Medically Reviewed & Updated: February 28, 2026

Asbestos Lung Cancer Treatment Options

Q: What is the best treatment for asbestos lung cancer?

There is no single best treatment for asbestos-related lung cancer. The optimal approach depends on the cancer's stage, cell type, location, genetic markers, and the patient's overall health. For early-stage disease, surgery such as lobectomy offers the best chance of cure. Advanced-stage lung cancer is typically treated with a combination of chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and radiation. Molecular testing may reveal genetic mutations that make the tumor responsive to targeted therapies. A multidisciplinary oncology team will evaluate all factors and recommend a personalized treatment plan.

Treatment for asbestos-related lung cancer has advanced significantly in recent years. From surgery and chemotherapy to immunotherapy, targeted therapy, and clinical trials, patients today have more options than ever before. This guide explains each treatment approach, who it may help, and how to access the best care available.

5+ Treatment Approaches

63% Stage IA 5-Year Survival

4 FDA-Approved Immunotherapies

1,000+ Active Clinical Trials

Need Help Understanding Your Options?

Get a free, confidential case review and learn about compensation to cover treatment costs.

BBB A+ Accredited Since 2009

Super Lawyers Multiple Years Selected

National Trial Lawyers Top 100 Trial Lawyers

AV Preeminent Martindale-Hubbell Rated

AAJ Member American Association for Justice

$2B+ Recovered for Clients

Medically reviewed and updated: February 28, 2026 • Sources: National Cancer Institute, American Cancer Society, NCCN

Treatment Overview for Asbestos-Related Lung Cancer

Treatment for asbestos-related lung cancer follows the same evidence-based protocols used for all forms of lung cancer. The fact that the cancer was caused by asbestos exposure rather than smoking or another factor does not change the treatment approach — oncologists treat the cancer based on its stage, cell type, location, and molecular characteristics, not its cause.

However, there is one critical difference for asbestos-related lung cancer patients: you may be entitled to significant financial compensation that can help cover the cost of treatment, travel to specialty centers, and lost income during recovery. Over $30 billion remains available in asbestos trust funds, and legal claims can often resolve while you are still receiving treatment.

Modern lung cancer treatment relies on a multidisciplinary approach. Your care team will typically include a thoracic surgeon, medical oncologist, radiation oncologist, pulmonologist, pathologist, and supportive care specialists. Together, they will evaluate your case and develop a personalized treatment plan based on several key factors:

Stage of cancer — how far the cancer has spread (stages I through IV)
Cell type — non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) vs. small cell lung cancer (SCLC)
Tumor location — which lobe of the lung is affected and proximity to vital structures
Genetic markers — whether the tumor has actionable mutations (EGFR, ALK, KRAS, ROS1, and others)
PD-L1 expression — which determines eligibility for immunotherapy
Overall health and lung function — especially important for patients with asbestosis or other asbestos-related lung damage

Patients with asbestos-related lung disease may have compromised lung function from conditions such as asbestosis or pleural thickening, which can affect surgical candidacy. Your oncology team will carefully assess your respiratory capacity before recommending surgery or other treatments that may impact breathing.

5+ Treatment Types Available

63% Stage IA 5-Year Survival

Growing Immunotherapy Success Rates

1,000+ Active Clinical Trials

Surgery for Asbestos-Related Lung Cancer

Surgery offers the best chance of curing lung cancer when the disease is caught at an early stage (typically stage I or II) and the patient is healthy enough to tolerate the procedure. The goal of surgery is to remove the tumor and a margin of surrounding healthy tissue to ensure no cancer cells remain. The type of surgery recommended depends on the tumor's size, location, and how much lung function the patient can afford to lose.

For patients with asbestos-related lung disease, pulmonary function testing is especially important before surgery, since prior asbestos exposure may have already reduced lung capacity through conditions like asbestosis or pleural plaques.

Surgical Options

Lobectomy — Removal of the entire lobe of the lung containing the tumor. This is the most common and preferred surgical approach for early-stage non-small cell lung cancer. It provides the best balance between removing adequate tissue margins and preserving lung function.
Pneumonectomy — Removal of the entire lung. This is performed when the tumor is located centrally or involves multiple lobes, making a lobectomy insufficient. Recovery is more challenging, and patients must have adequate function in the remaining lung.
Wedge resection — Removal of a small, wedge-shaped section of lung tissue containing the tumor and a margin of healthy tissue. This is typically used for very small tumors or patients whose lung function cannot tolerate a larger resection.
Segmentectomy — Removal of a larger portion of the lobe than a wedge resection, but less than a full lobectomy. Also called an anatomical segmental resection, it follows the natural anatomical boundaries of the lung segment.
Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) — A minimally invasive technique that uses small incisions and a camera to perform lobectomy or wedge resection. VATS typically results in less pain, shorter hospital stays, and faster recovery compared to traditional open thoracotomy.

