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Lung cancer: an ever increasing store of in-depth basic knowledge and the beginning of its clinical application

Oncogene volume 21, pages 6868–6869 (2002)Cite this article

There are over one million deaths a year worldwide due to lung cancer, making it one of the most prevalent and deadly cancers in economically advanced countries. For instance, more than 170 000 deaths per year in the United States are attributed to lung cancer, while Japan is facing a dramatic increase in such deaths, which currently claim more than 50 000 lives annually. Lung cancers can be classified into two major entities based on their clinicopathologic characteristics. Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) accounts for 15–25% of lung cancers, and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) for 75–85%. The latter consists of three major histologic types, i.e. adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and large cell carcinoma. At present, no more than 15% of cases can be cured, meaning that the number of deaths remains unacceptably high. There is no doubt that cigarette smoking is the most important causative factor in the development of lung cancer, and approximately 75–85% of the cases can be attributed to it. Asbestos, radon, other occupational and environmental risk factors as well as genetic susceptibilities are thought to contribute to the rest. It is unfortunate that the last 20 years have not yielded substantial improvements in the treatment of lung cancer, but this same period has witnessed a rapid increase in the store of information concerning the molecular mechanisms which give rise to lung cancer as a result of such genetic insults.

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  1. Division of Molecular Oncology, Aichi Cancer Center Research Institute, 1-1 Kanokoden, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, 464-8681, Japan

    Takashi Takahashi

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  1. Takashi Takahashi
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Correspondence to Takashi Takahashi.

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Takahashi, T. Lung cancer: an ever increasing store of in-depth basic knowledge and the beginning of its clinical application. Oncogene 21, 6868–6869 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.onc.1205830

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.onc.1205830

Keywords

  • lung cancer
  • molecular pathogenesis
  • clinical application

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