Epidemiology and Carciongenesis of Lung Cancer Part B: Lung Cancer Cancerogenesis

Abstract

Lung cancer is one of the most common cancers and is the leading cause of cancer mortality worldwide. The development of lung cancer is a multifactorial process that involves a series of genetic and epigenetic changes. Smoking tobacco is an important etiologic risk factor for lung cancer. Other risk factors include occupational and environmental long-term exposure, diet, familial aggregation, and genetic factors. Lung carcinogenesis involves identified genetic alterations, namely oncogenes, tumour suppressor genes, epigenetic alterations, and chromosomal abnormalities. New diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to lung cancer are urgently needed. Molecular genetic studies have focused on oncogenes, tumour suppressor genes, and chromosomal abnormalities.