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RET-Positive Lung Cancer Research: How Tissue Donation Helps
RET-positive lung cancer is rare, and researchers need better lab models to study it. Learn how donating tumor tissue can help create cell lines and advance targeted treatments.
RET-positive lung cancer is a rare type of cancer driven by a change in a gene called RET, which stands for “rearranged during transfection.” This gene helps control how cells grow and divide. When it fuses with another gene or mutates, it can cause cancer to grow and spread, especially in certain lung and thyroid cancers. Because RET changes are so rare, researchers don’t have enough lab models called cancer cell lines. That makes it harder to study how the cancer behaves and becomes resistant to treatment.
One powerful way patients can help is by donating tumor tissue during a biopsy or surgery. That tissue can be used to grow RET-positive cancer cells in the lab, giving scientists tools to test new treatments and develop better, more personalized options. Thanks to the generosity of several RET patients, four new cancer cell lines are now being developed. If you’re a patient, talk to your care team about donating. Your gift could move research forward and help bring better treatments to others living with RET-driven cancer. (Source: The Happy Lungs Project)
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Resources for Living With Stage 4 Cancer
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Targeted Therapies Bring New Hope in Lung Cancer
New Lung Cancer Treatments Offering Hope Through Research
Recent advancements in lung cancer treatment are offering new hope, especially for those with advanced or hard-to-treat cases. Scientists are developing highly targeted drugs that focus on the unique features of each person’s cancer. These treatments aim to attack only the cancer cells—sparing healthy ones—and may reduce side effects while helping patients live longer. New tools like antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) and bispecific antibodies are leading the way, with some early results showing success even in cases where standard chemo and immunotherapy haven’t worked well.
Some of these new drugs target specific proteins found in certain lung cancers, including those seen in both non-small cell (NSCLC) and small cell lung cancer (SCLC). Researchers are also exploring ways to combine immune-based therapies with these new targeted drugs to overcome resistance and keep the cancer from returning. While many of these treatments are still in early testing, they represent a major step toward more personalized—and more hopeful—options for lung cancer patients. (Source: Drug Target Review)
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Learn more when a cough could be lung cancer.
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Study Offers Hope for Women with Lung Cancer
Lung Cancer Treatment for Women: New Research Insights
A new study is exploring why some treatments don’t work as well for women with squamous cell lung cancer, a common type of non-small cell lung cancer often linked to smoking. This form of lung cancer hasn’t responded well to the newer targeted therapies that help other types of lung cancer. But researcher Dr. Milica Momcilovic is working to change that by studying how hormones like estrogen may affect treatment outcomes in women.
What is TAK228, and why is it being studied?
TAK228 (also called sapanisertib) is an investigational targeted therapy designed to block the mTOR pathway, a major growth-and-survival signaling system that many cancers rely on. It’s considered a dual mTORC1/mTORC2 inhibitor, meaning it can shut down two key “switches” within the mTOR system that help tumor cells grow and resist treatment. Researchers are studying TAK228 in lung cancer, especially squamous cell lung cancer. This subtype has fewer targeted treatment options than other forms of non-small cell lung cancer.
Her early research in lab and animal models suggests that TAK228 may affect male and female tumors differently. In mouse models of squamous cell lung cancer, TAK228 reduced tumor growth more in male mice than in female mice. Researchers think estrogen-related signaling may interfere with how female tumors respond. When researchers paired TAK228 with an anti-estrogen medication (such as letrozole, a drug used to lower estrogen levels), tumors in female mice responded better and tumor growth decreased more significantly. This could eventually lead to more personalized treatments for women with lung cancer, helping doctors choose the right therapies and improving survival and quality of life. (Source: American Lung Association)
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New Lung Cancer Treatments Show Real Promise
New 2025 Research Brings Hope for Advanced Lung Cancer
New research shared in 2025 brings hope for people with advanced non-small cell lung cancer. Scientists presented several treatment updates that are helping patients live longer with fewer side effects. One medicine, aumolertinib, helped slow cancer growth—especially when combined with chemotherapy. Aumolertinib is a targeted therapy that blocks the EGFR protein, which drives tumor growth in certain lung cancers. When added to chemotherapy, it has been shown to significantly delay cancer progression and is generally well tolerated. Another drug, JYP0322, worked well for people with a rare type of lung cancer, even when the cancer had spread to the brain. JYP0322 is an investigational ROS1 inhibitor designed to cross the blood-brain barrier, making it effective against brain metastases. Early trials showed promising responses in patients who had previously received other ROS1-targeted treatments.
