Lung cancer news

GO2 for Lung Cancer (GO2) and the Addario Lung Cancer Medical Institute (ALCMI) are proud to announce that Christine M. Lovly, MD, PhD, FASCO, professor of medical oncology and chief of thoracic medical oncology at City of Hope®, one of the largest and most advanced cancer research and treatment organizations in the United States, has been selected as the 2026 recipient of the Bonnie J. Addario Lectureship Award. The award recognizes Dr. Lovly's extraordinary contributions to advancing precision medicine, accelerating lung cancer research, and championing compassionate, personalized care for every person affected by the disease.

An internationally recognized physician-scientist and leader in precision oncology, Dr. Lovly has transformed the understanding and treatment of lung cancer through pioneering research in biomarker-driven therapies, precision medicine, and liquid biopsy technologies. Her work has expanded treatment options for patients worldwide while advancing a more personalized approach to care that improves both outcomes and quality of life.

Named in honor of Bonnie J. Addario, a lung cancer survivor, advocate, and co-founder of both GO2 and ALCMI, the Bonnie J. Addario Lectureship Award celebrates individuals whose work has profoundly influenced the field of lung cancer. This year marks the 19th annual Bonnie J. Addario Lectureship Award, and Dr. Lovly joins an esteemed group of leaders whose scientific innovation, clinical excellence, and commitment to patients have advanced progress against lung cancer.

"Dr. Lovly exemplifies everything this award represents," said Danielle Hicks, co-interim CEO of GO2 for Lung Cancer and daughter of Addario. "She has helped redefine what is possible through precision medicine while never losing sight of the individual behind every diagnosis. Her commitment to pairing groundbreaking science with compassionate, personalized care reflects the vision my mother championed. Every person with lung cancer deserves hope, innovation, and access to the right care for them, at the right time."

"I am deeply honored to receive the Bonnie J. Addario Lectureship Award," said Dr. Lovly. "The remarkable progress we've made in lung cancer has only been possible because of the partnership among researchers, clinicians, advocates, patients, and families. While innovation continues to move the field forward at an extraordinary pace, our responsibility is to ensure that every person has access to the advances that can improve both the length and quality of their lives. It is a privilege to contribute to that shared mission."

"We support investigator-initiated clinical trials as our core mission because we get to collaborate with innovative researchers like Dr. Lovly to push forward lung cancer science," said Richard Erwin, chief operating officer and executive director of ALCMI. "We are proud to call her both a colleague and a friend, and it is a privilege to recognize her with this year's Bonnie J. Addario Lectureship Award."

Beyond her research accomplishments, Dr. Lovly is a leading voice for ensuring that advances in lung cancer care reach every patient. She has emphasized that while innovation in targeted therapies, immunotherapy, and diagnostics continues to accelerate, improving access to biomarker testing, lung cancer screening, clinical trials, and expert care remains essential to translating scientific progress into better outcomes. Her leadership across national guideline committees, scientific organizations, and patient advocacy partnerships continues to help shape the future of lung cancer care worldwide.

Since 2008, the Bonnie J. Addario Lectureship Award has recognized individuals whose leadership has significantly advanced lung cancer research, treatment, and patient care. Dr. Lovly will formally receive the award and deliver the keynote lecture, "Precision Oncology in Lung Cancer: Progress, Pitfalls, and Promise," at the 27th Annual International Lung Cancer Conference in Huntington Beach, CA.

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Did you know? RET is a gene found in healthy cells that is important for their growth and survival. In some people, the RET gene joins, or fuses with a different gene. This causes the cells to grow out of control, causing cancer. When this happens in the lung, it is called RET-positive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), which occurs in about 2 out of every 100 cases (2%) of lung cancer.

On July 14, 2026, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) updated its accelerated approval of Retevmo (selpercatinib) to a traditional approval. Retevmo (selpercatinib) is now approved for people with locally advanced or metastatic solid tumors, including NSCLC, with a RET gene fusion, following prior systemic treatment such as chemotherapy.

Retevmo (selpercatinib) received accelerated approval for this population in May 2020. Updating the drug to “traditional” approval means that the FDA is satisfied the drug's previously predicted clinical benefit has been verified by further studies. The update does not change Retevmo’s (selpercatinib’s) availability or day-to-day usage.

