Therapy for Stage IV Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer With Driver Alterations: ASCO Living Guideline, 2026.3.1

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Clinical Practice Guidelines

Background:

• Medical knowledge and evidence evolve rapidly in certain fields.
• This necessitates frequent updates to clinical practice guidelines to reflect the latest research.
• Existing guidelines may become outdated quickly, impacting patient care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the development and methodology of living guidelines.
• To explain the process of continuous evidence review and guideline updates.
• To inform clinicians about the nature and limitations of living guidelines.

Main Methods:

• Living guidelines are developed for topics with rapidly evolving evidence.
• A standing expert panel systematically reviews the health literature continuously.
• Updates are published on a regular schedule, following established methodology.

Main Results:

• Living guidelines ensure that clinical practice recommendations are current.
• The process involves ongoing literature review and expert panel assessment.
• Updates are readily accessible to healthcare professionals.

Conclusions:

• Living guidelines are a dynamic approach to clinical decision-making in fast-changing fields.
• They aim to provide the most up-to-date evidence-based recommendations.
• These guidelines supplement, but do not replace, clinical judgment for individual patient care.