Who Is a Candidate for Surgery?

Surgical candidacy depends on several factors. Patients with stage I or II non-small cell lung cancer who have adequate lung function and overall fitness are generally good candidates. Your thoracic surgeon will assess your pulmonary function tests (PFTs), cardiac health, and overall physical condition. Patients with existing asbestosis or significantly reduced lung capacity may still be candidates for less extensive procedures such as wedge resection or segmentectomy, or for minimally invasive VATS approaches that preserve more lung tissue.

Chemotherapy for Asbestos-Related Lung Cancer

Chemotherapy uses powerful drugs to kill cancer cells throughout the body. It remains a cornerstone of lung cancer treatment, particularly for patients with advanced-stage disease or as a complement to surgery. For asbestos-related lung cancer, chemotherapy protocols are the same as those used for other lung cancers of the same type and stage.

Platinum-Based Combination Therapy

The standard chemotherapy regimen for non-small cell lung cancer is a platinum-based doublet — a platinum drug combined with another chemotherapy agent. Common combinations include:

Cisplatin or carboplatin + pemetrexed (Alimta) — preferred for non-squamous NSCLC
Cisplatin or carboplatin + gemcitabine — commonly used for squamous cell carcinoma
Cisplatin or carboplatin + docetaxel (Taxotere) — used as first-line or second-line treatment
Cisplatin or carboplatin + paclitaxel (Taxol) — another widely used first-line option

When Chemotherapy Is Used

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy is given before surgery to shrink the tumor, making it easier to remove and potentially improving surgical outcomes. This approach is increasingly used for patients with stage II or IIIA lung cancer and may be combined with immunotherapy.

Adjuvant chemotherapy is given after surgery to destroy any remaining cancer cells that may not be visible on imaging. Studies have shown that adjuvant chemotherapy improves survival rates for patients with stage II and IIIA disease.

Palliative chemotherapy is used for patients with advanced (stage IIIB or IV) lung cancer where surgery is not an option. The goal is to slow tumor growth, relieve symptoms, and extend survival. Modern regimens often combine chemotherapy with immunotherapy for improved outcomes.

Immunotherapy for Asbestos-Related Lung Cancer

Immunotherapy has fundamentally changed the treatment landscape for lung cancer. Unlike chemotherapy, which directly attacks cancer cells, immunotherapy works by helping the patient's own immune system recognize and destroy cancer cells. Some patients who respond well to immunotherapy achieve durable, long-lasting remissions that were previously unheard of in advanced lung cancer.

How Immunotherapy Works

Cancer cells can evade the immune system by displaying proteins — such as PD-L1 — that act as a "don't attack me" signal to immune cells. Immune checkpoint inhibitors block this signal, essentially removing the brakes from the immune system and allowing T cells to recognize and attack the tumor. The result can be a powerful and sustained anti-cancer immune response.

Key FDA-Approved Immunotherapy Drugs

Pembrolizumab (Keytruda) — Approved as a first-line treatment for advanced NSCLC with high PD-L1 expression (TPS ≥ 50%), either alone or in combination with chemotherapy. Also approved for tumors with lower PD-L1 expression when combined with chemo.
Nivolumab (Opdivo) — Approved for previously treated advanced NSCLC. Also used in combination with ipilimumab (Yervoy) and chemotherapy as first-line treatment.
Atezolizumab (Tecentriq) — Approved for first-line treatment of metastatic NSCLC without EGFR/ALK mutations, used in combination with chemotherapy and bevacizumab, or with chemotherapy alone.
Durvalumab (Imfinzi) — Approved as consolidation therapy after chemoradiation for unresectable stage III NSCLC. Has shown significant improvement in progression-free survival.

PD-L1 Testing

Before starting immunotherapy, your oncologist will order a PD-L1 test on your tumor tissue. This test measures the level of PD-L1 protein expression, which helps predict how likely the tumor is to respond to checkpoint inhibitors. Patients with high PD-L1 expression (TPS ≥ 50%) tend to have the best responses, but even patients with lower expression levels may benefit when immunotherapy is combined with chemotherapy.

