Balazs Halmos, MD, MS

Edgardo S. Santos Castillero, MD, FACP, FASCO, of The Oncology Institute, and Balazs Halmos, MD, MS, of Montefiore Health System and Albert Einstein College of Medicine, sit down with Chandler H. Park, MD, MSc, FACP, of Norton Cancer Institute, to discuss the latest abstracts in small cell and non–small cell lung cancer presented during the 2026 ESMO Congress.

Balazs Halmos, MD, MS, highlights the significance of the accelerated approval of zongertinib in HER2 TKD–mutated non–small cell lung cancer.

Dr Halmos discusses the VISION trial, the significance of MET exon 14 skipping mutations in NSCLC, and the clinical utility of tepotinib in this disease.

Balazs Halmos, MD, shares suggestions regarding patient selection for adjuvant therapy after neoadjuvant chemoimmunotherapy and surgery in NSCLC.

Balazs Halmos, MD, discusses the differences in presentation and available treatments between neuroendocrine tumors and neuroendocrine carcinomas.

Balazs Halmos, MD, MS, discusses the FDA’s accelerated approval of datopotamab deruxtecan for EGFR-mutated NSCLC.

Lung cancer experts discuss successes and hesitations regarding the evolving use of antibody-drug conjugates in non–small cell lung cancer.

Panelists discuss how medical professionals identify key unmet needs in EGFR-mutated non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treatment, particularly in overcoming resistance. Challenges include addressing acquired resistance to targeted therapies, enhancing central nervous system penetration, managing toxicity, and developing novel agents or combinations to improve long-term outcomes.

Panelists discuss how, after the MARIPOSA regimen, second-line therapy selection depends on resistance mechanisms, prior toxicity, and patient factors. MARIPOSA-2 vs PALOMA-3 choices are influenced by efficacy in resistant mutations and safety profiles, per European Society for Medical Oncology 2023/2024 and American Society of Clinical Oncology 2024 data.

Panelists discuss how second-line therapy after osimertinib monotherapy depends on resistance mechanisms. If MET amplification, consider MET inhibitors plus EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). For C797S mutation, potential options include first- or third-generation EGFR TKI combinations. Chemotherapy remains a key fallback.

Panelists discuss how a multidisciplinary team (MDT) plays a crucial role in managing EGFR-mutant non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) by integrating expertise from oncology, pathology, radiology, and surgery to optimize diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring. MDT collaboration ensures personalized, evidence-based care, enhancing patient outcomes.

Panelists discuss how medical professionals have learned that proactive monitoring, early intervention, and patient-centered strategies are key to managing adverse events (AEs) in up-front combination therapy. Optimizing dosing, supportive care, and multidisciplinary coordination help maintain quality of life while ensuring treatment efficacy.

Panelists discuss how medical professionals assess patient characteristics such as molecular profile, disease burden, and central nervous system (CNS) involvement to tailor treatment. Monotherapy may be favored for lower burden or specific mutations, whereas combination therapy is chosen for aggressive disease or resistance risk.

Panelists discuss how the FLAURA, FLAURA2, and MARIPOSA trials have reshaped first-line therapy for EGFR-mutant non–small cell lung cancer. FLAURA established osimertinib as superior to first-generation tyrosine kinase inhibitors. FLAURA2 showed added benefit with chemotherapy. MARIPOSA highlighted amivantamab-lazertinib as a strong alternative, refining treatment choices.

Panelists discuss how the first-line treatment landscape for EGFR-mutated non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) primarily includes EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors, with osimertinib as the preferred monotherapy due to its efficacy and central nervous system penetration. Balancing efficacy and safety remain challenging, particularly regarding resistance and adverse effects. Although osimertinib monotherapy is widely used, combination strategies (eg, chemotherapy or antiangiogenic agents) are being explored to enhance outcomes. Treatment decisions are guided by mutation type, patient factors, and emerging clinical data.