Lung Transplant Surgery Improves Cancer Survival Rates
A 2026 Northwestern Medicine study found that lung transplant surgery may significantly extend survival rates for people with stage IV non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) that’s considered terminal. Learn what the study shows and how a lung transplant can impact a patient’s survival time.
About the Lung Transplant Life Expectancy Study
The Northwestern Medicine study looked at whether double-lung transplant surgery could help stage IV NSCLC patients. These patients had cancer that remained limited to their lungs, were no longer responding to main treatments like chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and radiation, and were experiencing respiratory failure.
Researchers evaluated 98 patients, with 17 receiving double-lung transplants and 81 receiving medical treatment without a transplant.
The results showed a notable difference in lung transplant survival rates:
- 100% of transplant recipients were alive 1 year after surgery
- 41% of patients who didn’t get a transplant were alive at 1 year
- 4 of 17 transplant recipients later experienced a cancer recurrence
- Lung transplant recipients with cancer had the same 100% 1-year survival rate as transplant recipients without cancer
“When the cancer is rigorously proven to be confined to the lungs, when standard therapies have been exhausted, and when the lungs themselves have become the life-limiting organ, transplantation may offer a new path forward.”
— Ankit Bharat, MD and lead author of the Northwestern Medicine study
While these findings offer hope for some people with advanced lung cancer, lung transplantation is not a standard treatment plan for people with stage IV NSCLC. The patients in this study underwent extensive testing to confirm that their cancer had not spread beyond the lungs and were carefully selected for transplantation.
Researchers say more follow-up is needed to understand the long-term benefits and risks of lung transplants, particularly given the cancer recurrences seen among some transplant recipients.
A stage IV diagnosis may not always mean there are no surgical options left. If you have questions about potentially getting a lung transplant, Lung Cancer Group can help.
Download a Free Lung Cancer Guide today to get started.
- Understand risk factors
- Find top treatments
- Pursue compensation
How Long Can You Live After a Lung Transplant?
A lung transplant can significantly extend life expectancy for people with severe, life-threatening lung disease, including cancer. However, survival varies based on factors such as age, overall health, the underlying condition, and whether a person receives a single or double-lung transplant.
Recent U.S. transplant data show that about 9 in 10 lung transplant recipients survive the first year, while roughly 6 in 10 are still alive 5 years after transplantation.
Overall lung transplant survival rates are approximately:
- 1 year: 88.5%
- 5 years: 60.1%
- 10 years: 33.3%
These figures represent averages across lung transplant recipients and do not predict how long any individual patient will live. However, the results are particularly notable because these patients had exhausted standard treatments and were in respiratory failure, showing that the transplant significantly improved odds of long-term survival.
The researchers in the 2026 Northwestern Medicine study also found that 100% of the patients in that study were alive 1 year after surgery, compared with just 40.8% of patients who received medical treatment alone for their lung cancer. That represents an absolute lung cancer survival difference of nearly 59% at 1 year.
How Long Does a Lung Transplant Last?
A transplanted lung does not have a set expiration date. On average, lung transplant patients live nearly 10 years or longer with donor lungs, but the risk of complications increases over time.
In a Journal of Thoracic Disease study, the median double-lung transplant survival rate was about 7.3 years and 4.6 years after a single-lung transplant.
Factors that may affect how long a lung transplant lasts include:
- Infections
- Rejection episodes
- The recipient’s age
- The type of lung transplant
- Underlying diseases
One of the biggest life expectancy concerns is chronic lung allograft dysfunction (CLAD), in which the immune system gradually damages the transplanted lungs. CLAD affects approximately 50% of lung transplant recipients within 5 years and is a leading cause of death after the first year.
Can You Get a Lung Transplant After a Cancer Diagnosis?
A lung transplant may be an option for people with advanced, life-threatening lung disease when other treatments are no longer enough. Lung cancer treatment centers conduct a detailed evaluation to determine whether a person is likely to benefit from the surgery and safely manage the lifelong treatment that follows.
Lung transplant surgery may be considered when a person faces a high risk of dying from lung diseases like cancer within the next few years, but could have a reasonable chance of surviving if they get new lungs.
A person may qualify for a lung transplant if they have:
- A high risk of death without a transplant
- A poor quality of life because of their lung disease
- A reasonable likelihood of surviving the transplant and benefiting from it
- Adequate caregiver or social support to help with recovery and ongoing care
- Advanced or end-stage lung disease that continues to worsen despite treatment
- Severely reduced lung function or significant breathing problems
- The ability to follow a care plan, including lifelong medications and regular monitoring
Conditions that may lead to a lung transplant evaluation include cystic fibrosis, pulmonary hypertension, and other forms of advanced lung disease. Doctors also consider factors such as age, other medical conditions, infections, cancer history, physical condition, and the person’s ability to recover.
While lung transplants aren’t standard treatments for lung cancer patients, research like the Northwestern Medicine study may encourage medical teams to consider transplants as treatment options for people with advanced stages of cancer.
Get Help Now With Lung Cancer Treatment Options
A lung cancer diagnosis can bring difficult questions about your health, your future, and how you will pay for the care you need. If you have questions about lung transplants or standard treatments like immunotherapy, we’re here to help.
Contact us today to:
- Find the top lung cancer doctors near you
- Explore support resources for yourself or your family
- Learn about the best lung cancer treatments
- Pursue financial compensation if your cancer was caused by asbestos
You don’t have to figure this out alone. Our team can review your situation, answer your questions, and help you understand what may come next.
Call (877) 446-5767 or get our Free Lung Cancer Guide to learn more about your legal options and whether you may be entitled to compensation.
Written by:Lung Cancer GroupLung Cancer Group was established by a team of caring advocates so those with lung cancer and other asbestos-related diseases can get the help they deserve. Our site provides the most accurate and up-to-date information about lung cancer, its link to asbestos, and financial compensation available to patients. Contact us to learn more and get assistance.
