[Oncology Society of Chinese Medical Association guideline for clinical diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer (2026 edition)].

Abstract

To further standardize the prevention and management of lung cancer in China, improve the level of diagnosis and treatment, enhance patient prognosis, and provide evidence-based professional recommendations for clinical practitioners at all levels, the Oncology Society of Chinese Medical Association organized experts from respiratory medicine, medical oncology, thoracic surgery, radiation oncology, radiology, and pathology to develop the "Oncology Society of Chinese Medical Association guideline for clinical diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer (2026 edition)" through a consensus conference. Compared with the 2025 edition, the 2026 edition incorporates updates and refinements in several aspects. In the lung cancer screening section, quality control requirements for low-dose computed tomography screening have been further detailed, and the introduction and scope of application of opportunistic screening and artificial intelligence technologies in lung cancer screening have been added. In the pathology section, on the basis of the latest clinical research findings and newly approved indications by the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA), the recommendations for molecular pathological testing have been supplemented, with several new gene testing-related recommendations added. In the treatment section, perioperative neoadjuvant and adjuvant treatment regimens for non-small cell lung cancer have been updated according to newly approved drugs and indications; additional options for consolidation immunotherapy after concurrent or sequential chemoradiotherapy for unresectable stage Ⅲ non-small cell lung cancer have been incorporated; and first-line and subsequent-line treatment strategies for patients with advanced epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-mutations have been further refined. In addition, treatment recommendations for patients with non-small cell lung cancer harboring molecular subtypes such as anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) fusion, KRAS G12C mutation, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER-2) mutations, and MET amplification have also been updated based on the approval of novel agents. This guideline adheres to NMPA-approved indications as the core principle, is grounded in drugs practically available in China and integrates recommendations from international guidelines as well as the current status of clinical practice in China. It synthesizes the latest evidence-based medical advances in recent years covering lung cancer screening, diagnosis, pathology, genetic testing, immunologic and molecular biomarker testing, treatment modalities, and follow-up, with the aim of providing reasonable and practical recommendations for clinicians at all levels, as well as professionals in radiology, laboratory medicine, and related disciplines.