City of Hope Launches $23M Trial to Predict Lung Cancer Care

Imagine getting a cancer diagnosis and learning that your treatment might only work 40% of the time. That's the reality for advanced lung cancer patients today, but a major new trial could change everything.

City of Hope has launched an innovative six-year study that will track how tumors evolve when they resist treatment. The IMMUNO-BIOMAP trial will enroll 535 patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer, the most common form of the disease affecting 87% of lung cancer cases.

The problem is urgent. Doctors regularly prescribe immune checkpoint inhibitors for advanced lung cancer, but fewer than four in ten patients see positive results. Even worse, many develop resistance to these drugs over time, leaving physicians guessing about what to try next.

This trial takes a completely different approach. Instead of waiting to see if treatment works, researchers will use predictive models to match therapies to each patient's unique tumor biology as it changes. Think of it as creating a real-time roadmap of cancer's behavior.

The federal government recognizes the stakes. The Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health awarded City of Hope up to $23.7 million, making it the only institution in America to receive ARPA-H funding for lung cancer research in the ADAPT study.

The trial will run across City of Hope's nationwide network of 39 locations in four states. This integrated model means faster trial activation and consistent care across every site, giving more patients access to cutting-edge treatment options.

The Ripple Effect

Success here could transform cancer care far beyond lung disease. The ability to predict treatment response would save patients from ineffective therapies, reduce harmful side effects, and help families avoid the emotional rollercoaster of trial and error medicine.

More importantly, it would give doctors clear guidelines for choosing the best next step when initial treatment fails. No more guessing games with people's lives.

For the half-million Americans diagnosed with lung cancer each year, this research offers something invaluable: the promise that their unique cancer will get a uniquely tailored response.