Lung and bronchus cancers are the leading cause of cancer death in the United States among both men and women contributing 15 % of all new cancer cases and resulting in nearly 30 % of all cancer deaths. Lung cancer can be divided into two distinct pathologies: 1) Small-cell, arising from hormonal lung cells and 2) Non-small-cell (NSCLC), consisting of squamous cell carcinomas, adenocarcinomas and broncheoalveolar carcinomas. Approximately 80% of all diagnosed lung cancers are of the non-small-cell variety.
Lung cancer is relatively rare amongst non-smokers accounting for approximately 10% to 15%2 of all lung cancer related deaths. The major risk factors are cigarette smoking and industrial exposure to many substances including asbestos, arsenic, cadmium, chromates, nickel and uranium3. In addition, a synergistic relationship exist between smoking and exposure to asbestos.