This latest approval is based on the results of the LIBRETTO-001 study, which looked at how safe and effective Retevmo (selpercatinib) is for people with locally advanced or metastatic solid tumors with a RET gene fusion, following prior systemic treatment such as chemotherapy. The study showed participants in the trial experienced both a promising response rate and benefits lasted for a meaningful time period in those who responded.  

This is an exciting update, as Retevmo (selpercatinib) verified clinical benefit may help to inform discussions with your healthcare team about which RET-targeting treatment may be best for you.

Please speak with your healthcare team for more information about Retevmo (selpercatinib) and to see if it may be an option for you. If you have questions about treatment, trials, or biomarker testing, contact our LungMATCH team at support@go2.org or 1-800-298-2436.  

Read the full FDA announcement.  

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‍Lung cancer survivor Dr. Simi Ranajee and longtime GO2 volunteer Kathryn Castricone bring a shared commitment to improving the lives of patients and families.

GO2 for Lung Cancer (GO2), the nation’s leading organization dedicated to improving outcomes for people at risk for, diagnosed with, and living with lung cancer, today announced the appointment of Simi Ranajee, PhD, MBA, and Kathryn “Kaydee” Castricone to its Board of Directors.

Together, Ranajee and Castricone bring complementary perspectives and expertise in survivorship, community engagement, and philanthropy to advance GO2's mission.

A two-time lung cancer survivor, Ranajee brings more than three decades of experience in healthcare, public health, strategic communications, business development, and health technology. Throughout her career, Ranajee advised and led organizations ranging from emerging startups to global healthcare and communications companies. Her expertise spans patient engagement, brand strategy, fundraising, public health, and healthcare innovation.

Castricone joins the board after nearly two decades of dedicated involvement with GO2. A nonprofit fundraising and event-planning professional with more than 35 years of experience, she has been a steadfast supporter of the organization's mission, contributing her expertise to fundraising events, donor engagement, volunteer efforts, and community-building initiatives.

"GO2's strength comes from leaders who bring both passion for our mission and a commitment to driving meaningful change," said GO2 Board President Rick Sherlock. "Dr. Ranajee and Kathryn embody those qualities in remarkable ways. Simi offers the perspective of a survivor, coupled with extensive healthcare expertise, while Kathryn brings decades of nonprofit experience and an unwavering dedication to this organization. Their insights will help guide GO2 as we continue to expand our impact for patients and families everywhere."

"We are excited to welcome Simi and Kaydee to the Board at an important moment for GO2 and the lung cancer community," said GO2 Co-interim CEO Danielle Hicks. "Their perspectives and leadership will help us continue building momentum as we work to improve outcomes for everyone impacted by lung cancer. Together, they bring valuable experience and a deep commitment to the patients and families we serve."

For Ranajee, joining the board is the culmination of a personal journey shaped by survivorship and a career dedicated to improving health outcomes.

"There are rare moments in life when experience, purpose, preparation, and passion align with unmistakable clarity," said Ranajee. "As a two-time lung cancer survivor, I understand firsthand the challenges and uncertainties that patients and families face. Combined with my professional experience in healthcare and public health, I am honored to support GO2's mission and help create lasting impact for patients and families affected by lung cancer."

For Castricone, board service represents the next chapter in a relationship with the organization that began nearly 20 years ago through GO2’s co-founder Bonnie J. Addario.

"My connection to GO2 began through Bonnie Addario's extraordinary vision and determination to change the future of lung cancer," said Kathryn Castricone. "Over the past two decades, I have watched this organization grow into a powerful force for patients and families while never losing sight of the people at the heart of its mission. I look forward to helping advance the work that has inspired me for so many years."

Ranajee and Castricone join the Board as GO2 continues to accelerate efforts to increase survival, improve quality of life, and eliminate barriers to care for people at risk for and affected by lung cancer.

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Each year, oncology professionals from around the world gather at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting to explore the latest advances in cancer research and treatment. Our team recently returned from this year’s conference with exciting insights and updates to share.

Updates to precision medicine and targeted therapy

At ASCO 2026, we continued to see advancements made in targeted therapies, including new options for rarer biomarker groups.

