Lung Cancer
Approximately 1.4 million people are diagnosed each year with lung cancer. It is the most commonly occurring cancer and often results in a poor outcome. It is estimated that in 2007, 213,380 people will be diagnosed and 160,390 deaths will occur as a result of lung cancer in the United States. The largest risk factor for lung cancer is smoking; other risk factors include environmental and occupational hazards.1
Lung cancer is classified into two distinct types; small cell lung cancer (SCLC) and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). NSCLC occurs in about 80% of cases, with the most common subtype being Adenocarcinoma. Cancer of the lung is usually diagnosed in the later stages due to the lack of effective screening and early diagnosis tools. The 5-year survival rate for those diagnosed with lung cancer is 15%, however when the cancer is detected at an earlier stage the survival rate increases to 49%.
There are many biomarkers that have been investigated in lung cancer, however none have been readily adopted into routine use by physicians. Some of the biomarkers that have been evaluated for the monitoring of lung cancer include: CEA, NSE, SCC and CYFRA 21-1.
Another type of respiratory cancer that has an incidence of 1/1million people is mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is a cancer that is directly related to asbestos exposure and develops in the mesothelium, the lining of the cavity surrounding the lungs. The cancer is most often found in the pleura, or sac that surrounds the lungs, or the peritoneum, lining the abdominal cavity. For information about mesothelioma please visit the MESOMARK® assay website: www.fdi.com/mesomark.
References
- Ferlay, J, Bray, F, Psiani, P, Parkin, DM. Cancer Incidence, Mortality and Prevalence Worldwide IARC CancerBase No.5, version 2.0 Lyon, France: IARCH Press; 2004.