Top 5 Lung Cancer Stories in February 2026

Here are the top five lung cancer articles from CURE during February, highlighting updates in treatment guidance, FDA approvals, survivorship care and the role of biomarker testing for patients with cancer and their families. The stories reflect ongoing efforts to personalize therapy, reduce treatment burden and support quality of life while improving outcomes.

Updated guidance supports combination therapy for stage 4 EGFR-mutated lung cancer

The American Society of Clinical Oncology released updated guidance for stage 4 non-small cell lung cancer with certain genetic mutations, including epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) changes. Published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, the update suggests that starting treatment with combination therapy may help patients with cancer live longer without disease progression compared with a single drug.

The recommendations draw on studies including FLAURA2 and MARIPOSA. In these trials, combination approaches such as Tagrisso (osimertinib) plus chemotherapy or Rybrevant (amivantamab) with Lazcluze (lazertinib) helped extend the time patients lived without cancer growth and improved survival outcomes for some patients.

Although combination therapies may be more effective, they were also linked to more side effects. Patients with cancer should talk with their care team about whether the potential benefits of combination treatment outweigh the risks for their individual situation.

Chemo-free option aims to reduce treatment burden

The FDA’s approval of Rybrevant Faspro (amivantamab hyaluronidase-lpuj) provides a chemo-free subcutaneous therapy for patients with EGFR-mutated non-small cell lung cancer. The treatment can be given in about five minutes.

Experts say the option may help lower treatment burden while supporting quality of life for patients with cancer.

Joelle Thirsk Fathi, a nurse practitioner and chief healthcare delivery officer at GO2 for Lung Cancer, said the approval reflects patient-centered care. Shorter administration time and fewer infusion-related reactions may help patients keep up with daily routines while managing advanced disease.

Lung health remains important during survivorship

In an interview with CURE, Joshua Sabari said lung health remains a key part of survivorship for patients with cancer even after treatment ends.

Treatments such as surgery, chemotherapy, radiation and immunotherapy can have lasting effects on lung function. Removing lung tissue reduces breathing capacity, radiation can cause scarring and some systemic therapies may affect oxygen delivery. Because lung tissue does not regrow, protecting remaining function is important.

Sabari recommends regular physical activity such as walking 30 minutes a day several times a week to help maintain lung strength. Survivors should report new symptoms such as shortness of breath, cough or chest pain. Follow-up care may include CT scans and pulmonary function testing to monitor recovery.

Biomarker testing helps guide personalized treatment

Heather Quintana Suchan, a mother and music industry professional living with stage 4 lung cancer, credits biomarker testing and targeted therapy with helping her maintain an active life.

A lifelong nonsmoker, she was diagnosed after a persistent cough led to evaluation and genomic profiling that identified a mutation. She now receives targeted treatment with Rybrevant (amivantamab-vmjw).

Suchan said lung cancer can occur in people without a smoking history and emphasized the importance of early symptom evaluation and genetic testing. She encourages patients to ask about biomarker testing because lung cancer treatment is not the same for everyone.

Living with stage 4 disease, she continues working and attending events, sharing that treatment can allow patients with cancer to keep meaningful daily routines when care is personalized.

Treatment effects on long-term lung function

Cancer treatments such as surgery, radiation and systemic therapy can affect long-term lung function for survivors of lung cancer.

Sabari explained that lung tissue does not regenerate after damage or removal. Procedures such as lobectomy or segmentectomy reduce the lungs’ ability to transfer oxygen into the bloodstream.

Treatments including chemotherapy, radiation and immunotherapy may also contribute to scarring or blood vessel injury in lung tissue. Radiation can cause localized fibrosis, while some immunotherapies may trigger immune reactions against healthy lung tissue.

Sabari emphasized protecting remaining lung capacity through regular physical activity and avoiding smoking to help slow respiratory decline and preserve oxygen exchange function.

References

1. “Therapy for Stage IV Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer With Driver Alterations: ASCO Living Guideline, 2026.3.0” by Dr. Sonam Puri, et al., Journal of Clinical Oncology.
2. “U.S. FDA Approval of RYBREVANT FASPRO™ (amivantamab and hyaluronidase-lpuj) Enables the Simplest, Shortest Administration Time for a First-Line Combination Regimen when combined with LAZCLUZE® (lazertinib),” by Johnson & Johnson. News release; Dec. 17, 2025.

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