Lung Cancer – Updates in 2025 – Doctors, Innovations, Clinical Trials

As of 2025, significant advancements have emerged in the diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer in Israel, offering renewed hope to international patients.

Lung Cancer Treatment in 2025: Innovations, Breakthroughs, and Hope in Israel

Lung cancer remains one of the most challenging and deadliest forms of cancer worldwide. However, this year has seen remarkable progress in immunotherapy, targeted therapies, and personalized medicine, along with revolutionary technologies that are transforming how lung cancer is diagnosed and treated.

Best Israeli Doctors for Lung Cancer in Israel

Israel is renowned for its advanced medical infrastructure and distinguished specialists in the field of oncology, particularly in lung cancer treatment. Here are some of the leading doctors and institutions specializing in lung cancer care in Israel in 2025. 

It is recommended to be treated by an experienced lung cancer focused specialists. This team includes: lung cancer oncologist, surgeon, radiologist, pathologists, radiation oncologists.

We collaborate with such worldwide known lung cancer specialists as Dr. Damien Urban, Dr. Maya Gottfried, Prof. Nir Peled, Prof. Yair Bar and many others.

Based on the results of the consultation, we will provide you with a doctor’s report with treatment recommendations.

⇒ Oncologist’s Report Example

Conventional treatment methods for lung cancer are surgery, chemotherapy, targeted or biological therapy, immunotherapy, radiation therapy.

Precise and Minimally Invasive Surgery for Lung Cancer Treatment in Israel

• Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery (VATS): A minimally invasive surgery, when Israeli surgeon is using a tiny camera and instruments through small incisions. Primarily for early-stage NSCLC. Benefits: Less pain, quicker recovery, and reduced hospital stay.
• Robotic-Assisted Thoracic Surgery (RATS): A robotic system controlled by a surgeon to remove lung tissue. Advantages: Greater precision, less trauma, and faster recovery.

• Robotic Bronchoscopic Surgery: Enhanced precision in tumor removal through the bronchi.
• Intraoperative Imaging Systems: Real-time imaging to ensure complete tumor excision.
• Hybrid Techniques: Combining surgery with real-time radiation therapy to eliminate residual cancer cells. 

• Lobectomy. Removal of an entire lobe of the lung
• Pneumonectomy. Removal of an entire lung.
• Segmentectomy (Segmental Resection). Removal of a lung segment (smaller than a lobe).
• Wedge Resection. Removal of a small, wedge-shaped piece of lung tissue that contains the tumor.
• Sleeve Resection. Removal of a tumor along with a portion of the bronchus, followed by reconnection of the remaining ends.

Innovative Radiation Therapy 

• External beam radiation therapy (EBRT). When the treatment is given to cure the disease, or as adjuvant treatment after surgery, it will most often be given for 4-7 weeks. If the treatment is given as palliative care, to relieve symptoms and improve quality of life, it is given over a shorter period of time, from one day to about two weeks, depending on the site being irradiated and your overall medical condition.
• Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT). Also called Stereotactic Body Ablative Radiation Therapy (SABR), is an innovative treatment that uses scans and sophisticated planning to precisely target radiation to treat small tumors. This advanced type of radiation can be used in NSCLC lung tumors when the tumor is small, as an alternative to surgery in selected cases. The duration of treatment is usually shorter and consists of five to six treatment sessions.
• Intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT). A three-dimensional treatment that allows radiation to be delivered to a tumor that surrounds or is adjacent to a vital organ while minimizing radiation to healthy tissue.
• Volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) – A technique similar to IMRT. Radiation beams of varying intensities are aimed at the tumor and rotate in arcs around the patient. The result is that the tumor is attacked while minimizing radiation to healthy tissue, and treatment time is reduced.
• Internal Radiation – Brachytherapy. Treatment given when a tumor blocks one of the airways and causes the lung to collapse. This is a simple way to open the airway. The treatment is usually a one-time treatment. During the treatment, a thin tube (catheter) will be temporarily inserted into the trachea, with the help of a bronchoscope. A radioactive radiation source will be connected to the tube and will reach the tumor. In this way, radiation is given directly to the tumor, with minimal effect on healthy tissue. The source remains in place for a few minutes. Then the radiation source and catheter are removed. If necessary, the treatment can be repeated two or three times, each case on its own.

Innovative Treatments for Lung Cancer in Israel 2025

One of the most promising advancements in 2025 is the development of in-vivo T cell therapies from Israeli doctors. Unlike traditional CAR-T treatments, which require extracting and modifying a patient’s T cells outside the body, in-vivo CAR-T therapy works through simple injections. This approach allows the immune system to directly target and destroy cancer cells without the need for complex cell processing.

Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) have also emerged as a powerful tool against lung cancer. AbbVie’s Teliso-V is a notable example, targeting tumor cells with highly potent agents while minimizing damage to healthy tissue. This precision reduces side effects and enhances treatment effectiveness, marking a significant leap forward in oncology care.

The success of mRNA technology in COVID-19 vaccines has paved the way for its application in cancer treatment. Moderna’s mRNA-4359 is showing promising results in clinical trials, effectively training the immune system to recognize and attack lung cancer cells. This vaccine has demonstrated tumor suppression in several patients with advanced-stage lung cancer, offering hope for a more proactive and less invasive treatment option.