• ALK
  Updated data from the CROWN trial underscored long-term progress. The data compared the ALK targeted therapy Lorbrena (lorlatinib) as a first treatment for ALK-positive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) to an earlier generation of ALK targeted therapy, Xalkori (crizotinib). While the trial had previously demonstrated that lorlatinib led to better outcomes, new data showed that even 7 years after the trial started, many patients had still not experienced progression while taking lorlatinib. The median or “middle-ground” benefit of lorlatinib has still not been determined, which could mean a long treatment benefit. This exciting result affirms that with continued research, we are achieving better long-term outcomes than ever before in lung cancer.

• EGFR
  In the WU-KONG 28 trial, we saw promising results from the EGFR Exon 20 targeted therapy Zegfrovy (sunvozertinib) as a first therapy (notable also given that sunvozertinib is a pill and other currently approved EGFR Exon 20 therapies are administered by IV).  

• RET
  The Libretto-432 trial showed that giving the RET targeted therapy Retevmo (selpercatinib) after surgery decreased the chance that the cancer would come back after being removed in people with RET-positive NSCLC. Trials like Libretto-432 serve as a reminder that receiving comprehensive biomarker testing is important for everyone who has lung cancer (regardless of stage) and that we may soon see additional targeted therapy options for early-stage NSCLC, beyond the already approved Tagrisso (osimertinib) (EGFR) and Alecensa (alectinib) (ALK). Data also demonstrated the new RET targeted therapy, lunbotinib, had promising effectiveness and could be an additional option for RET-positive NSCLC.

• ALK
  The LORIN trial showed that giving the ALK-targeted therapy Lorbrena (lorlatinib) before surgery to patients with initially unresectable, early-stage ALK-positive NSCLC led to significant tumor shrinkage. As a result, 75% of participants became eligible for surgical removal of their cancer, highlighting the potential role of targeted therapies in expanding treatment options for patients with early-stage disease.

Immunotherapy innovations

The field of immunotherapy continues evolving in new directions, with several agents advancing in trials and coming closer to entering clinical practice. Two such drugs that were spotlighted at this year's meeting include ivonescimab and pumitamig. These are both bi-specific antibodies that attach to and block PD-1 and VEGF (a special protein that helps blood vessels grow).  

• Invonescimab with chemotherapy
  In the Harmoni-6 trial, invonescimab (with chemotherapy) was compared to a PD-L1 inhibitor called Tevimbra (tislelizumab) (also given with chemo) to see which combination would be a better treatment for people living with squamous cell NSCLC. The ivonescimab group had a 4-month longer period without progression (28 months compared to 24), and people with a positive PD-L1 score (one that is >1%) did better than people with a negative PD-L1 score. This emphasizes the importance of having doctors test the tumor tissue to measure this number.  

• BNT327/BMS-986545 (pumitamig)
  In the RosettaLung-02 trial, people with squamous and non-squamous NSCLC were given this drug in the first line. There was a strong response among both groups, with non-squamous individuals responding 63.6% of the time, and squamous individuals responding 72.7% of the time. For those who did respond, all still showed stable or shrinking disease at 9 months.

• Combination therapies
  The TRITON study showed the benefits of new drug combinations, especially for mutations that are prone to resistance. The study found that a combination of durvalumab Imfinzi (durvalumab), Paraplatin (carboplatin) or Platinol (cisplatin) plus Toposar (etoposide) chemotherapy, and the drug Imjudo (tremelimumab) can provide added benefit when administered in first line NSCLC. This trial found that people who had a STK11, KEAP1, or KRAS mutation were 15% more likely to respond to this combination when compared to the standard of care, chemotherapy plus Keytruda (pembrolizumab), at 48% vs. 33.3%.

Promising research for small cell lung cancer (SCLC)

Researchers continue to work on bridging the gap for people living with SCLC and brought updates on improving both treatment and quality of life.

• SCLC with brain metastasis
  In the DELPHI-304 study of Imdelltra (tarlatamab), people who received it over chemotherapy were more likely to see their brain tumor(s) shrink by 30% or more (56% of people compared to 38%). They also found that a complete response was more likely with Imdelltra (tarlatamab), at 15% compared to 5% for chemotherapy. This offers an additional layer of protection and confidence for the many people with SCLC experiencing brain metastases.  

