Lung Cancer

fine tuning molecularly targeted therapy lung cancer

Cancer of the lungs and bronchi—the tubes that lead from the trachea (windpipe) into each lung—is the second most commonly diagnosed cancer among both men and women. Only prostate cancer is more commonly diagnosed among men, and only breast cancer is more commonly diagnosed among women.

However, lung cancer is the most frequent cause of cancer death among both men and women because the rate of death from lung cancer is much higher than from prostate cancer or breast cancer.

According to the National Cancer Institute, approximately 234,580 people will be diagnosed with lung and bronchus cancer in the United States in 2024, and about 125,070 people will die of the disease—65,790 men and 59,280 women. The five-year survival rate for these cancers is 26.7%.

There are two main forms of lung cancer: small cell lung cancer and non-small cell lung cancer.

There are several types of non-small cell lung cancer, characterized by different kinds of cancer cells that grow and spread in different ways. The most common types of non-small cell lung cancer are:

  • squamous cell carcinoma, which begins in the thin, flat squamous cells;
  • large cell carcinoma;
  • adenocarcinoma, which begins in the cells that line air sacs called alveoli.

Other, less common, types of non-small cell lung cancer are: adenosquamous carcinoma, sarcomatoid carcinoma, carcinoid tumor, salivary gland-like carcinoma, and unclassified carcinoma.

There are two types of small cell lung cancer:

  • small cell carcinoma, also called oat cell cancer, can grow and spread quickly;
  • combined small cell carcinoma has characteristics of both small cell lung cancer and non-small cell lung cancer.

Smoking cigarettes, pipes, or cigars is the most common cause of lung cancer. Other risk factors for lung cancer include being exposed to secondhand smoke; having a family history of lung cancer; exposure to radiation or radon; exposure to asbestos, chromium, nickel, arsenic, soot, or tar in the workplace; infection with HIV; and living in areas of high air pollution.

When smoking is combined with other risk factors, the risk of lung cancer is increased.

Lung Cancer Prevention (PDQ®) Lung Cancer Screening (PDQ®) Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Treatment (PDQ®) Small Cell Lung Cancer Treatment (PDQ®)

Source: National Cancer Institute