Mehdi Pirooznia
Published: 2024-01-25
Total Pages: 233
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Lung Carcinoma is the 2nd most common cancer worldwide, with more than 2.2 million cases recorded globally in the year 2020, as well as 1.8 million deaths. It is the most common cancer in men and the 2nd most common cancer in women, with an estimated lifetime risk of developing the disease of 1 in 15 for men and 1 in 17 for women. Whilst being the most prevalent cancer, it is important to note that smoking is the single biggest risk factor for developing Lung Cancer, with over 70% of cases being estimated to have been caused by tobacco smoke, and excessive smoking potentially leading to as much as a 25x increase in the likelihood of the disease developing. Mortality rates have been steadily dropping globally due to declining smoking rates, especially in younger generations who are now more aware of the potential dangers, but also because of the increasing advancements being made in our understanding of the disease. Improved screening methods mean many more cases are now caught earlier than they would otherwise have been, and our ever-advancing ranges of treatments can begin earlier than they could have previously. Recent advances in sequencing technology, computational approaches, and our biological understanding of lung cancer have revolutionized how we diagnose, prognosticate, and treat lung carcinoma. Genetic studies into this disease have revealed a plethora of information which can be used to combat the Cancer, such as novel biomarkers and gene signatures, as well as opening the door to more of a ‘personalized medicine’ approach.