New Report Highlights Opportunities to Improve Lung Cancer Outcomes Across the US
State of Lung Cancer 2025 identifies lessons from Delaware and other states to expand screening, increase biomarker testing coverage, and save lives
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The American Lung Association’s 2025 “State of Lung Cancer” report underscores the urgent need to improve early detection and access to precision diagnostics nationwide. Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer death in the US, but advances in screening and biomarker testing present clear opportunities to save lives.
The report examines key indicators across states, including new case rates, survival, early diagnosis, surgical treatment, screening participation, and insurance coverage for comprehensive biomarker testing.
Key findings and lessons learned include:
- Screening gaps: Only 18.2 percent of high-risk individuals nationwide are receiving annual low-dose CT scans, despite evidence that screening can reduce lung cancer mortality by up to 20 percent.
- Biomarker testing access: Comprehensive biomarker testing, which identifies tumor-specific molecular changes to guide treatment, is not uniformly covered by insurance across the US, limiting patient access to personalized therapies.
- Early detection impact: States with higher early-stage diagnosis rates demonstrate improved survival, highlighting the critical role of screening programs and laboratory capacity in driving outcomes.
Delaware serves as a notable example
The state of Delaware ranks 5th nationally for lung cancer screening, with 24.3 percent of eligible individuals screened. However, coverage for comprehensive biomarker testing is not yet required statewide. Passing legislation such as Senate Bill 120 could help improve access to these tests and serve as a model for other states.
“Increasing awareness, expanding access to screening, and ensuring coverage of biomarker testing are essential steps to improve lung cancer outcomes nationwide,” said Deb Brown, Chief Mission Officer of the American Lung Association. “Lessons from states like Delaware show what’s possible when policy, public health initiatives, and lab capacity align.”
The 2025 “State of Lung Cancer” report encourages states, healthcare systems, and laboratory professionals to work together to reduce the burden of lung cancer, close gaps in early detection, and expand access to precision diagnostics. Learn more and take action at Lung.org/solc.
- Read the original press release from the American Lung Association