• Risks and benefits of adding extra treatments
  The TRIPLEX study evaluated whether there was a survival benefit to adding radiation therapy to treatment with chemoimmunotherapy in extensive-stage SCLC. This study found that people given concurrent radiation with their chemotherapy+immunotherapy had higher rates of side effects and mortality when compared to those who were on chemo and immunotherapy alone, but they did not have a longer survival time. Though this study did not find that added radiation was beneficial for these individuals, it teaches us how to optimize cancer care. By balancing the disease control rate of a medication with its side effect profile, we can work to provide care that will be well-tolerated and effective at the same time.

Want to learn more about takeaways and highlights from ASCO 2026? Don’t miss our dedicated Lung Cancer Living Room discussion on Tuesday, July 21. Text "LivingRoom" to 844-871-7558 to receive Living Room text reminders.

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At the 2026 GO2 for Lung Cancer Voices Summit in Washington, DC, Christine M. Lovly, MD, PhD, FASCO, Division Chief of Thoracic Medical Oncology at City of Hope, shared a powerful message: the future of lung cancer care is being rewritten, and real progress is being made faster than ever before.

In her keynote, “Precision, Progress, Partnerships, and Possibility in Lung Cancer,” Dr. Lovly highlighted how science, advocacy, and collaboration are transforming outcomes for people living with lung cancer. “Every person in this room has a lung cancer story,” she said, recognizing those living with lung cancer, caregivers, advocates, and researchers working together to drive change.

That shared purpose is what continues to move the field forward.

A turning point in lung cancer treatment

Not long ago, non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treatment options were limited. In the early 2000s, people with advanced NSCLC lived an average of about 8 months.

Today, we are in a different era.

Advances in precision medicine, which is treatment that is tailored to the individual person, have transformed NSCLC care. It was once thought that lung cancer was a single disease, but through biomarker testing, we can now identify subtypes of NSCLC. When a person is found to have certain biomarkers such as EGFR, ALK, KRAS, and others, targeted therapies are available. These treatments target specific biomarkers and stop lung cancer from growing and spreading.

The impact is profound. Many people with advanced lung cancer are now living for years with good quality of life and outcomes that once felt out of reach.

But Dr. Lovly emphasized that continued progress depends on ongoing investment in federal research. She expressed concern about how funding reductions and uncertainty at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) could affect the pace and stability of cancer research. When studies are paused or clinical trials are delayed, progress can slow for patients who are waiting for new treatment options. Sustained federal investment in research plays a critical role in supporting clinical trials, which drive continued advances in lung cancer care.

The role of immunotherapy in lung cancer progress

In addition to targeted therapies, immunotherapy has reshaped what’s possible for many people living with lung cancer.

These treatments work by helping the immune system recognize and attack cancer. A type of immunotherapy called a checkpoint inhibitor has greatly improved outcomes and has expanded treatment options across lung cancer stages.

Still, Dr. Lovly emphasized that progress cannot be measured by numbers alone.

“Life lived is equally as important,” she said, a reminder that quality of life must remain central to every advance.

At GO2, we know this is what matters most. It means more time, better days, and meaningful moments for people living with lung cancer and their families.

Ongoing challenges in lung cancer care

Despite this progress, too many people are still diagnosed at later stages, when treatment options are more limited.

Dr. Lovly outlined several key challenges that continue to impact outcomes:

• Low lung cancer screening rates, leading to late diagnoses

• Limited access to biomarker testing and expert care

• Health differences based on location and income

• Drug resistance, as cancer cells adapt and survive treatments  

• Gaps in research funding that limit progress

Despite causing more deaths than many other cancers, lung cancer research has historically received less funding. Dr. Lovly highlighted this as a major barrier to continued progress as it requires urgent action from all of us.

The future of lung cancer research

There is also real momentum and reason for hope.

New treatments, including next-generation KRAS inhibitors and antibody-drug conjugates, are expanding options for people.

Emerging tools like liquid biopsy are making it easier to detect and monitor cancer through a simple blood test, helping bring precision medicine to more people.

