SOME FACTS ABOUT LUNG CANCER

It is the leading cause of death in many countries,
in the US almost 160,000 deaths per year now,
80% are non small cell cancer of the lung,
some are derived from the Pneumocyte type II (Broncho alveolar),
some from very heavy smoking (small cell characterized by Keratin Pearls and hypercalcemia),
20% localized at diagnosis while more than 50% are already distant at diagnosis, the rest have regional spread.
Smoking provides over 300 Chemicals of which at least 10% are potent carcinogens susceptible of changing genes and receptors on cellular membranes including MUCIN genes.  The Carcinogens create DNA adducts, some will stimulate the AKT pathway directly. Mutation of P53 can happen during MUCIN gene alterations as described.  c-MYC, the gene proliferation amplifier, is often found secondarily activated.

Currently testing is completed for EGFR, ROS-1, ALK, (and in some cases K-RAS in Adenocarcinomas).
(to be continued)