Conference Highlights and Session Summaries
The 24th BTOG Annual Conference brought together the UK thoracic oncology community in Edinburgh for three days of education, discussion and collaboration. The programme covered advances across therapeutics, radiotherapy, diagnostics, surgery, research, nursing practice and emerging technologies, reflecting the multidisciplinary nature of lung cancer and mesothelioma care.
Below is a summary of the key sessions from across the conference.
Highlights from conference sessions as a series of YouTube Shorts
BTOG Therapeutics Symposium: Immune Cell Engagers
The conference opened with a session exploring emerging immunotherapy approaches. Presentations examined the next generation of T-cell engagers and their potential role in lung cancer treatment, alongside discussions on cancer vaccines and tumour-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) therapy.
Speakers also highlighted the challenges associated with newer immunotherapies, including the recognition and management of immune-related toxicities such as cytokine release syndrome (CRS) and immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS). The session concluded with a panel discussion on how these therapies may integrate into future treatment pathways.
BTOG Therapeutics Symposium: SACT in CNS Disease
The afternoon therapeutics session focused on systemic anti-cancer therapies for patients with central nervous system involvement.
Speakers reviewed emerging data on immunotherapy, targeted therapies and antibody-based treatments for patients with brain metastases. The session highlighted the evolving evidence base and the importance of integrating systemic treatment strategies with local therapies for CNS disease.
BTOG Radiotherapy Symposium: Pushing the Boundaries in Lung Cancer
This session focused on advances in radiotherapy techniques and multidisciplinary care. Talks examined the use of single-fraction stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) for early-stage lung cancer and explored strategies for reducing cardiac toxicity during radical radiotherapy.
The session also addressed the role of local consolidative therapy in metastatic EGFR-mutated disease, with perspectives from both oncology and radiation oncology. The discussion emphasised the importance of collaborative decision-making and personalised treatment strategies.
Video Shorts from VJ Oncology
Cardiac risks associated with immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy
Sohaib Nazir
Cardio-oncology risk assessment before lung cancer radiotherapy
Sohaib Nazir
BTOG Radiotherapy Symposium: Complex Cases MDT
This interactive session presented a series of challenging thoracic oncology cases discussed by a multidisciplinary panel. Topics included small-cell lung cancer, thymic malignancies and management strategies for mutation-positive stage III disease.
The discussion highlighted the value of MDT collaboration when managing complex cases where treatment pathways may be uncertain or evolving.
Video Shorts from VJ Oncology
Expediting radiotherapy in SCLC to reduce toxicity & improve outcomes
Oghenevwede Okuma
Managing complex locally advanced SCLC: key clinical lessons
Oghenevwede Okuma
BTOG Diagnostics Symposium: Diagnostic Challenges
The diagnostics stream addressed several complex scenarios increasingly encountered in clinical practice. Presentations covered the management of incidental findings from lung cancer screening programmes and explored common challenges in radiological interpretation.
Further talks examined the classification and management of peri-cystic lesions and the difficulties associated with synchronous lung lesions. The session highlighted the importance of multidisciplinary evaluation when assessing indeterminate findings.
Video Shorts from VJ Oncology
How to communicate overdiagnosis risk in lung cancer screening programs
Anna Bibby
Anna Bibby
Addressing uncertainty in cystic lung lesion diagnosis and management
Matthew Evison
Expanding lung cancer screening & education to reduce healthcare disparities
Matthew Evison
Understanding staging challenges in pericystic lung cancer lesions
Matthew Evison
BTOG Diagnostics Symposium: Mesothelioma
The mesothelioma session explored advances in diagnosis and disease classification. Presentations covered new developments in biomarker identification and the implications of the emerging TNM9 staging system.
The session also examined the role of national mesothelioma MDTs and discussed whether centralisation of expertise improves care or risks reducing local clinical experience. Practical management issues, including pleural space management, were also addressed.
BTOG Opening Session
The formal conference opening included updates from several key national and international organisations involved in lung cancer research and care.
The NLCA State of the Nation update highlighted progress and ongoing challenges in lung cancer outcomes across the UK. Additional updates from the British Thoracic Society, the UK Lung Cancer Coalition and the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer provided broader perspectives on policy, research priorities and international collaboration.
Video Shorts from VJ Oncology
Findings from the State of the Nation report by the National Lung Cancer Audit
Lauren Dixon
Improving access to systemic therapy in advanced lung cancer care
Lauren Dixon
Poster Presentations and Welcome Reception
The first day concluded with poster presentations showcasing new research from across the UK thoracic oncology community.