At the same time, AI and new clinical trial designs are helping people access new treatments faster.

The science is moving forward quickly, but as Dr. Lovly made clear, discovery alone isn’t enough.

Impact through advocacy

“Innovation is not our barrier. Implementation is,” Dr. Lovly said.

We already have many of the tools needed to save lives. The challenge is making sure every person with lung cancer, no matter who they are or where they live, can access them.

Where we go from here: More resources, more action

To continue progress, Dr. Lovly emphasized the need for more resources. Top priorities include:

• Expand access to lung cancer screening  

• Increase research funding  

• Improve clinical trial participation  

• Ensuring a variety of people join research studies

• Support research on survivorship

• Strengthen the cancer care workforce  

These priorities reflect where the lung cancer community must focus next and where we can make the greatest impact.

The story is still being written

Dr. Lovly closed with a powerful reminder that reflects the heart of the lung cancer community:

“Every treatment we use today exists because people chose hope over fear and participated in research that helped all of us learn.”

The story of lung cancer is still being written. And as Dr. Lovly emphasized, people with lung cancer and advocates are not simply part of that story. They are helping lead it.

The lung cancer community can continue to make a difference by contacting lawmakers and supporting policies that accelerate research, expand access to care, and improve outcomes. Take action today.

WASHINGTON, D.C., May 27, 2026 — GO2 for Lung Cancer (GO2) is proud to announce Jennifer W. Li, MD, of Johns Hopkins University, as the recipient of the 2026 Conquer Cancer – GO2 for Lung Cancer Young Investigator Award in memory of Debbie Consiglio.

Presented in collaboration with Conquer Cancer®, the ASCO Foundation, the Young Investigator Award (YIA) supports promising early-career physicians during the final years of training as they transition to faculty appointments and pursue innovative clinical oncology research. The mentored award supports physician-scientists conducting research under the guidance of experienced scientific mentors and is designed to help investigators transition from fellowship training into independent academic careers. Applications are accepted from investigators across all areas of cancer research from both the United States and around the world.

Through this one-year grant, Dr. Li will lead a research project titled, “Integrative blood-based proteomic and circulating tumor DNA dynamics for early immunotherapy response and toxicity detection in advanced lung cancer.” Her work aims to improve the ability to predict which patients will benefit from immunotherapy and identify those at risk for serious treatment-related side effects using minimally invasive blood-based testing.

Immunotherapy has transformed treatment for many people living with lung cancer, yet significant challenges remain. While some patients experience durable responses, others do not benefit, and approximately 10–20% develop severe side effects that can significantly impact quality of life. Dr. Li’s research seeks to combine analyses of protein and circulating tumor DNA collected before and during treatment to better understand treatment response and toxicity in real time.

“GO2 is proud to support emerging researchers whose work has the potential to directly improve the lives of people living with lung cancer,” said GO2’s Co-Interim Chief Executive Officer and Chief Patient Officer Danielle Hicks. “Dr. Li’s research reflects the kind of patient-centered innovation that is urgently needed to help patients and their care teams make more informed treatment decisions, better manage side effects, and ultimately improve outcomes. Through our longstanding collaboration with Conquer Cancer, we remain committed to advancing research that brings more personalized and compassionate care to the lung cancer community.”

Dr. Li is a medical oncology fellow at the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins University, where her research focuses on precision oncology and biomarker development in lung cancer. Her work integrates multi-omic and liquid biopsy approaches to improve the prediction of treatment response, toxicity, and clinical outcomes. She plans to pursue a career as an academic thoracic oncologist.

“I am incredibly honored to receive this award,” said Dr. Li. “This support will help advance our work to better understand why patients respond differently to immunotherapy and why some develop severe side effects. My hope is that this research will contribute to more personalized, safer, and more effective treatment strategies for people living with lung cancer.”

Dr. Li studied biological engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where she worked on microfluidic platforms for single-cell analysis to support individualized cancer care. She earned her medical degree from the University of Florida and completed her internal medicine residency at Brown University. Her current research combines molecular profiling, liquid biopsy, and data-driven approaches to advance personalized cancer treatment.