Immunotherapy Has Changed Lung Cancer Treatment

Before immunotherapy, the 5-year survival rate for advanced (stage IV) lung cancer was approximately 5%. With immunotherapy, some studies have shown 5-year survival rates of 15–25% for patients with high PD-L1 expression — a dramatic improvement. For select patients, immunotherapy has transformed what was once a rapidly fatal diagnosis into a manageable chronic condition with sustained remissions lasting years.

Radiation Therapy for Asbestos-Related Lung Cancer

Radiation therapy uses high-energy beams to destroy cancer cells. It can be used as a primary treatment, in combination with chemotherapy, or as a palliative measure to relieve symptoms. Advances in radiation technology have made it possible to deliver highly precise doses that target the tumor while minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissue.

External Beam Radiation Therapy (EBRT)

The most common form of radiation for lung cancer. Treatment is typically delivered daily over several weeks. Modern techniques such as intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) and 3D conformal radiation allow oncologists to shape the radiation beam precisely to the tumor's contours. EBRT is often used alongside chemotherapy (chemoradiation) for patients with locally advanced (stage III) disease who cannot undergo surgery.

Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT)

Also known as stereotactic ablative radiation therapy (SABR), SBRT delivers very high doses of radiation to the tumor in just a few treatment sessions (typically 3 to 5). SBRT is highly effective for early-stage lung cancer patients who are not candidates for surgery due to poor lung function, advanced age, or other health conditions. Studies have shown cure rates comparable to surgery for stage I tumors treated with SBRT.

Palliative Radiation

For patients with advanced lung cancer, radiation can provide significant symptom relief. Palliative radiation is used to shrink tumors that are causing pain, breathing difficulties, bleeding, or other symptoms. It can also be directed at metastatic sites, such as brain metastases or bone lesions, to control pain and preserve function. Palliative radiation typically involves shorter treatment courses and lower doses than curative radiation.

Targeted Therapy for Asbestos-Related Lung Cancer

Targeted therapy represents a precision medicine approach to lung cancer treatment. Unlike chemotherapy, which attacks all rapidly dividing cells, targeted therapies are designed to block specific molecular pathways that drive cancer cell growth. These drugs are effective only in tumors that carry specific genetic mutations or alterations, which is why molecular testing of the tumor tissue is essential.

Why Molecular Testing Matters

Before starting treatment for advanced non-small cell lung cancer, comprehensive molecular testing (also called genomic profiling or biomarker testing) should be performed on your tumor. This testing identifies specific genetic mutations or alterations that may make the cancer susceptible to targeted drugs. Without this testing, you could miss the opportunity for a treatment that may be significantly more effective and better tolerated than standard chemotherapy.

Key Targeted Therapy Options

EGFR inhibitors — Osimertinib (Tagrisso) is the preferred first-line treatment for NSCLC with EGFR mutations (exon 19 deletions or exon 21 L858R mutations). EGFR mutations are found in approximately 10–15% of lung cancers in the U.S. and are more common in non-smokers — a relevant consideration for asbestos-only exposed patients.
ALK inhibitors — Alectinib (Alecensa) is the standard first-line therapy for ALK-positive NSCLC. ALK rearrangements are found in about 3–5% of lung cancers and are more common in younger patients and non-smokers or light smokers.
KRAS G12C inhibitors — Sotorasib (Lumakras) was the first drug approved to target the KRAS G12C mutation, which is found in approximately 13% of NSCLC cases. Adagrasib (Krazati) is another approved option. KRAS mutations are among the most common driver mutations in lung cancer.
ROS1 inhibitors — Crizotinib (Xalkori) and entrectinib (Rozlytrek) are approved for ROS1-positive lung cancer. ROS1 rearrangements are found in about 1–2% of NSCLC cases.

Additional targetable alterations include BRAF V600E mutations, MET exon 14 skipping mutations, RET fusions, NTRK fusions, and HER2 mutations. Comprehensive genomic profiling can identify all of these in a single test, and FDA-approved therapies exist for each.

For more on the diagnostic process and how these mutations are identified, see our symptoms and diagnosis guide.

Clinical Trials for Asbestos-Related Lung Cancer

Clinical trials provide access to cutting-edge treatments that are not yet widely available. For lung cancer patients who have exhausted standard treatment options — or who want access to the newest therapies — clinical trials can offer meaningful hope. Many of today's standard treatments, including immunotherapy drugs and targeted therapies, were once available only through clinical trials.

