WCLC 2026 reveals advancements in lung cancer treatment

At the World Conference on Lung Cancer (WCLC 2026) in Seoul, new clinical data presented a significant shift toward personalized treatment for both non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and small cell lung cancer.

Key findings from the ADAURA study regarding EGFR-mutated NSCLC showed that eight-year follow-up data for adjuvant osimertinib treatment remains robust. For patients in stages IB–IIIA, the survival rate was 79% compared to 64% for those receiving a placebo, representing a 48% reduction in the risk of death. This underscores the efficacy of targeted therapy following surgical resection.

In metastatic disease, the HARMONi-2 study introduced ivonescimab, a bispecific antibody targeting both PD-1 and VEGF. In patients with PD-L1-positive advanced NSCLC, median overall survival reached 30.8 months, compared to 22.6 months with pembrolizumab, a 27% reduction in death risk. Additionally, the DESTINY-Lung04 study highlighted the role of trastuzumab deruxtecan for HER2-mutant NSCLC, showing a median progression-free survival of 14.3 months versus 8.3 months with standard chemotherapy and pembrolizumab.