Topics ranged from lung cancer screening initiatives and AI-supported diagnostic tools to clinical studies examining lung cancer in never-smokers and nutritional challenges among lung cancer patients. The welcome reception provided an opportunity for delegates to continue discussions and network with colleagues.
Lung Cancer Research: Make the UK Great Again
Thursday began with a session examining the future of lung cancer research in the UK. Presentations explored research infrastructure, funding challenges and opportunities for strengthening academic collaboration.
Speakers also reflected on lessons learned from clinical trials, including both successes and failures, and discussed how the UK can remain competitive in the global research environment.
Keynote Lecture: The Perioperative Revolution in NSCLC
The keynote lecture explored the rapidly evolving perioperative treatment landscape for non-small-cell lung cancer.
The session reviewed how neoadjuvant and adjuvant systemic therapies are transforming treatment strategies and discussed how clinicians may need to adapt surgical and multidisciplinary decision-making in response to emerging evidence.
BTOG / Association of Pulmonary Pathologists Joint Plenary
This joint plenary session focused on new approaches to stage III NSCLC, bringing together perspectives from pathology, oncology and multidisciplinary teams.
Topics included evaluating pathological response following neoadjuvant therapy, approaches to borderline resectable disease and treatment strategies for patients unsuitable for concurrent chemoradiotherapy.
BTOG / Society for Cardiothoracic Surgery Joint Plenary
This session examined the future role of thoracic surgery in the management of thoracic malignancies.
Speakers explored how surgical approaches may evolve over the next decade, including developments in minimally invasive techniques and integration with systemic therapies. The session also presented results from the James Lind Alliance priority setting partnership for thoracic surgery research.
Video Shorts from VJ Oncology
The role of surgery in resectable or oligometastatic thoracic malignancies
Aman Coonar
How will the role of surgery in thoracic oncology evolve over this decade?
Aman Coonar
Evaluating the future of thoracic surgery in treating thoracic malignancies
Aman Coonar
Association of Pulmonary Pathologists Session
The pathology session explored several key diagnostic issues in lung cancer pathology.
Topics included sub-lobar resection pathology assessment, the diagnosis and clinical relevance of spread through adjacent airspaces, and the management of close surgical margins. Interactive case discussions allowed participants to explore real-world diagnostic challenges.
BTOG Career Development Session for Trainees
An informal career development session provided trainees with the opportunity to discuss career pathways in thoracic oncology with experienced consultants from a range of specialties.
The session covered training routes, academic opportunities and practical advice for developing careers in lung cancer research and clinical care.
Poster Oral Presentations and BTOG Awards
The day concluded with oral presentations from selected posters, highlighting new research across lung cancer screening, diagnostic technology and clinical outcomes.
Congratulations to the BTOG 2026 Poster Winners
https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/lung-cancer/vol/212/suppl/S1
4 x 1st Prizes
- Lung Cancer Screening Prison Pilot – HMP Holme House Liz Fuller
- Enhanced Detection Rate of AI for Lung Cancer Detection on GP-Referred Chest X-rays Anubhav Datta
- Lung cancer in never smokers (LCINS): Clinicopathological characteristics of patients treated at Guy’s cancer centre, South-East London Cancer Alliance Alexandra Holdich
- Identifying incidence of malnutrition in lung cancer patients attending Northern Centre for Cancer Care (NCCC) outpatient clinic Lillian Marcantonio
10 x Runner-Up Prizes
- Improving turnaround times for Next Generation Sequencing in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer – A multi-agency approach – Helen Powell
- The association of intersectional sociodemographic factors with stage at diagnosis and survival of never-smokers with lung cancer – Sindhu Bhaarrati Naidu
- Demonstrating the value of Lung Cancer Navigators/Coordinators* through a professional development framework, to support the lung cancer pathway across the UK – Larissa Griffiths
- Improving Treatment Escalation Plan (TEP) Completion in Acute Oncology: A Trainee-Led Quality Improvement Project at a Specialised Cancer Care Centre – Yong Fai Kong
- Final report of two interventions to reduce the risk of death from Pneumocystis pneumonia in patients receiving radical radiotherapy for lung cancer – Chloe Murray-Gillott
- Prediction of PLCOm2012 score underestimates risk at 2-year reassessment – Jodie Chalmers
- Projected eligibility, demographic and clinical characteristics of 50-54 year olds risk assessed for lung cancer screening – implications for eligibility criteria in the NHS Lung Cancer Screening Programme – Catriona Marshall
- A Meta-Analysis of Randomised Trials Comparing Postoperative Complications in RATS versus VATS for Lung Cancer – Chai Jin Lim
- Supporting ‘Swap to Stop’ smoking cessation: a pilot trial of vape information provision within lung cancer screening – Rebecca Haggie
- Sociodemographic inequalities in novel Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) Treatments: A National Population-Based Cohort Study – Sarah Rae
The session also included the presentation of the BTOG 2026 awards, recognising outstanding contributions from clinicians, researchers and nurses within the thoracic oncology community.
