The ENDEAVOUR lung cancer program, a three-year initiative designed to advance lung cancer research and care by connecting early-career oncologists in Europe with internationally renowned experts in thoracic oncology, has selected 21 participants to form international teams that will initiate four collaborative projects at the kick-off event in Madrid.

The projects to be developed over the next three years under expert guidance address critical unmet needs in lung cancer. The four selected research projects each focus on important challenges: two will investigate treatment resistance mechanisms—one in small cell lung cancer and one in non-small cell lung cancer—with the aim of better understanding the characteristics of these tumors and finding strategies to overcome this resistance. The third project will use artificial intelligence to analyze long-term responders to specific therapies, seeking to identify features that could guide future treatment decisions. The fourth project will concentrate on certain non-small cell lung cancer patients with brain metastases, a group known to have particularly poor prognoses, with the goal of uncovering key characteristics that could support more personalized therapeutic strategies.

“To be chosen among more than 20 projects — all led by passionate professionals asking meaningful questions in lung cancer — is a real honor,” says Dr. Edouard Auclin, Institut Bergonié, France. “Each project brings valuable insights to the field. My project focuses on patients with high inflammation who tend to have poorer outcomes and are often underrepresented in clinical trials. By thinking outside the box, we aim to develop new approaches that could better address their needs and improve their treatment responses. I am truly happy to be part of this program and look forward to what we can accomplish together.” In addition to Dr. Auclin, the selected project leads are Dr. Marcel Kemper from University Hospital, Germany; Dr. Pedro Rocha from Hospital Vall d’Hebron, Spain; and Dr. Francesca Ogliari from IRCCS Scientific Institute and Hospital San Raffaele, Italy.

Fostering Excellence with Patient-Centric Purpose
Lung cancer is the most common cancer and the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide.¹ Nearly 2.5 million lung cancer cases were diagnosed globally in 2022.¹ “Mentoring and fostering the next generation of thoracic oncologists is essential to sustaining scientific innovation and improving patient outcomes,” says Prof. Lizza Hendriks, Associate Professor at Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, The Netherlands and ENDEAVOUR Lung Cancer Program Committee Member. “Through this initiative, participants gain the tools and critical skills needed to become the lung cancer leaders of tomorrow to treat patients with the latest scientific knowledge. I was truly impressed and energized by the outstanding quality of applications received and look forward to the outcomes of the collaborations that will emerge from this program.”

While the participating oncologists deeply exchange about their research and clinical practice within the group, the goal of the program is to improve lung cancer care for patients and have a real-world impact.

“Every advance in cancer care begins with a single idea — and a deep commitment to patients,” says Dr. Michael Zaiac, Head of European Medical Affairs Oncology, Daiichi Sankyo. “At Daiichi Sankyo, we believe that great patient care is fueled by both innovation and experience. ENDEAVOUR brings these elements together by connecting bright, early-career oncologists with seasoned experts, and providing the support needed to turn ideas into impact. We are proud to back a program that fosters scientific excellence while keeping patients at the center of every discovery.”