ELCC 2026: Key Updates Across Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer Populations

At the 2026 European Lung Cancer Congress, lung cancer experts around the world convened in Copenhagen, Denmark, to exchange findings and insights on potential advances in the research and care of different patient populations. As part of various poster sessions focusing on non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), specifically, experts presented trial updates on investigational immunotherapies, chemoradiation regimens, and other modalities that may impact the treatment paradigm.

Here are some of the study readouts that may influence the future of NSCLC management:

Does Neoadjuvant Serplulimab Have a Role in Stage II to IIIB Disease?

One poster presentation shared updated findings from a single-arm trial demonstrating pathologic responses with neoadjuvant serplulimab (Hetronifly) plus chemotherapy for patients with stage II to IIIB NSCLC.¹

Among 82 patients who received at least 1 cycle of neoadjuvant therapy, 73.9% of patients experienced a major pathological response (MPR). Additionally, 53.6% of patients had a pathologic complete response (pCR), and 98.6% had completely resected disease.

Additional efficacy data revealed an overall response rate (ORR) of 91.5% (n = 75/82) and a disease control rate (DCR) of 93.9% (n = 77/82). Postoperative stage N and T downstaging were reported in 55.1% and 82.6% of patients, respectively. Among patients with squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma, the pCR rates were 58.2% and 38.5%, respectively; these rates were 73.3% and 48.2% for patients with N2 and N0 to N1 disease.

Investigators reported grade 3/4 adverse effects (AEs) in 23.2% of the study population. Grade 3/4 immune-related AEs and surgery-related complications occurred in 2.4% and 4.9% of patients, respectively.

“Neoadjuvant serplulimab plus chemotherapy yielded substantial pathologic responses with a manageable safety profile in stage II [to] IIIB locally advanced NSCLC,” lead study author Jian Zeng, MD, from the Department of Pulmonary Surgery at Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, in Hangzhou, China, wrote with coauthors in the poster.¹

Can Intratumoral Radioenhancers Have Benefits in Unresectable Disease?

Early results from the phase 2 CONVERGE trial (NCT06667908) showed that treatment with JNJ-1900, a novel nanoparticle radioenhancer administered intratumorally, was safe and feasible in combination with chemoradiotherapy (CRT) and immunotherapy among those with unresectable stage III NSCLC.²

Among 7 evaluable patients, responses occurred in 5 (71%) after concurrent CRT; the DCR was 100%. Furthermore, the median target lesion change in the sum of diameters from baseline was –44.6%.

Regarding safety outcomes, 1 patient experienced grade 1 hypokalemia and grade 3 non-cardiac chest pain related to procedure. All patients completed concurrent CRT and proceeded to consolidative immunotherapy, and all received an injection of JNJ-1900 as planned.

“Early results from the run-in phase of CONVERGE suggest that intratumoral/intranodal injection of JNJ -1900 is feasible and can be performed safely in patients with stage III unresectable NSCLC. Initial efficacy responses observed at first disease evaluation following concurrent [CRT] are promising relative to the estimated ORR benchmark of 45% [to] 50%,” lead study author Benjamin T. Cooper, MD, associate professor in the Department of Radiation Oncology at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, site director of Radiation Oncology at PCC 34th campus, and director of Proton Therapy Services Radiation Oncology, wrote with coauthors.² “Part 2 of the study is currently enrolling, with results expected by early [2027].”

Can Consolidative Lazertinib Improve Outcomes in EGFR-Mutated NSCLC?

A presentation on the preliminary efficacy and safety data from the phase 2 PLATINUM trial (NCT05338619) highlighted promising activity with lazertinib (Lazcluze) as consolidation therapy after CRT among patients with unresectable stage III NSCLC harboring EGFR mutations.³

Among 47 evaluable patients who received treatment across 13 university hospitals in South Korea, study treatment yielded an ORR of 48.9% (n = 23/47) and a DCR of 100% (n = 47/47), which included complete responses in 8.5% of patients and partial responses in 40.4%. Based on investigator evaluation and a median follow-up of 15.6 months, the median PFS was not reached, with respective 12-month and 24-month rates of 95.5% and 91.2%. The median OS was not reached, with OS rates of 93.2% at 12 months and 82.2% at 24 months.

The median duration of response was not reached at the time of analysis, with ongoing responses observed in 95.7% of responders at 12 months and 87.7% at 24 months. The median time to distant metastasis or death was not reached.

AEs of any grade and grade 3/4 were observed in 95.9% and 42.9% of patients, respectively. The most common toxicities across the study population included radiation pneumonitis (61.22%), paresthesia (32.65%), peripheral neuropathy (26.53%), rash (20.41%), and paronychia (20.41%).

“In this preliminary analysis, consolidative lazertinib demonstrated promising clinical activity with a manageable safety profile in patients with unresectable stage III [EGFR-mutated] NSCLC,” lead study author Cheol-Kyu Park, MD, PhD, from Chonnam National University Medical School and Hwasun Hospital in Hwasun, South Korea, wrote with coauthors.³ “No new safety signals were observed, supporting the potential of lazertinib as a viable consolidation strategy in this population.”

References

1. Zeng T, Luo T, Cai L, et al. A prospective study of neoadjuvant serplulimab plus chemotherapy for stage II-IIIB non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Presented at the 2026 European Lung Cancer Congress; March 25-28, 2026; Copenhagen, Denmark. Abstract 294P.
2. Cooper BT, Bradley JD, Patel S, et al. Novel intratumoral radioenhancer (JNJ-1900) with chemoradiation and consolidative immunotherapy for stage III unresectable non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC): early outcomes from the phase II CONVERGE study. Presented at the 2026 European Lung Cancer Congress; March 25-28, 2026; Copenhagen, Denmark. Abstract 297P.
3. Park C-K, Oh I-J, Lee SY, et al. Consolidative lazertinib following chemoradiotherapy in unresectable stage III EGFR-mutated NSCLC: preliminary results from the phase II PLATINUM trial. Presented at the 2026 European Lung Cancer Congress; March 25-28, 2026; Copenhagen, Denmark. Abstract 311P.