GO2 proudly supports Conquer Cancer’s Grants & Awards Program and the next generation of lung cancer researchers. Through this collaboration, grants have funded innovative studies exploring topics such as radiation response, biomarker detection, and novel treatment strategies. The program reflects GO2’s commitment to encouraging emerging investigators to pursue careers dedicated to improving outcomes for people impacted by lung cancer.

Conquer Cancer will formally recognize this year’s award recipients during the 2026 ASCO Annual Meeting.  

The 2026 Conquer Cancer – GO2 for Lung Cancer Young Investigator Award in memory of Debbie Consiglio is supported by Natera.

GO2 for Lung Cancer today applauds House passage of H.R. 2319, the Women and Lung Cancer Research and Preventive Services Act, an important bipartisan step toward final enactment this Congress.

We commend the leadership of Representatives Brendan Boyle (D- 2- PA) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-1-PA). We also thank Speaker Mike Johnson (R-4-LA), Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-1-LA), and Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-8-NY) for advancing the bill under suspension and recognize the leadership of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, including Chairman Brett Guthrie (R-2-KY) and Ranking Member Frank Pallone (D-6-NJ).

This milestone builds on more than a decade of advocacy and research, including work with the Connors Center for Women’s Health and Gender Biology at Brigham and Women's Hospital, which first identified critical gaps in understanding lung cancer in women and called for a coordinated national response.

While smoking rates have declined, lung cancer diagnoses, particularly among women, have not kept pace. This underscores a critical truth that lung cancer can affect anyone, including people with no known risk factors. Yet this misconception continues to drive stigma and delay diagnosis. The key unanswered question is why younger, otherwise healthy women with no traditional risk factors are developing lung cancer.

“The placement of this bill on the House Suspension Calendar reflects strong bipartisan recognition that we must do more to address lung cancer in women,” said GO2 for Lung Cancer’s Interim Co-CEO Danielle Hicks. “Once implemented, this legislation will improve understanding of genetic, hormonal, environmental, and behavioral factors and strengthen prevention, screening, and treatment strategies for everyone impacted by lung cancer.”

“The advancement of this bill is about more than research funding, it is about correcting a dangerous and outdated narrative,” said GO2 for Lung Cancer’s Senior Director of Government Affairs, Elridge Proctor. “We are still seeing lung cancer in younger women with no known risk factors. That means critical scientific gaps remain, and patients are paying the price.”

By advancing a more complete understanding of disease risk beyond risk factors, the bill helps dismantle stigma at its root, replacing blame with evidence and ensuring that all patients are recognized, studied, and served.

GO2 for Lung Cancer urges the Senate to swiftly pass S. 1157 and conference with the House on the two versions to bring the bill to the President’s desk. We stand ready to work with federal agencies and leading patient advocacy organizations to ensure this legislation is implemented and delivers meaningful progress for everyone living with lung cancer.

Join us in taking action. Contact your Senator, every message counts!  

The absence of tobacco use suggests alternative carcinogenic mechanisms may contribute to lung cancer development in younger individuals.

SAN CARLOS, Calif., April 17, 2026 — The Addario Lung Cancer Medical Institute (ALCMI) and GO2 for Lung Cancer today announced results from a new study presented at the 2026 American Association for Cancer Research annual meeting showing that lifestyle patterns and dietary exposures could play a role in tumor mutations among young adults with lung cancer. The results, drawn from the ongoing Epidemiology of Young Lung Cancer study, may help uncover modifiable risk factors in a population where lifestyle behaviors traditionally associated with lung cancer, such as smoking, fail to explain disease onset.  

This project is conducted by researchers from California Northstate University College of Medicine, the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, and USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, part of Keck Medicine of USC. The work is supported by AstraZeneca, the Beth Longwell Foundation, Genentech, GO2 for Lung Cancer, and Upstage Lung Cancer.  

There is growing concern that lung cancer is biologically distinct in adults under 40, with 84% of patients carrying targetable mutations. These historically younger patients are predominantly female and have no smoking history, which raises questions about other potential environmental contributors.  

The new analysis examined data from 187 patients, assessing dietary patterns and food exposure in conjunction with mutation subtypes. Key findings include:  

• Diet quality and pesticide-linked foods. Patients with EGFR and fusion mutations reported better overall diet quality than the U.S. population average. However, their higher intake of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, which are often associated with elevated pesticide residue, may represent an overlooked environmental risk factor.  

