Methods and kits for identifying rapidly progressing lung cancer in a subject are provided. The method includes obtaining a biological sample from the subject and assaying a level of a biomarker in a biomarker panel in the biological sample where the panel includes at least one biomarker selected from Table I or Table II. The method further includes determining with the subject is treatment naive or has received at least one treatment; and comparing the level of the biomarker in the subject's sample to a cutoff value listed in Table I for treatment naive subjects or Table II for previously treated subjects. The method further includes determining whether the subject's level is above or below the cutoff value to determine whether the subject has rapidly progressing lung cancer.