Genetic changes in the development of lung cancer

Both inherited predisposition and acquired somatic genetic changes contribute to lung tumour development but the former is likely to be the minor component. The relative ease with which lung tumours can be established as cell lines has resulted in extensive cytogenetic analysis, and, this together with molecular techniques which assess loss of genetic material has revealed consistent patterns of genetic damage. Some of these characteristic somatic genetic changes have been traced back to the pre-invasive stage of tumour development and this information may contribute to the future management of this currently intractable disease.