The major forms of therapy for lung malignancies continue to be surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy (RT). The aggressive progression of lung cancer and the high mortality rate of cancer patients have aroused great concern among scientists. The 5-year relative survival rate for lung cancer is 19%, and that of patients with small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) is only 2%. Graphical AbstractĪccording to 2020 global cancer statistics, the cancer with the highest incidence (11.4%) and mortality (18%) worldwide is lung cancer. In addition, the application prospects and challenges of Se-based drugs in lung cancer are examined, as well as their forecasted future clinical applications and sustainable development. This review summarizes the application of Se-based species and materials in lung cancer diagnosis, including fluorescence, MR, CT, photoacoustic imaging and other diagnostic methods, as well as treatments, including direct killing, radiosensitization, chemotherapeutic sensitization, photothermodynamics, and enhanced immunotherapy. SeNPs can also effectively activate antigen-presenting cells to stimulate cell immunity, exert regulatory effects on innate and regulatory immunity, and enhance lung cancer immunotherapy. SeNPs can also be used as a drug delivery carrier to better regulate protein and DNA biosynthesis and protein kinase C activity, thus playing a role in inhibiting cancer cell proliferation. In particular, compared to inorganic Se (Inorg-Se) and organic Se (Org-Se), Se nanomedicine (Se nanoparticles SeNPs) shows much higher bioavailability and antioxidant activity and lower toxicity. In recent years, the discovery of antitumor drugs based on the essential trace element selenium (Se) has provided good prospects for lung cancer treatments. It is therefore imperative to identify safer and more effective therapeutic methods, and research is currently being conducted to identify more efficient and less harmful drugs. Although rapid progress has been achieved in the past decade, treatment limitations remain. Traditional treatment methods include surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy. The incidence and mortality rates of lung cancer are among the highest in the world.