Lung cancer - Spontaneous Remission Database

Lung Cancer

Epidemiology:

Lung cancer ranks among the most significant malignancies globally, with an estimated 2.2 million new cases reported, accounting for approximately 11.4% of all cancers.¹ In the United States, approximately 239,000 new lung cancer cases occur annually, coupled with around 132,000 related deaths, underscoring its considerable public health burden.¹Despite ongoing advances in treatment, lung cancer remains a leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide, reflecting its high fatality rate and the complex interplay of risk factors such as smoking and environmental exposures.²Spontaneous remission (SR) in lung cancer is exceptionally rare, documented in less than 1% of cases; this rarity complicates accurate assessments of true incidence, as milder forms of remission may go unnoticed or unreported.³

Clinical Characteristics:

To date, 43 well-documented cases of SR involving primary or metastatic lung cancer have been reported in the literature between 1954 and 2025. Reported patient ages ranged from 34 to 90 years, with the majority occurring in the sixth to eighth decades of life. A distinct male predominance (approximately 3:1) was evident, suggesting a greater SR incidence among men. Overall, SR was most frequently observed in older individuals, often associated with advanced or recurrent disease and occasionally following local immune stimulation such as infection, biopsy, or radiation exposure. See table 1 below for further information.

Histological Characteristics:

Patients who experienced SR of lung cancer commonly presented with cough, hemoptysis, chest pain, dyspnea, or weight loss. Diagnosis was typically established through imaging studies and confirmed by histopathological examination of bronchial or lung tissue. In most cases, the disease was locally advanced or metastatic, frequently involving mediastinal lymph nodes, bone, liver, or other distant sites. Remission was generally verified by radiologic or histologic assessment, often revealing resolution of the tumor mass or its replacement by fibrotic tissue. Nearly all reported SR cases were associated with prolonged survival or sustained remission, occasionally persisting for several years, markedly exceeding the expected prognosis for lung cancer.

Proposed Contributing Mechanisms:

Multiple mechanisms have been suggested to explain spontaneous remission in lung cancer. The most commonly cited involve activation of immune responses directed against tumor cells, often following infection, biopsy, radiation exposure, or other localized inflammatory events. These stimuli may enhance tumor antigen recognition and lead to cytotoxic immune activity capable of inducing tumor regression. Vascular disturbances such as thrombosis or ischemic necrosis, as well as drug-induced tumor infarction, have also been implicated in a subset of cases. In addition, psychological factors, hormonal influences, and metabolic or systemic stressors have been proposed to contribute indirectly to immune modulation. Overall, the evidence suggests that spontaneous remission in lung cancer likely arises from a complex interplay of immune activation and tumor microenvironmental changes that collectively disrupt tumor viability and growth.

Site and Extent of Remission:

Most reported SR events in lung cancer represented complete regressions, with only a few showing partial or site-specific responses. In several cases, both primary and metastatic lesions regressed, most commonly in the lung, lymph nodes, bone, or liver. The duration of follow-up ranged from weeks to more than a decade, with many patients remaining disease-free for extended periods. Unlike several other tumor types, SR in lung cancer has occasionally resulted in durable remission and long-term survival.