• Unexpected tobacco associations. In the fusion pathway group (ALK, ROS1, RET, NTRK), 55.6% were people with no smoking history, challenging conventional links between these mutations and tobacco exposure. Conversely, one-third of EGFR pathway patients reported a smoking history, higher than anticipated.  

• Potential connection to oral contraceptives. Oral contraceptive use was consistently elevated across all biological pathway groups. Although most patients reported 1-5 years of use, the median duration was 10 years due to a subset of long-term users. This matters because the pesticides can act as endocrine disruptors that interact with estrogen receptors seen in the lung cancers most prevalent in the young lung cancer population.  

The study team notes that further research is needed to clarify how dietary pesticide exposure interacts with genetic pathways and whether reducing exposure could lower risk.  

“These findings demonstrate that there is still so much to learn about this terrible disease, particularly as it occurs in young people,” said ALCMI Executive Director and COO Richard Erwin. “Our hope is that this is just the beginning of this research and that others will join us in exploring how and why lung cancer is presenting in the younger patient population.”  

“This work represents a critical step toward identifying modifiable environmental factors that may contribute to lung cancer in younger adults,” said Jorge J. Nieva, MD, a thoracic oncologist with USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center. “Our hope is that these insights can guide both public health recommendations and future research into prevention.”  

“Too many young people diagnosed with lung cancer are left asking, ‘how did this happen?’ especially when they have no known risk factors,” said Chief Patient Officer and Co-Interim CEO of GO2 for Lung Cancer Danielle Hicks. “This research reflects what patients have long suspected. There may be risk factors beyond their control. It’s a critical step toward understanding risk, improving early detection, and giving patients clearer answers.”  

These findings would not be possible without the vision of ALCMI Co-Founder Bonnie J. Addario, who passed away in 2025. She long suspected an unknown environmental link could be contributing to this disease and was steadfast in her determination to search for answers for lung cancer patients.  

“While more research is needed to confirm these findings, this is the first clear evidence that lung cancer in younger patients may develop through a different biological pathway,” said Tony Addario, ALCMI co-founder and husband of the late Bonnie Addario. “This discovery is both scientific and deeply personal. Bonnie’s vision has guided this research from the very beginning, and her legacy continues in the hope we bring to every person facing lung cancer, and in the lives we may one day prevent from ever being touched by it.”  

Disclosure:

Dr. Nieva has received consulting payments from AstraZeneca and Genentech.

Did you know? HER2 is a gene found in cells that are important for cell growth and survival. You may also sometimes see HER2 referred to as ERBB-2. In some people, the HER2 gene begins to mutate or change, which can be a driving cause of cancer. HER2 mutations occur in about 2 out of every 100 cases (2%) of non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLC).

On February 26, 2026, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) expanded its accelerated approval of Hernexeos (zongertinib) for people with advanced non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) that has a HER2 activating mutation. This exciting update marks the first HER2-targeting therapy approved for use as the initial treatment for this population.

The previous approval allowed individuals to receive Hernexeos (zongertinib) only after a person had already received systemic treatment, such as chemotherapy. With this expanded approval, Hernexeos (zongertinib) can now be used as the first treatment for people with advanced non-squamous NSCLC that has a HER2 activating mutation.

This latest approval is based on the results of the Beamion LUNG-1 study, which evaluated the safety and effectiveness of Hernexeos (zongertinib) in people:

• Whose cancer could not be removed by surgery (unresectable)
• Whose cancer has spread (metastatic) and has a HER2-activating mutation
• Who had not previously received systemic therapy

The study showed participants in the trial experienced both a promising response rate and, for those who responded, benefits lasted for a meaningful period of time.

Hernexeos (zongertinib) is a type of treatment known as a tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI), which works by blocking the activity of mutated HER2 in cancer cells and may help to slow down or stop their growth.

Please speak with your healthcare team for more information about Hernexeos (zongertinib) and to see if it may be a good option for you. If you have questions about treatment, trials, or biomarker testing, contact our LungMATCH team at support@go2.org or 1-800-298-2436.   

Read the full FDA announcement.