Lung cancer in non-smoking women (LCINSW): from risk factors to precision therapy

Non-smoking lung cancer, characterized by early onset and predominant EGFR mutations, has been listed as a separate disease entity and is the seventh leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Its incidence remains a significant health problem globally, especially in East Asia and most predominantly among women. The reason for this higher incidence in women (lung cancer in non-smoking women, LCINSW) is still not yet clear, but gender differences provide strong evidence for the genetic as well as environmental contribution at play. In the current review, we summarized the recent research on LCINSW, which systematically unveiled their clinical characteristics and epidemiological changes, risk factors, molecular pathology, and response to treatment and survival, providing an overview of the critical role that gender susceptibility plays in LCINSW, establishing a theoretical foundation for enhancing patient prognosis with an emphasis on further research to continue elucidating underlying mechanisms behind LCINSW.