Other promising treatments are helping people whose cancer carries uncommon genetic changes. A pill called zongertinib helped many patients and caused fewer side effects than older drugs. Zongertinib targets HER2-mutated lung cancer, which is rare but often aggressive. Clinical studies showed it shrinks tumors effectively and causes fewer side effects compared with older treatments. Another new medicine, zoldonrasib, showed early success in shrinking tumors in patients whose cancer had stopped responding to other treatments. While one immune-based drug didn’t work as well as hoped, researchers believe it still has potential. Zoldonrasib, is designed for cancers with the KRAS G12D mutation, a mutation that was historically difficult to treat. Early trial results indicate it can shrink tumors in patients whose cancer no longer responds to standard therapies. Overall, the message is clear: more personalized and effective treatments are on the horizon. (Source: American Association for Cancer Research)
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Gene Therapy Gives Stage 4 Mom More Time
Sara Whitlock: Thriving After Stage 4 Lung Cancer Diagnosis
Sara Whitlock was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer in 2010 at just 47. She feared she wouldn’t live to see her daughters grow up. Her outlook was bleak—only a 3% chance of surviving five years. Yet more than a decade later, Sara is thriving, watching her daughters graduate and enjoying everyday life with her husband. Her journey began with traditional chemotherapy and radiation. A major turning point came in 2017 when she joined a clinical trial for a gene-targeted therapy called selpercatinib (LOXO-292). The drug is designed for patients with a rare mutation called RET fusion-positive non-small cell lung cancer, found in only about 2% of lung cancer patients.
Sara’s story is a powerful example of how targeted therapies, drugs developed to block specific cancer-driving mutations, are transforming treatment and survival for people with advanced lung cancer. Unlike the harsh side effects of earlier treatments, this pill-based therapy has been easier to tolerate, and Sara currently has no signs of cancer. While she remains aware that her cancer could return, she’s living fully and cherishing every moment. Her story is a reminder that even with a stage 4 diagnosis, new research and personalized treatments are rewriting the possibilities for patients—and their families. (Source: Cleveland Clinic)
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26 Years Living With Stage 4 Lung Cancer
Wells Stage 4 Lung Cancer Survivor Story
When Wells W. was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer in 1998, doctors told him he had just 10 months to live. But Wells, a scientist by training, took charge of his care—researching treatments, getting second opinions, and joining a compassionate use trial for Iressa (gefitinib), a targeted therapy that matched his EGFR mutation. His tumors shrank enough for surgery, and he’s continued to live cancer-managed ever since.
Now 91, Wells has dedicated his life to lung cancer advocacy, co-founding GO2 for Lung Cancer and mentoring others facing the disease. His journey proves that even with a stage 4 diagnosis, hope, action, and long-term survival are possible. (Source: GO2 for Lung Cancer)
Caroline’s Story: Facing Lung Cancer with Family and Hope
Caroline’s EGFR Lung Cancer Genetic Mutation Story
Caroline, a nurse practitioner from Louisiana, knows the impact of lung cancer firsthand due to her family’s experience. Several relatives who never smoked developed lung cancer, prompting genetic testing that revealed an EGFR gene mutation affecting Caroline, her mother, and grandmother. Shortly after having her baby, Caroline’s own lung screening showed nodules, leading to surgery and challenging complications that required multiple hospitalizations. She eventually found a supportive medical team closer to home at MD Anderson, where she continues to receive regular screenings.
Embracing a positive outlook, Caroline draws strength from her family and friends and actively raises awareness about genetic mutations in lung cancer, inspired by her meeting with Dr. Geoff Oxnard, hoping her experience will encourage and inform others. (Source: EGFR Resisters)
Targeted Pill Delays Lung Cancer Return
Tagrisso (Osimertinib) Delays EGFR Lung Cancer Recurrence
A new treatment is bringing hope to people with stage 3 non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) that has a mutation in a gene called EGFR, which stands for epidermal growth factor receptor. This gene helps cells grow, and when it’s mutated, it can cause cancer to grow faster. These EGFR mutations are found in many people with lung cancer—especially never smokers and those of Asian descent.
In the LAURA trial, patients who had already completed chemotherapy and radiation were given the pill Tagrisso (osimertinib) to help prevent their cancer from coming back. The study, led by Dr. Suresh Ramalingam of Winship Cancer Institute at Emory University, showed powerful results: people who took Tagrisso stayed cancer-free for a median of 39 months—compared to just 5.6 months in the group that didn’t take the drug. That means Tagrisso reduced the risk of cancer returning or spreading by 84%.
Tagrisso (osimertinib) is a once-daily targeted therapy used to treat EGFR-mutated non-small cell lung cancer. It works by blocking the abnormal EGFR signals that cause cancer cells to grow, helping delay recurrence and slow disease progression. Tagrisso has become a standard treatment in several stages of EGFR-positive lung cancer and is especially valued for its ability to help protect against cancer spreading to the brain.
