Lung Cancer

In this review, the authors discuss past attempts at lung cancer screening, the results of the National Lung Cancer Screening Trial, and innovative tests for lung cancer screening currently being evaluated.
• Formidable Challenges Ahead for Lung Cancer Screening
• Lung Cancer Screening: A New Era

Ongoing research into the molecular basis of lung cancer has yielded insight into various critical pathways that are deregulated in lung tumorigenesis, and in particular key driver mutations integral to cancer cell survival and proliferation.
• ALK-Targeted Therapy in NSCLC: Not Quite Ready for Prime Time
• The Future of NSCLC: Molecular Profiles Guiding Treatment Decisions

To estimate the “age” of cancers, we reviewed data on the “time to local/regional recurrence” (LRF) following initial surgical resection for three common cancers, then applied a modified version of Collins’ law.
• Influences on the Natural History of Cancers
• Kinetics of Cancer: Implications from Prevention to Prognostication
• Cancer Age: Can We Reliably Estimate and Apply This Knowledge?

Exciting advances in understanding the biology of lung cancer have occurred over the last few years. These advances have led to the design of trials exploring the clinical value of newer treatment approaches.
• Lung Cancer: New Developments Point the Way to Reduced Mortality
• Putting Lung Cancer Clinical Trials Into Perspective

Despite the fact that bevacizumab and cetuximab are both in an advanced stage of clinical development for use in treatment for unresectable NSCLC, several unanswered questions regarding these drugs remain.
• Bevacizumab: In Search of the Right Drug for the Right Patient
• Future Directions of Monoclonal Antibody Use in Personalized Therapy

A 54-year-old woman, previously in excellent health, noted the insidious development of abundant, thin, and softly textured, nonpigmented hair on her ears and nose. A detailed review of systems was entirely negative, and both a complete blood count and automated routine biochemistry panel were normal. Gynecologic examination, including a pap smear, was normal one year prior to presentation. The patient was a lifelong nonsmoker and nondrinker. Family history was negative for cancer.

An 18-year-old man presented with cough and dyspnea of several weeks duration. The patient does not have any previous significant medical history and had been well until the cough began. Radiographic imaging revealed the presence of a tumor in the main-stem bronchus. Surgical resection of the mass was performed.

A 50-year-old male complains of episodic flushing and tachycardia over the past few months. X-rays revealed a pulmonary mass.