At WCLC 2024, Cascone et al. reported preliminary efficacy and safety data for several novel perioperative combinations in patients with stage IIA-IIIB resectable non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) included in Arms 1, 2 and 4 of the open-label, phase II NeoCOAST-2 platform study [1].

In the management of patients with advanced PD-L1–positive non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), the use of bispecific antibodies is gaining ground. Ivonescimab (AK112) is a first-in-class bispecific antibody directed against PD-1 and the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) type A. As VEGF and PD-(L)1 inhibitors were found to have synergistic activity, it was postulated that their simultaneous use might enhance treatment efficacy compared with the co-administration of separate anti–PD-(L)1 and anti-VEGF agents [1-3].

HER2 mutations are rare as they occur in approximately 2–4 % of NSCLC cases, although they are associated with poor prognosis and increased incidence of brain metastases [1, 2]. As HER2-mutant NSCLC is relatively insensitive to chemo­therapy, there is a substantial unmet need for targeted options [3, 4].

The EGFR-MET bispecific antibody amivantamab in addition to the third-generation EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) lazertinib has shown favorable results as first-line treatment compared to osimertinib in the ongoing randomized, double-blind, phase III MARIPOSA trial. A total of 1,074 patients from 27 countries with advanced non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and activating EGFR mutations were enrolled in the study.

It is our pleasure to present highlights from the 2024 World Conference on Lung Cancer, held from September 7th to 10th in San Diego, USA. Our first chapter focuses on the evolving landscape of concurrent MET/EGFR inhibition and novel third-generation EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs).