Polls Reveal Top Picks for Lung Cancer Abstracts of Interest at ESMO 2026

As the 2026 ESMO Congress gets underway, we’re preparing to see several potentially practice-informing lung cancer presentations spanning small cell lung cancer (SCLC), as well as KRAS G12C–mutated, EGFR-mutated, and ALK-positive non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Several abstracts will explore key questions surrounding maintenance therapy in extensive-stage disease, novel antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), and dual EGFR and MET targeting.

We polled our followers on social media about their opinions on some of the most talked-about lung cancer abstracts they’re looking forward to seeing at this year’s meeting.

To read more about these studies and additional abstracts of interest ahead of ESMO 2026, read our in-depth preview.

Poll: Which lung cancer abstract are you most excited to see presented at the 2026 ESMO Congress?

• LBA3: DeLLphi-305
• LBA66: OptiTROP-Lung06
• LBA6: SAFFRON
• LBA71: PANKU-Lung01

Among the most anticipated presentations is LBA3, which will feature the primary analysis of the phase 3 DeLLphi-305 trial (NCT06211036) of tarlatamab (Imdelltra) plus durvalumab (Imfinzi) vs durvalumab alone as first-line maintenance therapy in patients with extensive-stage SCLC following durvalumab, platinum, and etoposide. A September 2026 news release indicated that the trial met its primary end point of improved overall survival (OS).¹ Experts are looking to the data to clarify the magnitude of benefit, durability of response, and tolerability, as well as how maintenance tarlatamab compares with maintenance lurbinectedin (Zepzelca) in this patient population.

LBA66 will present results from the randomized phase 3 OptiTROP-Lung06 trial (NCT06711900) of sacituzumab tirumotecan (MK-2870/SKB264) plus pembrolizumab (Keytruda) vs pembrolizumab plus pemetrexed and platinum-based chemotherapy as first-line treatment in patients with PD-L1–negative advanced nonsquamous NSCLC. A July 2026 news release indicated that the trial met its primary end point.² Experts hope to see OS data alongside the progression-free survival (PFS) findings, which may be pivotal to the role of the ADC in this setting.

Abstract LBA6 will highlight primary results from the phase 3 SAFFRON trial (NCT05261399) of osimertinib (Tagrisso) plus savolitinib (Orpathys) vs platinum-pemetrexed chemotherapy in patients with EGFR-mutated, MET-overexpressed and/or -amplified advanced NSCLC after progression on osimertinib. An August 2026 news release indicated that the combination significantly improved both PFS and OS vs chemotherapy.³ The presentation aims to confirm globally the findings of the China-only phase 3 SACHI trial (NCT05015608), with the magnitude of PFS benefit and the safety profile of the all-oral combination of particular interest.

Abstract LBA71 will feature findings from the randomized phase 3 PANKU-Lung01 trial (NCT06382116) izalontamab brengitecan (BL-B01D1), an EGFR/HER3 bispecific ADC, vs platinum-based chemotherapy in patients with EGFR-mutant nonsquamous NSCLC after progression on a third-generation EGFR TKI. The study enrolled a Chinese-only population, so global validation will be needed if the results are positive, according to experts. Treatment options in this setting currently remain limited to platinum chemotherapy, amivantamab (Rybrevant) plus chemotherapy, and datopotamab deruxtecan-dlnk (Datroway) after platinum chemotherapy.

On LinkedIn, respondents (n = 20) favored DeLLphi-305 (50%), followed by OptiTROP-Lung06 (30%), SAFFRON (15%), and PANKU-Lung01 (5%). On X, all respondents (n = 2) favored OptiTROP-Lung06 (100%).

Poll: What lung cancer subtype or area are you most excited to learn more about at ESMO 2026?

• SCLC
• KRAS G12C–mutated NSCLC
• EGFR-mutated NSCLC
• ALK-positive NSCLC

On LinkedIn, respondents (n = 31) favored KRAS G12C–mutated NSCLC (45%), followed by SCLC (35%), EGFR-mutated NSCLC (16%), and ALK-positive NSCLC (3%). On X, results varied slightly, with respondents (n = 9) favoring EGFR-mutated NSCLC (44.4%), followed by KRAS G12C–mutated NSCLC (33.3%), and SCLC/ALK-positive NSCLC (11.1% each).

Beyond the above abstracts, ESMO 2026 will include the readout from LBA5 highlighting data from the phase 3 Krascendo 1 trial (NCT06497556) of divarasib (GDC-6036) vs sotorasib (Lumakras) or adagrasib (Krazati) in patients with previously treated KRAS G12C–mutated NSCLC; a July 2026 news release indicated that the trial met its primary end point of PFS and showed an OS benefit with divarasib.⁴ Additionally, in patients with ALK-positive NSCLC, abstract 2636RO will present circulating tumor DNA analyses from the phase 3 CROWN study (NCT03052608) of first-line lorlatinib (Lorbrena) vs crizotinib (Xalkori) to define resistance mechanisms.

Collectively, these presentations may show the rapid pace of therapeutic evolution across lung cancer subtypes. From maintenance strategies in extensive-stage SCLC to novel ADCs and dual-targeted combinations in NSCLC, ESMO 2026 is expected to generate data that could shape future standards of care.

References

1. Imdelltra in combination with Imfinzi demonstrated landmark improvement in overall survival in first-line extensive stage small cell lung cancer. News release. Amgen. September 8, 2026. Accessed October 23, 2026. https://www.amgen.com/newsroom/press-releases/2026/09/imdelltra-in-combination-with-imfinzi-demonstrated-landmark-improvement-in-overall-survival-in-first-line-extensive-stage-small-cell-lung-cancer
2. Kelun-Biotech announces phase III study of sacituzumab tirumotecan (sac-TMT) in combination with pembrolizumab as first-line treatment for PD-L1-negative non-squamous NSCLC met primary endpoint. News release. Kelun-Biotech. July 14, 2026. Accessed October 23, 2026. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/kelun-biotech-announces-phase-iii-study-of-sacituzumab-tirumotecan-sac-tmt-in-combination-with-pembrolizumab-as-first-line-treatment-for-pd-l1-negative-non-squamous-nsclc-met-primary-endpoint-302825316.html
3. Tagrisso plus Orpathys demonstrated statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvements in progression-free and overall survival in MET-driven EGFR-mutated lung cancer after progression on Tagrisso. News release. AstraZeneca. August 17, 2026. Accessed October 23, 2026. https://www.astrazeneca.com/media-centre/press-releases/2026/tagrisso-orpathys-improved-pfs-os-egfrm-lung.html
4. Genentech’s divarasib shows superiority in head-to-head phase III trial against approved KRAS G12C inhibitors in non-small cell lung cancer. News release. Genentech. July 1, 2026. Accessed October 23, 2026. https://www.gene.com/media/press-releases/15131/2026-07-01/genentechs-divarasib-shows-superiority-i