Immunotherapy

See the current version of the SEER Program Coding Manual under Reporting Guidelines, Section VII: First Course of Therapy, for complete coding instructions for the immunotherapy data items.

Immunotherapy or biologic response modifiers (BRM) are used to help a person’s immune system fight cancer. These drugs work in more than one way to kill cancer cells. They are also called targeted therapy because they target specific changes or substances in cancer cells.

• Targeted therapy uses drugs or other substances to block the action of specific enzymes, proteins, or other molecules involved in the growth and spread of cancer cells.
• Targeted therapy is very common for lung cancers. See section Genomic testing for information ALK Rearrangement, EGFR mutation and PD-L1.

Document Immunotherapy details in NAACCR Item #2660: Text-BRM.

Hormones

Hormone therapy is not a common treatment for lung cancer.

See Additional Resources for Lung Cancer Treatment

Updated: April 8, 2026