Lung cancer

Departments and specialties

Mayo Clinic has one of the largest and most experienced practices in the United States, with campuses in Arizona, Florida and Minnesota. Staff skilled in dozens of specialties work together to ensure quality care and successful recovery.

Departments that treat this condition

Areas that research this condition

Radiology Research

Research

Mayo Clinic doctors and researchers are actively studying ways to improve care for people with lung cancer. Examples include:

Improving early diagnosis. Mayo Clinic doctors are investigating ways to make lung cancer screening programs more effective by expanding the understanding of lung cancer risk and developing new tests, including blood tests, that could supplement imaging tests.
Making surgery less invasive. Mayo Clinic thoracic surgeons are devising less invasive techniques that lead to faster healing and less pain, including microlobectomy and robotic lobectomy.
Developing new targets for systemic therapy. Mayo Clinic doctors are studying lung cancer cells in order to develop new ways of targeting treatments. Mayo Clinic researchers made an important discovery that led to immunotherapy treatments called immune checkpoint inhibitors that have revolutionized care for people with metastatic lung cancer.

Lung cancer research is conducted in coordination with the Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center. The Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center receives funding from the National Cancer Institute and is designated as a comprehensive cancer center — recognition for an institution's scientific excellence and multidisciplinary resources focused on cancer prevention, diagnosis and treatment.

Learn more about Mayo Clinic's Epidemiology and Genetics of Lung Cancer, Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, and Cancer Center research programs.