Lung Cancer Program
Accelerating Access to Lung Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment
City of Hope® Cancer Center Chicago, located in Northern Illinois provides specialized, collaborative care to treat all stages of lung cancer, including early and advanced stages, as well as metastatic and recurrent disease. Our program is locally founded on over 30 years of clinical expertise and is led by physicians at the forefront of lung cancer research. We integrate advanced treatment modalities, including the use of immunotherapy following chemoradiation for patients with locally advanced small cell lung cancer, as well as offer access to leading-edge clinical trials, allowing patients the possible benefit of the latest innovations in oncologic care.
Meet Our Illinois Lung Physicians
Our program is comprised of a multidisciplinary team of experts specializing in lung cancer, including thoracic surgeons, medical and radiation oncologists, interventional pulmonologists, supportive care team members and more.
Kumar Gaurav, M.D.
Assistant Clinical Professor, Department of Medicine
Interventional Pulmonologist and Critical Care Physician
Dr. Gaurav is a triple board-certified interventional pulmonologist, specializing in lung cancer screening, diagnosis, staging and management of malignant airway obstructions. He also practices critical care medicine and treats a broad range of complex pulmonary conditions.
Ajaz Khan, M.D., M.B.A., C.P.E.
President, Medical Staff
Chief, Department of Medical Oncology
Assistant Clinical Professor, Department of Medical Oncology & Therapeutics Research Medical Oncologist
Dr. Khan is chief of medical oncology and president of the medical staff at City of Hope Cancer Center Chicago, where he leads clinical standards and physician recruitment. As a practicing medical oncologist, he has a primary focus on lung and breast cancer care and is primary investigator in multiple oncology clinical trials.
Meng Gan, M.D.
Assistant Clinical Professor, Department of Radiation Oncology
Radiation Oncologist
Dr. Gan specializes in advanced radiation techniques including IMRT, stereotactic radiosurgery, brachytherapy and VMAT for a variety of cancers, including lung. She is committed to compassionate, patient-centered care and contributes to multidisciplinary treatment planning while actively publishing in the field.
About Our Program
Our program in Northern Illinois is part of the national City of Hope network, which has been instrumental in lung cancer treatment breakthroughs, including a novel mechanism underlying mitochondrial regulation by MET, leading to a novel strategy to treat non-small cell lung cancer.
Types of lung cancer we treat:
Additionally, our teams treat certain benign lung diseases, including hemoptysis and airway obstructions.
We offer a comprehensive range of oncology services to diagnose and treat lung cancer, including:
Rapid Undiagnosed Lung Nodule Program
With an increasing focus on lung cancer screening, the incidence of indeterminate pulmonary nodules has also risen. Additionally, delays in diagnostics and treatment services for cancer patients have a direct correlation to increased mortality rate.
To urgently address this concern, City of Hope Chicago in Northern Illinois offers a Rapid Undiagnosed Lung Nodule Program, providing safe, minimally invasive biopsy for suspicious nodules less than 8 mm, and a diagnosis and treatment plan in as little as one week.
Interventional Pulmonology
At City of Hope in Lake County, our interventional pulmonologists offer minimally invasive endoscopic procedures for diagnosis and therapeutic interventions in patients with malignant and nonmalignant disorders of the lung and the pleura. Through several modalities, our team treats obstructions quickly and precisely to help patients return to treatment and maintain a good quality of life.
Open Chicago-Area Clinical Trials for Lung Cancer
City of Hope Chicago is dedicated to advancing cancer treatment by leveraging innovative therapies and offering best-in-class clinical trials. As part of this commitment, we are currently enrolling patients for the following lung cancer clinical trials at our location in Zion, Illinois.
A Study of Amivantamab in Combination With Lazertinib, or Amivantamab in Combination With Platinum-Based Chemotherapy, for Common Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR)-Mutated Locally Advanced or Metastatic Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) (COPERNICUS)
- Description: The primary purpose of the study is to assess how well amivantamab subcutaneous (SC) administration in combination with lazertinib or in combination with chemotherapy works (antitumor activity) in participants with epidermal growth factor receptor mutated (EGFRm) non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
- Conditions: Non-small cell carcinoma
- Study sponsor: Janssen Research & Development, LLC
- Clinicaltrials.gov ID: NCT06667076
Phase 3 Study of Datopotamab Deruxtecan Versus Docetaxel in Previously Treated TROP2-Positive Advanced or Metastatic Non-Squamous NSCLC Without Actionable Genomic Alterations (TROPION-Lung17)
- Description: TROPION-Lung17 will measure the efficacy and safety of datopotamab deruxtecan (Dato-DXd) compared with docetaxel in patients with trophoblast cell surface protein 2 (TROP2) positive advanced or metastatic lung cancer without actionable genomic alterations (AGA).
- Conditions: Non-small cell lung cancer
- Study Sponsor: AstraZeneca
- Clinicaltrials.gov ID: NCT07291037
Comparing Impact of Treatment Before or After Surgery in Patients With Stage 2-3B Resectable Non-small Cell Lung Cancer
- Description: This phase 3 trial compares standard therapy given after surgery (adjuvant) to standard therapy given before and after surgery (perioperative) in treating patients with stage 2-3B non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) that can be removed by surgery (resectable).
- Conditions:
- Resectable non-small cell lung carcinoma
- Stage 2, 3A or 3B lung cancer
- Study Sponsor: Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology
- Clinicaltrials.gov ID: NCT06632327
Refer a Patient to City of Hope
We strive to offer a well-coordinated experience for our referring providers. Upon receiving your referral, our team will immediately begin processing it, with minimal work on your end.
Our Commitment to Clinical Excellence
Our Illinois cancer center is recognized by several organizations that evaluate the quality of hospital programs as:
Latest Lung Cancer News
Dedication to Speed to Care
City of Hope Cancer Center and our outpatient cancer care locations are intentionally structured to maximize speed to care, with: