A Roadmap to Transform Lung Cancer Outcomes: Priorities in Biology, Therapeutic Innovation, Early Detection,...

Advances in targeted therapies, immunotherapy, and early detection have revolutionized lung cancer treatment and extended survival. Nonetheless, lung cancer remains highly fatal. Here, we identify knowledge gaps and propose critical areas of future research, aligning with the mission of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Lung Cancer Task Force. We delineate research priorities, including advancing prevention initiatives, enhancing early detection strategies, developing novel treatments, and refining patient stratification. Addressing disparities and increasing efforts on relatively neglected lung cancer subtypes are also essential. Finally, international collaboration, centralized clinical trial databases, novel clinical trial designs, and artificial intelligence-driven analytics should accelerate precision medicine and aid in elucidating drug resistance mechanisms. Together, these efforts promise to improve patient outcomes.

Despite substantial progress in understanding disease biology and improving therapy, lung cancer remains the leading cause of global cancer-related deaths. The members of the AACR Lung Cancer Task Force describe areas of unmet need and define near-term research priorities and opportunities to reduce lung cancer morbidity and mortality.