Lung Cancer in Georgia

Lung cancer is one of the biggest challenges in modern oncology. In Georgia, it represents the leading cause of oncology-related mortality.

Every year, more than 1,500 new cases of lung cancer are detected, and nearly 14% of cancer-related deaths are attributed to lung cancer specifically.

In recent years, the treatment of lung cancer has changed significantly. Modern medications have been introduced, such as immunotherapy and targeted therapy. The latest treatments have significantly increased survival rates, and we are seeing impressive treatment outcomes in many patients.

The scientific team of the Oncology Department of the Caucasus Medical Centre — Ivane Kiladze, Ana Geguchadze, and Ana Tsereteli — conducted a large-scale study to examine the clinico-pathological and molecular characteristics of lung cancer in Georgia. This study was published in the international, peer-reviewed scientific journal Academia Oncology. The study is extremely important for the Georgian population and involved nearly 300 patients from various regions of Georgia.

The results clearly confirmed the following:

• The average age at diagnosis was 67 years;
• 86% of patients were male, and 88% of these patients were current or former smokers;
• The most common initial symptoms were cough, shortness of breath, and severe general weakness;
• 93% of patients were diagnosed already at the metastatic stage;
• The majority of cases represented non-small cell lung cancer, of which the most common histological subtype was adenocarcinoma;
• Adenocarcinoma was frequently found in non-smoking patients, indicating that lung cancer should no longer be considered a disease exclusive to smokers.

As for the diagnosis of lung cancer, one of the most significant achievements today is molecular diagnostics. According to the study:

EGFR mutation was found in 16% of patients, ALK in 10%, and high PD-L1 expression (TPS ≥50%) in 28%.

These results demonstrate that this portion of Georgian patients can benefit from targeted therapy (so-called "smart drugs") and immunotherapy.

Despite significant progress achieved in the diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer, the disease remains one of the foremost challenges to public health. Researchers of the Caucasus Medical Centre's clinical oncology team believe that the main solution to this challenge lies in the active search for the disease among people belonging to high-risk groups, which means implementing a screening program. In response to precisely this challenge, in 2026 a National Lung Cancer Screening Program was launched, which involves conducting low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) for high-risk individuals. The Caucasus Medical Centre is involved in this screening program.

The scientific group of the Caucasus Medical Centre is currently working on a study titled "Lung Cancer in Women," the goal of which is to study the causes and biological characteristics underlying the disease in the Georgian population.