Table 1: Lung Cancer SR Cases and Clinical Characteristics

Author–year	Age/sex	Primary site	Remission site	Proposed mechanisms	Follow-up
Blades et al., 1954⁴	59/M	Right lung	Right lung	Not reported	5 years
Bell et al., 1964⁵	37/M	Left lung	Left lung	Fever-induced immune response	5 years
Margolis et al., 1967⁶	58/M	Right lung	Right lung	Infection-induced immune response	12 years
Emerson et al., 1968⁷	63/M	Right lung (hilar region)	Right lung	Not reported	12 years
Bell, 1970⁸	Not reported	Left lung	Left lung	Immune response, Radiation effect	10 years
Takita, 1970⁹	Not reported	Lung	Lung	Infection-induced immune response	Not reported
Sutton et al., 1970¹⁰	64/F	Right lung	Right lung, Humerus	Radiation-induced immune response	3 months
Smith, 1971¹¹	59/M	Left lung	Left atrial wall	Infection-related Immune response	Not reported
Smith, 1971¹¹	56/M	Left lung	Left atrial wall	Infection-related Immune response	Not reported
Smith, 1971¹¹	43/M	Left lung	Left atrial wall	Infection-related Immune response	Not reported
Greentree, 1973¹²	59/M	Right lung	Not reported	Not reported	15 years
Luosto et al., 1974¹³	42/F	Right lung (upper lobe)	Right lung	Circulatory disturbance, Post-pregnancy changes	7 years
Baker, 1976¹⁴	Not reported	Lung	Lung	Not reported	Not reported
Meares, 1980¹⁵	34/M	Lung	Neck (metastasis), Lung	Meditation-related immune response	7 months
Lowy et al., 1986¹⁶	55/M	Right lung	Scalene lymph nodes	Not reported	19 years
Sperduto et al., 1988¹⁷	61/M	Left lung (hilum)	Left adrenal gland, Left hilum	Not reported	Not reported
Ooi et al., 2018¹⁸	77/M	Right lung	Right lung, Lymph nodes	Biopsy-induced immune response	2 years
Ariza-Prota et al., 2018¹⁹	8/M	Right lung	Cervical lymph nodes, Skin, Chest wall	Not reported	3 months
Esplin et al., 2018²⁰	57/M	Left lung	Left lung	Not reported	3 months
Iwayama et al., 2018²¹	71/F	Lung	Lung	Drug-induced tumor infarction	Not reported
Tsunezuka et al., 2018²²	38/F	Lung	Lung	Vascular thrombosis	Not reported
Matsui et al., 2018²³	56/F	Lung	Lung	Biopsy-induced immune activation	6 weeks
Yoon et al., 2019²⁴	74/F	Left lung	Left lung	Immune-mediated response	1 year
Ugajin et al., 2019²⁵	82/M	Lung	Lung, Lymph nodes	Immune activation, hormonal effect	18 months
Hashimoto et al., 2020²⁶	72/M	Lung	Liver	Methotrexate withdrawal, Immune response	5 months
Shatola et al., 2020²⁷	73/M	Lung	Lung, Lymph nodes	BCG-induced immune response	3 months
Song et al., 2021²⁸	80/M	Left lung	Left lung, Mediastinal lymph nodes, Hilum	Left lung, Mediastinal lymph nodes, Hilum	52 weeks
Kim et al., 2021²⁹	60/M	Lung	Lung	Infection-induced immune response	3 weeks
Sekine et al., 2021³⁰	81/M	Lung	Lung, Lymph nodes	Biopsy-induced immune activation	2 months
Shibata et al., 2021³¹	83/F	Lung	Lung, Lymph nodes	Not reported	7 years
Yamamoto et al., 2022³²	69/M	Right lung	Right lung	Not reported	Not reported
Yamamoto et al., 2022³²	77/M	Right lung	Thoracic vertebra, Right lung	Not reported	Not reported
Iwasaki et al., 2022³³	74/M	Right lung	Right lung	Not reported	4 months
Schiavon et al., 2022³⁴	74/M	Lung	Lung	Infection-induced immune response	1 month
Ahmad et al., 2022³⁵	59/M	Lung	Lung, Lymph nodes	Immune activation post-biopsy	4 months
Goto et al., 2023³⁶	78/F	Left lung	Left lung	Biopsy-induced immune response	Not reported
Sasahara et al., 2023³⁷	60/M	Lung	Lung	Biopsy-induced immune activation	20 months
Tatsumoto et al., 2024³⁸	80/M	Right lung	Rib, Mediastinal lymph node	Immune activation	4 months
Koike et al., 2024³⁹	76/M	Lung	Lung, Lymph nodes	Immune stimulation	4 months
Hong et al., 2024⁴⁰	71/M	Lung	Lung, Lymph nodes	Infection-induced immune response	1 year
Kim et al., 2025⁴¹	56/M	Lung	Lung, Lymph nodes	Not reported	2 years
Sawamura et al., 1975⁴²	A 43-year-old man		the tumor shadow showed remarkable regression in about 2 months		the tumor shadow showed remarkable regression in about 2 months
Kubota, 2003⁴³	73-year-old man, diabetes mellitus controlled by insulin, and chronic hepatitis type C	Liver	Pathological examination of the esophagus did not show malignant cells.	immune mechanism	Pathological examination of the esophagus did not show malignant cells.
Sewpaul, 2014⁴⁴	35-year-old Female, undergoing inferightility evaluation	Pelvic - right uterosacral region	Found to have SR 5 moths post partum and remains in remission for 9 years of follow up.	None reported	Found to have SR 5 moths post partum and remains in remission for 9 years of follow up.