Video Shorts from VJ Oncology
Sindhu Naidu
Sindhu Naidu
BTOG 2026 Awards
BTOG Nurse of the Year
BTOG Doctor of the Year
BTOG Young Researcher of the Year
State of the Union: EBUS in the UK 2026
The final day began with a comprehensive review of endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) practice across the UK.
Speakers presented findings from the British Thoracic Society pilot audit and discussed emerging quality indicators and standards for EBUS services. The session also explored future developments in interventional bronchoscopy.
Video Shorts from VJ Oncology
CONVERGE: NBTXR3, chemoradiotherapy, and durvalumab in lung cancer
Ricky Thakrar
AURORA: assessing a microwave ablation system in lung cancer
Ricky Thakrar
Robotic bronchoscopy improves diagnosis of indeterminate lung nodules
Ricky Thakrar
Robotic bronchoscopy enables lung ablation and combination therapies
Ricky Thakrar
UK Academic Trial Landscape
This session highlighted current UK-led thoracic oncology trials and collaborative research initiatives.
Updates were provided on major research programmes including BTOG research group studies and international collaborations such as EORTC and ETOP. The session emphasised the importance of maintaining a strong academic trial infrastructure within the UK.
A 2026 update in screening and testing from the UK Lung Cancer Coalition
Robert Rintoul
Video Shorts from VJ Oncology
Challenges and funding hurdles in lung cancer clinical research
Mariana Brandao
EORTC Lung Cancer Group trials: PRIMALung, ICARUS-LUNG01 & NIVOTHYM
Mariana Brandao
Multidisciplinary approaches to lung cancer care in England’s NHS
Alastair Greystoke
CONCORDE: novel agents with radiotherapy in non-small cell lung cancer
Alastair Greystoke
CONCORDE study explores tumor evolution and biomarkers in radiotherapy
Alastair Greystoke
How can early radiotherapy benefit patients with lung cancer?
Matthew Hatton
Updates in the TOURIST Platform Study of palliative radiotherapy in lung cancer
Matthew Hatton
Developments in the PRINCE & QUARTZ LUNG trials for lung cancer
Matthew Hatton
BTOG / LCNUK Nurses Joint Session
The nurses’ session focused on the expanding role of specialist nurses in thoracic oncology research and clinical practice.
Presentations included updates on the Lung iAct study and reflections on the experience of becoming an associate principal investigator as a clinical nurse specialist. The session reinforced the vital contribution of nursing leadership to lung cancer care.
Bing Smith
Bing Smith
Bing Smith
AI in Thoracic Oncology
The final session explored the growing role of artificial intelligence in lung cancer diagnosis and treatment.
Speakers examined the application of AI in radiology, pathology and clinical decision support systems, while also discussing the practical considerations involved in implementing these technologies safely within clinical practice.
Closing of the Conference
The conference concluded with reflections on three days of multidisciplinary discussion, research exchange and professional collaboration.
BTOG thanked all speakers, chairs, partners and delegates for their contributions to the meeting and looked ahead to continued progress in thoracic oncology research and care.
BTOG extends sincere thanks to all faculty, delegates and sponsors for supporting this important event.
Access Slides & Recordings
Slides and video recordings from this Annual Conference are available in the BTOG Members’ Library.
- In-person attendees can access the archive for three months following the event.
- After three months, access is available exclusively to BTOG members.
If you attended, please log in to the Members’ Area to revisit the sessions.
If you are not yet a member, we encourage you to join BTOG to gain continued access to our event archive, educational resources and future Essential Updates and Annual Conferences.
Join BTOG today and stay at the forefront of thoracic oncology education and collaboration.
Save the dates for our 25th Annual Conference in 2027:
Wednesday 3rd March to Friday 5th March.
EICC, Edinburgh.
