SCTS 2026 | Challenges in the Management of Locally Advanced NSCLC

At the Society for Cardiothoracic Surgery in Great Britain and Ireland Annual Meeting, leading surgeons presented on challenges in the management of locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).  

Dr. Enrico Ruffin, Professor of Thoracic Surgery at the University of Torino, Italy, delivered a presentation on “Defining Resectability in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.” He explored TNM stage groups, resectability by stages, and the definition of resectability in current guidelines. Additionally, he discussed the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) initiative and the MDT-BRIDGE trial.  

Next, Dr. Thomas Newsom-Davis, a consultant thoracic medical oncologist at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, London, UK, spoke about “Preoperative Strategies for Resectable NSCLC With Targetable EGFR Mutations and ALK Rearrangement.” He covered topics such as mutation-driven lung cancer, diagnosing epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase (ALK), and the rationale behind different treatment approaches for EGFR/ALK-positive patients. Dr. Newsom-Davis also presented on adjuvant immunotherapy in EGFR/ALK and adjuvant osimertinib.  

Then, Dr. Pierre-Emmanuel Falcoz, Head of the Department of Thoracic Surgery and Lung Transplantation at Nouvel Hospital Civil, Strasbourg, France, presented on “The Role of Salvage Lung Resection After Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor (or Targeted Therapy).” He discussed the role of surgery in the age of immunotherapy, the pathological response after neoadjuvant treatment, and tissue remodeling. He also examined the conversion from video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery/robotic-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS/RATS) to thoracotomy, postoperative lung diseases, and lymph node dissection.   

Finally, Drs. Sasha Stamenkovic, a consultant thoracic surgeon and Director of Robotic Surgery at Barts Health NHS Trust, London, UK, and Nikki Asemota, a ST3 Trainee at Royal Papworth Hospital, Cambridge, UK, and Co-Founder of The London School of Cardiothoracics, concluded the session with a presentation titled “Training in Open Surgery in the Era of Minimally Invasive Surgery.” They shared insights on The London School of Cardiothoracics, the effect of VATS on open training, and core procedures useful in a training course.  

All presentations concluded with Q&A sessions.    

In March 2026, the Society for Cardiothoracic Surgery in Great Britain and Ireland held its annual conference, uniting experts in cardiothoracic surgery to explore the newest innovations in technology and surgical methods. Watch for more SCTS 2026 videos in the coming weeks.   

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