The survival rate for people with lung cancer is improving, according to the new State of Lung Cancer report. The American Lung Association report says there have been important advances in early detection and treatments but lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer deaths.

The survival rate among those with lung cancer has improved by more than a quarter in the last five years, according to a new report. The findings from the American Lung Association’s latest “State of Lung Cancer” report shows a 26 percent increase in the survival rate.

The American Lung Association released its annual state of lung cancer report that found Arkansas ranks among the worst in the nation for lung cancer survival rates.

In the past five years, the lung cancer survival rate has improved 26%, according to the report. It credits deployment of biomarker testing -- which looks for changes in a tumor's DNA -- as a key factor. Biomarker testing can help tailor treatments to individual patients, it points out.

More people with lung cancer are living longer, but it remains America's deadliest cancer, a new state-by-state report shows. "There is more work to do, but I am incredibly optimistic about the future of lung cancer care,