Types of Clinical Trials

Treatment trials — Test new drugs, drug combinations, or new approaches to surgery or radiation. These trials may compare a new treatment to the current standard of care.
Combination therapy trials — Investigate whether combining immunotherapy with chemotherapy, targeted therapy, or other immunotherapy drugs produces better outcomes than either treatment alone.
Novel agent trials — Study entirely new classes of anti-cancer drugs, including antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), bispecific antibodies, cancer vaccines, and next-generation targeted therapies.

How to Access Clinical Trials

Speak with your oncologist about whether a clinical trial may be appropriate for your situation. You can also search for active lung cancer trials on ClinicalTrials.gov, the federal database maintained by the National Institutes of Health. NCI-designated cancer centers typically offer the broadest selection of trials. Participation in clinical trials is voluntary, and you can withdraw at any time.

It is important to understand that clinical trial participation does not mean you are giving up proven treatment. Many trials compare new treatments against the current standard of care, so all participants receive at least the established standard treatment.

Need Help Understanding Your Treatment Options?

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with asbestos-related lung cancer, our experienced attorneys can help you understand your legal options and identify compensation sources to cover treatment costs. We work with families across the country and can connect you with leading medical resources.

Free & Confidential No upfront costs, no hidden fees. You pay nothing unless we recover compensation.

Compensation Covers Treatment Trust fund claims and legal settlements can help pay for surgery, immunotherapy, and other treatments.

Over 25 Years of Experience Our attorneys have recovered over $2 billion for asbestos exposure victims and families.

Fast Results Trust fund claims can resolve in as few as 90 days. We move quickly for our clients.

Or call us 24/7: 1-800-400-1805

FAQ answers reviewed by legal team: February 28, 2026

Frequently Asked Questions About Lung Cancer Treatment

What is the best treatment for asbestos lung cancer?

There is no single "best" treatment for asbestos-related lung cancer. The optimal approach depends on the cancer's stage, cell type, location, genetic markers, and the patient's overall health. For early-stage disease, surgery such as lobectomy offers the best chance of cure. Advanced-stage lung cancer is typically treated with a combination of chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and radiation. Molecular testing may reveal genetic mutations that make the tumor responsive to targeted therapies. A multidisciplinary oncology team will evaluate all factors and recommend a personalized treatment plan. For more about the diagnostic process, visit our symptoms and diagnosis page.

Is immunotherapy effective for asbestos-related lung cancer?

Yes, immunotherapy has become one of the most significant advances in lung cancer treatment. Drugs such as pembrolizumab (Keytruda), nivolumab (Opdivo), atezolizumab (Tecentriq), and durvalumab (Imfinzi) have been FDA-approved for certain types of non-small cell lung cancer. Effectiveness depends on factors including PD-L1 expression levels in the tumor. Some patients experience durable, long-term responses lasting years. Immunotherapy is often used in combination with chemotherapy for first-line treatment of advanced lung cancer, and has improved 5-year survival rates from approximately 5% to as high as 15–25% in patients with high PD-L1 expression.

Can I get treatment while pursuing a legal claim?

Absolutely. Pursuing a legal claim does not interfere with your medical treatment in any way. In fact, compensation from asbestos trust funds and lawsuits can help cover the cost of treatment, including surgery, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and clinical trials. An experienced asbestos attorney handles the legal process so you can focus entirely on your health. Many trust fund claims resolve in as few as 90 days, providing financial support while you are still in treatment. To learn more about your legal rights and compensation options, contact us for a free case review.

How do I find a lung cancer specialist?

Finding the right specialist is critical for optimal treatment outcomes. Look for a thoracic oncologist or pulmonary oncologist at a National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated cancer center. These centers have multidisciplinary teams experienced in treating lung cancer with the latest therapies, including immunotherapy and targeted treatments. Your primary care doctor can provide referrals, and organizations such as the American Cancer Society and the Lung Cancer Foundation of America maintain directories of specialists. If you are working with an asbestos attorney, they can often connect you with leading treatment centers and specialists experienced in asbestos-related cases. For a broader overview of diagnosis and treatment, see our diagnosis and treatment guide.

This page was last reviewed and updated on February 28, 2026 by the legal and medical team at Danziger & De Llano, LLP.

Sources & References

Get the Treatment You Deserve — We Can Help

If you or a loved one is facing an asbestos-related lung cancer diagnosis, understanding your treatment options is the first step. Our attorneys can help you access the compensation you need to cover the best available care — from surgery and immunotherapy to clinical trials at leading cancer centers.

Call 1-800-400-1805 Request a Free Case Review

Free consultation • No obligation • Available 24/7 • No fees unless we win

BBB A+ Accredited 4.8★ Google Rating $2B+ Recovered 25+ Years Experience