Papac, 1990⁴⁵	62-year-old female	Left lung	A year after initial visit, scans found to be entirely normal (without chemotherapy or any specific therapy) Subsequent 8-years period in which patient remained free of metastatic disease	None reported	A year after initial visit, scans found to be entirely normal (without chemotherapy or any specific therapy) Subsequent 8-years period in which patient remained free of metastatic disease
Horstmann et al., 1977⁴⁶	30-year-old pregnant female	Both lungs	Chest roentgenogram obtained in Nov 1974 demonstrated reduction in size & number of nodules Labor induced with intravenous oxytocin & full-term male infant delivered vaginally (Jan 1975) Remained asymptomatic through postpartum period Chest roentgenogram obtain Mar 1975 demonstrated further reduction in size & number of interstitial nodular densities pulmonary function tests demonstrated corresponding improvement	None reported	Chest roentgenogram obtained in Nov 1974 demonstrated reduction in size & number of nodules Labor induced with intravenous oxytocin & full-term male infant delivered vaginally (Jan 1975) Remained asymptomatic through postpartum period Chest roentgenogram obtain Mar 1975 demonstrated further reduction in size & number of interstitial nodular densities pulmonary function tests demonstrated corresponding improvement
Horstmann et al., 1977⁴⁶	30-year-old pregnant black woman, past medical history included acute rheumatic fever in 1952, left nephrectomy for congenital pelvoureteral stenosis in 1965, and three unremarkable pregnancies in 1964, 1965 and 1966		Spontaneous regression of pulmonary nodules during pregnancy and postpartum period, reduction in size and number of nodules, uterine leiomyomas no longer palpable on pelvic examination	Hormonal dependence, indicated by spontaneous regression during pregnancy and postpartum period	Spontaneous regression of pulmonary nodules during pregnancy and postpartum period, reduction in size and number of nodules, uterine leiomyomas no longer palpable on pelvic examination
Gautam, 1969⁴⁷	53-year-old male	Left hilum	Chest film upon readmission showed complete clearance of shadow Repeat bronchoscopy revealed normal lingular & upper lobe bronchus Thoracotomy not performed Followed with roentgenograms and bronchoscopies at frequent intervals that were normal	None reported	Chest film upon readmission showed complete clearance of shadow Repeat bronchoscopy revealed normal lingular & upper lobe bronchus Thoracotomy not performed Followed with roentgenograms and bronchoscopies at frequent intervals that were normal
Tan-Garcia, 2024⁴⁸	39-month-old male, He was born premature at 36 weeks gestation via emergency Cesarean section for non-reassuring fetal status.	fetal lung	Serial monitoring showed gradual reduction in the size of the intrathoracic mass and normal urine HVA and VMA.	the genomic breakpoint of A2M was within intron 23, resulting in the retention of exon 23 in the fusion gene, inactivates de tumorigenesis capability of the ALK kinase domain	Serial monitoring showed gradual reduction in the size of the intrathoracic mass and normal urine HVA and VMA.
Pokhrel, 2022⁴⁹	64-year-old male. Prostate cancer, which had been resected about two years before his presentation.	Lungs	On surveillance CT scans of the lungs, the nodules started regressing and completely disappeared 14 months later, without any systemic therapy	abscopal effect	On surveillance CT scans of the lungs, the nodules started regressing and completely disappeared 14 months later, without any systemic therapy
Wilson, 2025⁵⁰	67-year-old male. history of hyperlipidemia and a family history of coronary artery disease	Lung	Follow-up CT of the chest six months after lung biopsy revealed regression of the lesion, with only chronic scarring observed from the prior lung biopsy	A potential immune trigger may lead to the recruitment and proliferation of IgG4 plasma cells, which could be associated with the spontaneous regression	Follow-up CT of the chest six months after lung biopsy revealed regression of the lesion, with only chronic scarring observed from the prior lung biopsy
Wilson, 2025⁵⁰	67-year-old male patient. past medical history of hyperlipidemia and a family history of coronary artery disease. Smoking history spanning two years when he was younger	lung	Follow-up CT of the chest six months after lung biopsy revealed regression of the lesion, with only chronic scarring observed from the prior lung biopsy	the plasma cell variant may have a better prognosis and potential for spontaneous regression	Follow-up CT of the chest six months after lung biopsy revealed regression of the lesion, with only chronic scarring observed from the prior lung biopsy
