptable side effects, or treatment discontinuation. Tumor response will be assessed using imaging studies according to RECIST 1.1, and participants will be monitored for treatment-related side effects, progression-free survival, and overall survival. The study will also evaluate clinical and tumor characteristics, RET rearrangement variants, and the diagnostic methods used to confirm RET-positive status.
Wireless Wearable Home Prehabilitation for Older Adults With NSCLC
This randomized controlled trial evaluates the efficacy and safety of a home-based prehabilitation program using wireless wearable monitoring devices in older patients (aged 65-85 years) with non-small cell lung cancer scheduled for curative lung resection. Participants are randomized 1:1 to either the intervention group, receiving a personalized exercise regimen (aerobic, resistance, and inspiratory muscle training) with continuous remote monitoring of steps, heart rate, and SpO₂ from 2-4 weeks preoperatively through 90 days postoperatively, or the control group receiving standard perioperative care. The primary endpoint is the between-group difference in FEV₁% predicted at 90 days post-surgery, adjusted for baseline. Secondary endpoints include functional capacity (6-minute walk distance), daily physical activity, hypoxemic burden (time with SpO₂\<90%, nocturnal oxygen desaturation index), patient-reported outcomes (EORTC QLQ-C30/LC13, mMRC), postoperative complications, readmission rates, days alive and at home, and safety outcomes. The target sample size is 198 participants enrolled at West China Hospital of Sichuan University. Anticipated risks include exercise-related musculoskeletal strain, fatigue, and transient cardiopulmonary symptoms, as well as mild skin reactions from devices, all managed through individualized exercise prescriptions, remote safety thresholds, and a graded response protocol.
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