Radiotherapy Delays Cancer Progression in Advanced Lung Patients
Patients with an advanced form of lung cancer lived 56 percent longer without their disease progressing when doctors added radiotherapy to standard whole-body therapy. Clinical trial results presented at the 2026 European Society for Medical Oncology Congress showed that progression-free survival rose to an average of 13.9 months compared to 8.9 months for systemic treatment alone. The findings stem from the SARON trial, which was funded by Cancer Research UK and sponsored by University College London.
Clinical Trial Details and Treatment Methods
The Phase II randomized controlled trial enrolled 140 patients across 19 centers in the United Kingdom. Researchers selected individuals with oligometastatic non-small cell lung cancer, meaning the disease had spread to a small number of secondary sites at the time of diagnosis. Participants were split evenly into two arms. One group received standard whole-body systemic treatment consisting of chemotherapy, immunotherapy, or both. The other group received local consolidation radiotherapy directed at all known sites of disease alongside systemic treatment.
High-dose treatment targeted the primary lung cancer, nearby lymph nodes, and secondary tumors. Depending on tumor size and location, clinicians used stereotactic ablative radiotherapy, a precise delivery method for small, well-defined tumors. The intervention caused no significant reduction in patient quality of life. Progression at initial disease sites within 12 months dropped to 13 percent for the radiotherapy group, compared to 39.5 percent for patients receiving standard care alone.
Overall survival results showed a median of 31 months for patients in the radiotherapy arm and 28 months for those in the control arm. Dr. Fiona McDonald, Consultant Thoracic Clinical Oncologist at The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, Leader of the Thoracic Radiotherapy Group at The Institute of Cancer Research, London, and Chief Investigator of the SARON trial, stated that the study provides important data, demonstrating a significant improvement in progression-free survival without compromising quality of life.
Patient Experience on the SARON Trial
Julie Moran, a 69-year-old former Senior Cardiac Technician from Buckinghamshire, contracted COVID-19 in March 2020. Persistent symptoms prompted a September 2020 computed tomography scan at a local hospital that revealed her lung cancer diagnosis. She received a referral to The Royal Marsden and enrolled in the SARON trial. She stated that contracting the virus ultimately uncovered the underlying malignancy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What specific type of lung cancer did the SARON trial investigate?
The trial examined oligometastatic non-small cell lung cancer, a classification where the cancer has spread from the primary lung site to a limited number of secondary locations at diagnosis.
How many clinical centers participated in the study?
Researchers recruited 140 patients across 19 medical centers throughout the United Kingdom for the randomized controlled trial.
What were the specific overall survival outcomes between the two trial arms?
Patients who received the addition of radiotherapy recorded a median overall survival of 31 months, while patients in the standard systemic treatment control arm recorded a median overall survival of 28 months.
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