The management of lung cancer has changed considerably in recent times.  There are refinements in the pathological classification and staging of lung cancer allowing better individualisation of treatment.  With the development of targeted therapies for advanced or metastatic lung cancer in addition to conventional treatments, a new paradigm of personalising lung cancer treatment has emerged.  This is changing clinical practice with clinicians needing to be aware of new therapeutic options and understanding the implications of co-dependent technologies.  Indeed the continued and rapid discovery of novel targets for treatments lead to  the challenge of how to optimally transfer research to practice.  This talk will focus on the major changes in lung cancer treatment in the molecular era.