In 2025, the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in lung cancer treatment has expanded beyond diagnostics. AI tools like eyonis™ LCS, developed by Median Technologies, now aid radiologists in early detection by analyzing low-dose CT scans with remarkable accuracy. These tools not only speed up diagnosis but also help identify patients who are most likely to benefit from specific treatments, supporting personalized medicine approaches.

FDA approved medications for lung cancer treatment in Israel 

The most common drugs for treating lung cancer usually include a combination of Cisplatin and Carboplatin (Paraplatin®)* in addition to one of the following drugs: Etoposide (Etoposide®)*, Gemcitabine (Gemzar®)*, Vinorelbine (Navelbine®)*, Paclitaxel (Taxol®)*, Albumin-bound Paclitaxel (Abraxane®)*, Docetaxel (Taxotere®)*, Pemetrexed (Alimta®)*, Toptecan (Hycamtin®)*.

Biological therapy (target therapy)

Most often, targeted therapies are intended for the treatment of advanced NSCLC lung cancer because this therapy works against specific mutations in cells, such as EGFR, ALK, BRAF, ROS1, RET, NTRK, HER2, KRAS. For these mutations treatment targeted medicines are used by Israeli doctors: Osimertinib (Tagrisso®)*, Erlotinib (Tarceva®)*, Gefitinib (Iressa®)*, Afatinib (Giotrif®)*, Lorlatinib (Lorviqua®)* and many others. 

⇒ More about target therapy drugs for lung cancer in Israel 

Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy drugs whose active ingredient is a genetically engineered monoclonal antibody that inhibits PD-L1. The drugs may be given in some cases with or after chemotherapy: Atezolizumab (Tecentriq®)*, Durvalumab (Imfinzi®)*, Nivolumab (Opdivo®)*, Pembrolizumab (Keytruda®)*

CTLA-4 inhibitor drugs are drugs which block CTLA-4, a protein found on T cells, thereby increasing the immune system’s response. The combination of drugs Ipilimumab (Yervoy®)* Nivolumab (Opdivo) are usually given in this case.

⇒ More about immunotherapy drugs for lung cancer treatment in Israel 

In 2022, Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem initiated the development of I3LUNG, an artificial intelligence-based tool designed to predict the effects of immunotherapy on lung cancer patients. This system analyzes a comprehensive range of patient data, including clinical history and genetic information, to tailor personalized treatment plans, thereby optimizing therapeutic efficacy and minimizing adverse effects.

In 2023, Hadassah-University Medical Center in Jerusalem, in collaboration with Roche-Israel, introduced genomic profiling for cancer patients. This initiative enables precise, personalized cancer care by analyzing the molecular characteristics of tumors, allowing for targeted treatment strategies. 

Clinical Trials and Research Achievements
Researchers at the Weizmann Institute of Science have identified a biomarker that could lead to relapse-free treatment for a subset of lung cancer patients. Their studies demonstrated that targeting specific mutations with antibody-based drugs resulted in tumor regression without relapse in mouse models, offering promising avenues for future human clinical trials.

These advancements underscore Israel’s commitment to integrating cutting-edge technology and research in the fight against lung cancer, offering hope for improved patient outcomes and setting new standards in personalized oncology care.

Lung cancer research has never been more dynamic, and 2025 marks a turning point with new therapies reaching late-stage trials and getting approvals worldwide. Innovations in liquid biopsy and genomic profiling are helping doctors detect cancer at earlier stages and tailor therapies to individual genetic profiles. These advances contribute to more precise and effective treatments while minimizing side effects.

In addition to targeted therapies and immunotherapies, there is a growing focus on combination therapies that integrate multiple treatment modalities. These combinations not only improve effectiveness but also help prevent resistance to a single form of treatment, a common problem in oncology.

⇒ Oncotests for Lung Cancer Personalized Treatment

As we progress through 2025, lung cancer treatment continues to evolve at a rapid pace. Innovations like in-vivo CAR-T therapy, mRNA vaccines, and AI-driven diagnostics are changing the landscape of cancer care. With promising results from clinical trials and ongoing research, patients have more hope than ever before. The future of lung cancer treatment is undeniably bright, and the medical community remains committed to eradicating this devastating disease.

Israel Lung Cancer Clinical Trials in 2025

According to the Israel Cancer Association (cancer.org.il/clinical-researches)

• Chemotherapy with and without zipleratinib for patients with EGFR-positive advanced NSCLC (NCT05973773)
• A study of traltemab alone or with durvalumab for advanced SCLC after platinum, etoposide, and durvalumab (NCT06211036)
• Lutium-177 conjugated to DOTA-TATE in combination with carboplatin, etoposide, and atezolizumab for newly diagnosed advanced SCLC (NCT05142696)
• Amivantamab in patients with metastatic solid tumors or advanced stage NSCLC with an EGFR mutation (NCT05498428)
• Lutium-177 conjugated to NNS309 in patients with pancreatic cancer, lung cancer, and Breast and Colorectal Cancer (NCT06562192)
• Trastuzumab druxecan (T-DXd) and immunotherapy, with and without chemotherapy, for first-line treatment of HER2-positive NSCLC (NCT04686305)
• Adaggressive in combination with pembrolizumab versus pembrolizumab plus chemotherapy in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer with a KRAS G12C mutation NCT04613596
• and many others