Two proteomics advances aim to accelerate clinical diagnostics. Researchers introduced FAXP (filter-aided expansion proteomics), a technique that combines hydrogel-based tissue expansion with mass spectrometry to profile proteins in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) samples at high spatial resolution. Separately, another team released an integrated proteomic classifier to distinguish malignant from benign pulmonary nodules. FAXP offers a way to extract spatially resolved proteomic signatures from archived clinical specimens, potentially unlocking retrospective biomarker discovery. The lung-nodule classifier integrates proteomic features into a diagnostic algorithm to improve non-invasive malignancy risk stratification. Both technologies, if independently validated, could speed pathology workflows, reduce unnecessary biopsies and influence trial enrichment strategies for lung cancer diagnostics and therapeutics.