Women and Lung Cancer.

The world is witnessing a global epidemic of lung cancer in women. Cigarette smoking remains the dominant risk factor in both sexes, but multiple observations suggest that important sex-related distinctions in lung cancer exist. These include differences in histologic distribution, prevalence in never-smokers, frequency of activating EGFR mutations, likelihood of DNA adduct accumulation, and survival outcomes. Important questions such as whether women are more susceptible to carcinogenic effects of smoking or derive more benefit from lung cancer screening merit more study. A deeper understanding of sex-related differences in lung cancer may lead to improved outcomes for both women and men.

Lung Cancer in Women: A Modern Epidemic.

Lung cancer in women is a modern epidemic and a major health crisis. Cigarette smoking remains the most important risk factor for lung cancer, and unfortunately smoking rates are either stabilized or continue to increase among women. Women may not be more susceptible to the carcinogenic effects of tobacco, but the biology of lung cancer differs between the sexes. This paper summarizes the biological sex differences in lung cancer, including molecular abnormalities, growth factor receptors, hormonal influences, DNA repair capacity, as well as differences in the histology and treatment outcomes of lung cancer in women.

Lung Cancer in Never Smokers.

Lung cancer is predominantly associated with cigarette smoking; however, a substantial minority of patients with the disease have never smoked. In the US it is estimated there are 17,000-26,000 annual deaths from lung cancer in never smokers, which as a separate entity would be the seventh leading cause of cancer mortality. Controversy surrounds the question of whether or not the incidence of lung cancer in never-smokers is increasing, with more data to support this observation in Asia. There are several factors associated with an increased risk of developing lung cancer in never smokers including second hand smoke, indoor air pollution, occupational exposures, and genetic susceptibility among others. Adenocarcinoma is the most common histology of lung cancer in never smokers and in comparison to lung cancer in smokers appears less complex with a higher likelihood to have targetable driver mutations.

Cáncer de pulmón en no fumadores: [revisión] / Lung cancer in nonsmokers: [review]

Estudios provenientes de muchos países asiáticos establecen que los pacientes con cáncer de pulmón no fumadores (CPNF) constituyen un grupo de pacientes que no deben ser ignorados. Afecta mayormente a mujeres, y los factores de riesgo propuestos incluyenla exposición ambiental al humo de tabaco, radón, asbestos, vapores de aceites, infección viral por papiloma y susceptibilidad genética. El adenocarcinoma es el subtipohistológico predominante reportado, y las mutaciones del receptor del factor de crecimiento epidérmico (RFCE) han sido detectadas frecuentemente en este grupo. Mejores tasas de respuestas al tratamiento con inhibidores del RFCE en pacientes con CPNF avanzado indican un comportamiento distinto en estos pacientes. El propósito de estarevisión es evaluar las implicancias prácticas que podrían tener estas diferencias.

Studies from many Asian countries report that the group of patients with lung cancer and are never smokers (LCNS) should not be ignored. It affects mostly women, and the known risk factors include environmental exposure to tobacco smoke, radon, asbestosand oil fumes, human papillomavirus infection and genetic susceptibility.Adenocarcinoma is the predominant histologic subtype reported, and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations have frequently been detected in this group. Best response rates to treatment with EGFR inhibitors in patients with advanced LCNS indicatea different prognosis in these patients. The purpose of this review is to assess the practical implications that this difference could have.