Grillet et al., 1984⁵¹	26-year-old man		progressive improvement in his general condition and regression of the metastases; lung lesions did not change until 1975, when regression clearly started; since 1980, lesions are only barely visible		progressive improvement in his general condition and regression of the metastases; lung lesions did not change until 1975, when regression clearly started; since 1980, lesions are only barely visible
Depierre et al., 1984⁵²	57-year-old patient suffering from chronic air flow obstruction, heavy tobacco and liquor usage, professional injuries (thoracic in 1966 with fracture of ribs, and a severe wound to the flexor tendons of the left hand in 1970)		An examination performed four years later failed to reveal this tumour	Immunological studies showed only a notable rise in NK cells	An examination performed four years later failed to reveal this tumour
Levine et al., 1970⁵³			No evidence of this tumor at laryngoscopy two years later or at autopsy 12 years after the initial tumor was found.		No evidence of this tumor at laryngoscopy two years later or at autopsy 12 years after the initial tumor was found.
Khattar et al., 1975⁵⁴	Three-day-old female, M. T. B., was admitted to the hospital in July 1965 for cyanosis and heart murmur.		Six years later, the patients were still alive, and improvements of both the electrocardiogram and of the cardiopulmonary x-ray pictures were noted. A second cardiac catheterization showed an almost complete disappearance of the pathological images.		Six years later, the patients were still alive, and improvements of both the electrocardiogram and of the cardiopulmonary x-ray pictures were noted. A second cardiac catheterization showed an almost complete disappearance of the pathological images.
Lee et al., 1982⁵⁵	20-month-old baby, well-developed, well-nourished boy, blood pressure 100/60 mmHg, pulse rate 150/minute		respiratory distress improved gradually, normal intracardiac pressures, disappearance of right pulmonary artery stenosis, asymptomatic at age 20		respiratory distress improved gradually, normal intracardiac pressures, disappearance of right pulmonary artery stenosis, asymptomatic at age 20
Johnson, 1951⁵⁶	43-year-old, white housewife, para vi, gravida vii		Complete disappearance of the extensive pulmonary metastases, negative Aschheim-Zondek biological test, no palpable pathologic conditions in the pelvis		Complete disappearance of the extensive pulmonary metastases, negative Aschheim-Zondek biological test, no palpable pathologic conditions in the pelvis
Benett, 1968⁵⁷	The patient, aged 24, had a normal delivery in November 1960. She was admitted in December 1961, with vaginal bleeding and amenorrhoea of 18 weeks.		The chest x-rays showed gradual fading of the lung shadows until in July 1962, that is six months after evacuation, when they were reported to be normal. They remain thus, to this day.		The chest x-rays showed gradual fading of the lung shadows until in July 1962, that is six months after evacuation, when they were reported to be normal. They remain thus, to this day.
Hossri, 1976⁵⁸			alleviate respiratory distress; nasal breathing returns and the bodily defenses against disease are restored	manual stimulation of the acupuncture points in combination with hypnosis	alleviate respiratory distress; nasal breathing returns and the bodily defenses against disease are restored
Rosenow et al., 1971⁵⁹	An asymptomatic 28-year-old man		spontaneous disappearance of a calcified solitary pulmonary nodule		spontaneous disappearance of a calcified solitary pulmonary nodule
Lennard & Lennard et al., 6253⁶⁰	68-year-old woman, lifelong and extensive psoriasis, smoked 20 cigarettes a day all her adult life, looked Cushingoid		Spontaneous cure of lifelong psoriasis		Spontaneous cure of lifelong psoriasis
Furukawa et al., 2011⁶¹
Gill et al., 2003⁶²
Gladwish et al., 2010⁶³
Hirano et al., 2007⁶⁴
Huang et al., 2009⁶⁵
Mizuno et al., 2011⁶⁶
Nakamura et al., 2009⁶⁷
Pujol et al., 2007⁶⁸
Rao et al., 2011⁶⁹
Francia et al., 2006⁷⁰
Seki et al., 2012⁷¹
Lewis et al., 2003⁷²
Hudachek et al., 2010⁷³
Tomita et al., 2004⁷⁴

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