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Lung cancer

Lung cancer is the third most common cancer in the UK, with around 48,500 people diagnosed each year. There are two main types of lung cancer – small cell lung cancer and non small cell lung cancer – depending on how the cells look under the microscope.

The main symptoms are a cough, shortness of breath and weight loss.

Showing 12 out of 355 results
A microscope image of cervical cells that have changed shape and size because of HPV infection. Most of the cells are blue, but some are pink or purple.
  • Science & Technology
  • Health & Medicine

From pre-cancer to cancer prevention

Studying pre-cancers helps us understand how and why cancer develops – and it can lead to new ways of stopping the process in its tracks Studying pre-cancers helps us understand how and why cancer develops – and it can lead to new ways of stopping the process in its tracks

by Tim Gunn | In depth | 19 November 2025

19 November 2025

A microscopic image of two lung cancer cells dividing, held together by a very thin bridge of cytoplasm.

With £2m in funding, our scientists will begin clinical trials to see if LungVax could be the world's first preventative lung cancer vaccine. With £2m in funding, our scientists will begin clinical trials to see if LungVax could be the world's first preventative lung cancer vaccine.

by Amal Iman | News | 17 November 2025

17 November 2025

A cluster of different sized pink cells seen through a microscope.

Our researchers discovered that EGFR, a molecule produced by our cells, can fuel cancer growth. This breakthrough led to the development of targeted treatments that attack cancer at its source. Our researchers discovered that EGFR, a molecule produced by our cells, can fuel cancer growth. This breakthrough led to the development of targeted treatments that attack cancer at its source.

by Henry Scowcroft | In depth | 13 November 2025

13 November 2025

A person lighting a cigarette with a lighter

A total of around 28.6 billion cigarettes are smoked in Britain every year, according to our latest study on smoking trends. A total of around 28.6 billion cigarettes are smoked in Britain every year, according to our latest study on smoking trends.

by Tim Gunn | News | 18 July 2025

18 July 2025

Two Cancer Research UK researchers working at a lab bench.

We look back on how more than 10-years of mission-based funding has transformed the UK lung cancer research ecosystem and what our new mission focused government can learn from our approach. We look back on how more than 10-years of mission-based funding has transformed the UK lung cancer research ecosystem and what our new mission focused government can learn from our approach.

by Nick Jones | Analysis | 13 January 2025

13 January 2025

A group of postgraduate researchers working in a laboratory at the University of Nottingham.
  • Science & Technology
  • Health & Medicine
  • Charity News

Getting ahead of cancer: our 2024 research highlights

The advances we made in 2024 are helping turn cancer from a disease doctors diagnose and treat to one we can seek out and stop. Here are some of our biggest stories from the past 12 months. The advances we made in 2024 are helping turn cancer from a disease doctors diagnose and treat to one we can seek out and stop. Here are some of our biggest stories from the past 12 months.

by Sadaf Shafaghmotlagh, Tim Gunn | In depth | 17 December 2024

17 December 2024

A cancer cell dividing.

With our funding, scientists in Cambridge have created a urine test that can detect some of the first signs of lung cancer. With our funding, scientists in Cambridge have created a urine test that can detect some of the first signs of lung cancer.

by Tim Gunn | News | 6 December 2024

6 December 2024