USC Lung Cancer Program

Lung Cancer Research

At the USC Lung Cancer Program, we are committed to finding the cures of tomorrow today and making lung cancer a disease of the past. Our clinicians and researchers continue to build on our legacy of leadership and innovation — achieving scientific breakthroughs in lung cancer prevention, detection and treatment strategies.

A researcher examines a test tube

Whether you have small cell lung cancer or non-small cell lung cancer, early stage lung cancer or stage 4 lung cancer, research can play a pivotal role in your treatment plan, giving you access to cutting-edge medications and treatment options. The strides made by our researchers can also make a profound difference in the lives of millions of people with lung cancer. By participating in a lung cancer trial, you too can make a vital contribution to the campaign to find new cancer treatments and, ultimately, a cure.

As an academic medical center, we are at the forefront of the most groundbreaking cancer trials available today. By choosing the USC Lung Cancer Program for your lung cancer care, you have access to the clinical trials that are driving the medical breakthroughs that will help us find tomorrow’s cures today. Together, we can make a difference and bring new hope to people with cancer.

Our offerings

Finding a cure
Improving detection, treatment, prevention
Lung cancer breakthroughs

Lung cancer clinical trials
National Cancer Institute (NCI) designation
Understanding lung cancer causes

What our National Cancer Institute designation means

In 1973, USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center was designated as one of the country’s original eight comprehensive cancer centers by the National Cancer Institute (NCI), the federal government’s principle agency for cancer research and training. As an NCI-designated cancer center, we anchor the country’s cancer research efforts, making scientific discoveries that are translated into new treatments for people with cancer. The collective work of NCI researchers has led to important medical advances that have increased the number of cancer survivors in the United States and worldwide.

USC Norris cancer research breakthroughs

Our clinician-scientists have been at the forefront of cancer research for more than 40 years, making historic breakthroughs that have changed the way we understand lung cancer and how it’s treated.

2000

USC Norris researchers find that turning off certain genes leads to tumor progression, providing new opportunities for stopping the spread of cancer.

2013

USC Norris member Arieh Warshel, PhD, receives a Nobel Prize in chemistry for developing a molecular model that has potential applications for developing new cancer chemotherapies.

Participate in Lung Cancer Research

Below are open clinical trials at the USC Lung Cancer Program. You can learn more about whether a trial is a good match for you by clicking on it for more details.

1 2

Establishing a Diagnosis of Lung Cancer Through a Fluid Biopsy

PRIMARY OBJECTIVE: I. To estimate the sensitivity and specificity of the fluid biopsy in establishing a diagnosis of bronchogenic carcinoma. SECONDARY OBJECTIVES: I. To determine the accuracy of determination of ...

Learn More ≫

Longitudinal Monitoring of Tumor Specific Mutations in Patients With Lung Cancer

PRIMARY OBJECTIVES: I. To evaluate the ability of next generation sequencing (NGS) to monitor the evolution of cancer-specific mutations in patients undergoing treatment for non-small cell lung carcinoma ...

Learn More ≫

Phase 1 Safety Run-In and Phase 2 Randomized Clinical Trial of Anetumab Ravtansine and MK-3475 (Pembrolizumab) Compared to MK-3475 (Pembrolizumab) Alone for Mesothelin-Positive Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma

PRIMARY OBJECTIVES: I. Determine the dose of anetumab ravtansine that is safe in combination with MK-3475 (pembrolizumab) to be used in the randomized phase 2 study. (Phase I safety ...

Learn More ≫

Randomized Study of Erlotinib vs Observation in Patients With Completely Resected Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) Mutant Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC)

PRIMARY OBJECTIVE: I. To assess whether adjuvant therapy with erlotinib hydrochloride (erlotinib) will result in improved overall survival (OS) over observation for patients with completely resected stage IB (>= 4 cm)- ...

Learn More ≫

1 2

News and Stories

Meet Jason Ye, MD, Assistant Professor of Clinical Radiation Oncology

Dr. Ye is a radiation oncologist at USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center at Keck Medicine of USC. He specializes in a wide array of advanced radiation treatment techniques for people with lung, breast, brain and spine tumors. Here’s what you won’t find on his resume. He can’t wait to swim with manta rays in Kona.