James Gregory (Greg) Cisneros: Back to Hiking, Traveling, and Living Life, Thanks to a Targeted Therapy Clinical Trial

Adventure has long been part of James Gregory (Greg) Cisneros’s life. The 66-year-old retired flight attendant was born in Texas and grew up in Peru. Since retiring, he’s devoted his time to traveling, surfing, printmaking, creating music with friends, and hiking and backpacking with his wife, Tina.

During a routine physical examination in June 2020, everything changed for Greg. He casually mentioned to his physician that he had a “spongy” feeling while breathing when he woke up most mornings. The comment prompted a chest X-ray, which revealed a mass in his lower right lung. “I had no idea there was anything wrong,” Greg recalled. “In fact, Tina and I had run 5 kilometers the week before, because we were training for a race.” Additional testing led to a diagnosis of a rare subtype of non–small cell lung cancer that is more common in people who have never smoked. “When I said I had lung cancer, everybody was like, ‘Well, I’ve never seen you smoking,’” Greg recalled.

In September 2020, Greg had surgery to remove the lower lobe of his right lung. Four months of chemotherapy followed. Treatment was physically taxing. “Imagine the worst hangover you’ve ever had and multiply it by 2 or 3 and let it last 3 weeks,” Greg said. The treatment initially eliminated all signs of disease, but its side effects sometimes left him bedridden for days at a time with severe fatigue and nausea.

Less than a year later, routine follow-up scans revealed that the cancer had returned in both lungs, marking its progression. Greg had stage IV lung cancer. A biopsy of his tumor showed a HER2 gene mutation, a genetic alteration that can drive cancer growth. This information opened the possibility for a more personalized treatment approach, and Greg began treatment with a therapy designed to deliver chemotherapy directly to HER2-positive cancer cells. However, his cancer continued to progress.

In March 2023, Greg’s oncologist, Dr. Kartik Konduri at Texas Oncology, referred him to Sarah Cannon Research Institute (SCRI) at Mary Crowley where he was enrolled in a clinical trial investigating a targeted therapy called zongertinib (Hernexeos), which was designed to block abnormal HER2 signaling. He began taking four pills each day and his response was dramatic. “There was a rapid disappearance of the masses in my lungs,” he said. “Now I’ve been at around a 95 percent reduction. It’s been supereffective.” Greg encourages other patients to consider enrolling in a trial. “Absolutely do a trial. You have nothing to lose. And look at the result for me: It’s great. I have a life,” Greg said.

His quality of life also improved dramatically. While zongertinib caused some fatigue, nausea, and digestive side effects, they were manageable and diminished over time. The difference he felt was stark. “Chemo is destroying your body while curing you,” he said. “I was recovering all the time. Compared to chemo, zongertinib is like a vacation. I was living again.”

More than 3½ years after starting the clinical trial, Greg still gets CT scans every 12 weeks to monitor his cancer. His disease is under control, and he enjoys swimming regularly, hiking and camping with Tina, and visiting his family in Peru.

The experience also left Greg with a deeper appreciation for science. After his diagnosis, he immersed himself in learning about his cancer and the history of cancer research. Understanding his disease has helped him cope with cancer with greater confidence. Greg hopes that future patients will have access not only to new treatments but also to the knowledge behind them.

The experience also strengthened Greg’s belief in the importance of medical research and clinical trials. He credits decades of cancer research and clinical trial participation for the extra time he has to do what he loves. In August 2025, zongertinib received FDA approval for adults with non–small cell lung cancer who have a HER2 mutation, making the treatment available to more patients.

To policymakers, Greg stresses that continued investment in cancer research is essential for helping people live longer, healthier lives. “Cancer research is about life and living,” he said. “Funding that research gives people a better quality of life. It gives them more time to be with their families, to do the things they love, and to live.”