Advances in the prevention and treatment of lung cancer

Lung cancer remains the most common fatal malignancy in the Western world. Survival rates have only improved modestly over the past three decades and new approaches are urgently required. It is clear that a concerted effort to reduce cigarette smoking is required. However, about 10% of patients with lung cancer are never smokers, indicating genetic or other predisposition. Lung cancer screening programmes are being trialled to target high-risk populations. Genetic strategies will provide new methods for screening and

Advances in the prevention and treatment of lung cancer

Lung cancer remains the most common fatal malignancy in the Western world. Survival rates have only improved modestly over the past three decades and new approaches are urgently required. It is clear that a concerted effort to reduce cigarette smoking is required. However, about 10% of patients with lung cancer are never smokers, indicating genetic or other predisposition. Lung cancer screening programmes are being trialled to target high-risk populations. Genetic strategies will provide new methods for screening and predicting response to treatment.