Dr Peters on the Importance of Consensus Meetings to Address Clinical Ambiguity in Lung Cancer

"We're very happy in the field of lung cancer because our discipline has changed in a dramatic way with lots of new evidence. However, when we create evidence, we also, by definition, create gray zones for specific patient populations or specific clinical scenarios where we would not all [approach treatment] in the same way."

Solange Peters, MD, PhD, a full professor and chair of Medical Oncology and the Thoracic Malignancies Programme in the Department of Oncology at the University Hospital of Lausanne in Lausanne, Switzerland, discussed the importance of global consensus meetings, such as the 2025 Global Bridging the Gaps in Lung Cancer meeting, for navigating advancements ensuing clinical "gray zones" in lung cancer care.

Peters emphasized that scientific understanding of lung cancer is advancing at a very fast pace in the non–small cell lung cancer and small cell lung cancer (SCLC) spaces, as well as the broader category of thoracic malignancies. This positive evolution is being propelled by the introduction of new drugs, new classes of drugs, and agents that employ novel mechanisms of action, she stated. Peters noted that the community is excited about these profound changes in lung cancer management.

However, Peters pointed out that the creation of new evidence inherently results in the development of clinical uncertainty, which she referred to as "gray zones." These gray zones specifically involve clinical scenarios or particular patient populations where experts might not agree on the appropriate treatment path. To address this ambiguity, the Global Bridging the Gaps in Lung Cancer consensus meeting sought to gather collective expertise from clinicians from various regions. The collaboration was truly global, incorporating experts from Asia, the United States, and Europe. The primary goal of convening this global group was to synthesize their expertise to help practitioners make the correct decisions based on existing knowledge.

Although future advancements may make way for different conclusions, the recommendations to emerge from this meeting will provide a vital "community message of utility," Peters emphasized. This message allows practitioners to rely on opinions that reflect the majority consensus of the expert group, she concluded.