Advances in Lung Cancer Screening and Management: A UK–US Comparative Narrative Review Informed by American Thoracic Society (ATS) 2025 Highlights

This narrative review summarises key developments presented at the American Thoracic Society (ATS) 2025 International Conference and examines their relevance to lung cancer care in the United Kingdom, with particular emphasis on transatlantic differences between US and UK practice. Drawing on selected high‑impact plenary sessions, thematic symposia, expert panel discussions, and late‑breaking abstracts covering screening, diagnosis, staging, treatment, and survivorship, the review highlights advances in lung cancer screening eligibility, emerging artificial intelligence (AI) and radiomic tools for diagnostic support, updates to Tumour-Node-Metastasis (TNM) staging, and evolving approaches to quality‑of‑life assessment. UK‑specific perspectives are incorporated, including experience from a single National Health Service (NHS) tertiary centre involving patients diagnosed with lung cancer on clinico‑radiological grounds without tissue confirmation. Differences in diagnostic strategies, healthcare system design, and resource availability between the United States and the United Kingdom are explored to identify opportunities for shared learning and adaptation within NHS lung cancer pathways. This review aims to inform UK clinicians, multidisciplinary teams, and policymakers about international developments and their potential translation into contemporary UK clinical practice.