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Chemoprevention of lung cancer

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Abstract

Lung cancer is the leading cause of death worldwide. Its overall survival rate has improved only slightly, and surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy remain the mainstays of current treatment. Therapies with novel targeted agents are currently under active investigation in all settings of treatment including chemoprevention, defined as the use of natural or synthetic agents to interrupt the process of carcinogenesis and to prevent or delay tumor occurrence. Thus, chemoprevention describes the collaborative efforts of researchers in basic science and clinical settings who study the biology of lung cancer with the hope of uncovering new mechanisms of treatment. Because lung cancer has become an increasingly difficult problem to treat with standard therapies, chemopreventive strategies have been developed. Small molecule compounds that target specific receptors or mutations will play an increasingly significant role in treatment of lung cancer because the side effect profiles of such agents are tolerable and they may be more effective than other treatments.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Thoracic/Head and Neck Medical Oncology, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Boulevard, Box 432, 77030, Houston, TX, USA

    Edward S. Kim MD & Fadlo R. Khuri MD

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  1. Edward S. Kim MD
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  2. Fadlo R. Khuri MD
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Kim, E.S., Khuri, F.R. Chemoprevention of lung cancer. Curr Oncol Rep 4, 341–346 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11912-002-0010-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11912-002-0010-6

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