Chemoprevention strategies for non-small cell lung cancer

Among all cancers, lung cancer has the highest rate of mortality in the western world, both in men and women. The poor lung cancer survival rates argue powerfully for new approaches to control this disease, such as chemoprevention, which has been defined as the use of agents that reverse, suppress, or prevent lung carcinogenesis. Over 80% of lung cancers are attributed to tobacco and carcinogens from cigarette smoke, which unquestionably links nicotine addiction and lung cancer. Epidemiologic studies show that not more than 15% of heavy smokers will ultimately develop lung cancer. That 85% of heavy smokers will not develop lung cancer points to differences in susceptibility. Diet and genetically determined factors seem to play an important role in modulating individual susceptibility and are closely linked to the chemoprevention approach. Despite encouraging data from experimental and epidemiologic studies, the evidence for a positive effect in the human situation is still controversial. However, recent developments in molecular biology and increased insight in lung carcinogenesis have led to the potential of more specifically targeted intervention and optimism for new, successful chemopreventive approaches.