Lung Cancer

Abstract

Lung cancer is the most widespread neoplasm in the world, the first cause of cancer death for males and increasing globally in incidence in females. The most important prognostic factor in lung cancer is cancer stage at diagnosis. The TNM (Tumor, Nodes, Metastasis) system that evaluates the cancer’s anatomical extension is the most widely used and internationally accepted tumor staging system. The new TNM may be helpful in both prognostic stratification and evaluating the resectability of a lung cancer. In general, stages I and II are always resectable while stage IV is by definition inoperable. Stages IIIA and IIIB describe a “locally advanced” disease without distant metastases. In these cases, an evaluation of the patient’s individual characteristics is necessary to decide the best therapeutic strategy. A new classification for adenocarcinoma (IASLC/ATS/ERS, 2011) has recently been proposed (and been confirmed in the latest TNM) and includes, in addition to invasive adenocarcinoma, pre-invasive forms such as atypical adenomatous hyperplasia, adenocarcinoma in situ (previously “bronchioalveolar carcinoma”), and minimally invasive adenocarcinoma.