While some patients experienced side effects like inflammation in the lungs, no new safety issues were found. Tagrisso is now the first targeted therapy to show such a strong benefit for stage 3 EGFR-positive lung cancer. Doctors believe this could become the new standard of care—offering more time and hope to patients with this aggressive form of lung cancer. (Source: Winship Cancer Institute at Emory University)
Three New Lung Cancer Treatments Show Promise
Three New Lung Cancer Treatments in 2025 Showing Promise at ASCO
At the 2025 ASCO cancer meeting, researchers shared encouraging updates on new treatments for both small cell and non-small cell lung cancer. One study showed that tarlatamab, a new type of targeted immunotherapy, helped patients with recurrent small cell lung cancer live longer with fewer side effects than standard chemotherapy — even in cases where the cancer had spread to the brain. This is an especially hopeful sign for a disease with very few second-line treatment options.
Another study focused on a pill called zipalertinib, developed for patients with an uncommon EGFR mutation (exon 20 insertion). Many of these patients had already tried chemotherapy or other targeted treatments with limited success. In the trial, zipalertinib shrank tumors in about one-third of patients, including those whose cancer had progressed or reached the brain. A third trial found that giving the targeted drug osimertinib before surgery helped shrink tumors in EGFR-positive lung cancer, and may reduce the chances of the cancer coming back.
These advances show how targeted therapies are becoming more personalized and effective — even for hard-to-treat lung cancers. For many patients, they represent not just longer life, but better quality of life. (Source: Memorial Sloan Kettering)
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Learn how 2025 changed cancer care.
Vitamin C Boosts Cancer Survival
IV Vitamin C Shows Promise in Advanced Cancer Clinical Trial
A new study offers hope for patients facing some of the toughest cancer diagnoses. In a phase 2 clinical trial, adding high-dose intravenous (IV) vitamin C to standard chemotherapy nearly doubled survival for people with advanced pancreatic cancer—from 8 months to 16 months. Patients also reported feeling better during treatment, with fewer side effects and improved ability to tolerate therapy. This research adds to a growing body of evidence suggesting that high-dose IV vitamin C could help improve both survival and quality of life for people with aggressive cancers.
Researchers at the University of Iowa have spent nearly 20 years studying the effects of vitamin C delivered by IV rather than by mouth, where it can reach levels high enough to damage cancer cells while leaving healthy cells mostly unharmed. Encouraging results have also been seen in brain cancer and are being studied in lung cancer. Experts say that because vitamin C is low-cost and well tolerated, it could become a helpful add-on to treatment—not just for pancreatic cancer, but for other difficult-to-treat cancers as well. (Source: University of Iowa Health Care / Redox Biology)
Breaking the Stigma Around Lung Cancer
Breaking Misconceptions and Supporting Patient
Many people with lung cancer face stigma and blame, even from loved ones and healthcare providers. Learn why lung cancer is no one’s fault.
More than half of people with lung cancer report feeling judged or blamed by friends, family, and even healthcare providers. Because lung cancer has long been linked to smoking, many assume it’s the patient’s fault. But the reality is different: anyone with lungs can develop lung cancer, including those who have never smoked or who quit years ago.
Stigma doesn’t just hurt feelings—it can actually keep people from getting screened or treated promptly, harming their health. Experts emphasize that lung cancer is no one’s fault; nicotine addiction is difficult to overcome, and no patient deserves blame. Recognizing and reducing lung cancer stigma helps ensure all patients receive the compassion and medical support they deserve. (Source: Memorial Sloan Kettering)
9 Common Questions About Genetic Testing for Cancer
How Knowing Your Risk Can Guide Treatment
For patients facing stage 4 lung cancer or those with a strong family history of cancer, genetic testing can offer clarity, guidance, and hope. About 10% of cancers are hereditary, meaning they are driven by inherited gene mutations that can be passed through families. Testing for these mutations, such as BRCA1, BRCA2, and others linked to lung or related cancers, helps doctors understand a patient’s personal cancer risk and may also guide treatment choices—especially for targeted therapies.
Importantly, having a gene mutation doesn’t mean you’ll definitely get cancer, but it does raise your risk. If you already have cancer, genetic testing can sometimes influence treatment decisions, like choosing one type of chemotherapy or surgery over another. For those with a family history, testing can alert relatives to start earlier cancer screenings or preventive measures. Bringing a detailed family history to your genetic counseling appointment can be a valuable first step.
Knowing your genetic risk empowers you to take proactive steps—whether that’s enrolling in clinical trials, pursuing early screening, or helping your children understand their potential risks. While we can’t change our genes, we can change how we respond to what they tell us. (Source: Mayo Clinic)
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