Combined Small Cell Lung Carcinomas

Molecular Pathogenesis of Non-Small Cell Lung Carcinomas

Non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) from histological and biological perspectives is a complex neoplasm. The sequential preneoplastic changes have been defined for centrally arising squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) of the lung, and they are less documented for peripherally arising adenocarcinomas. The main morphologic forms of preneoplastic lesions recognized in the lung are squamous dysplasia...

Role of metallothionein expression in non-small cell lung carcinomas.

Metallothionein (MT) is a low molecular weight protein, which participates in differentiation and proliferation of normal and tumour cells. In some malignant tumours (mammary, renal, ovarian cancers), its increased expression is thought to represent an unfavourable prognostic factor. Non-small-cellular lung cancers (mainly squamocellular cancer and adenocarcinoma) are characterised by ill-defin...

Molecular and Genetic Pathogenesis of Lung Cancer: Differences Between Small-Cell and Non-Small-Cell Carcinomas

Lung cancer is classified into small-cell carcinoma (SCLC) and non-small-cell carcinoma (NSCLC). The profile of molecular and genetic alterations considerably differs between SCLC and NSCLC, as well as among the subtypes of NSCLC. Tp53 is inactivated in nearly 50% of NSCLC, while its mutations with functional inactivation are greatly prevalent in SCLC (70-100%). Rb gene alterations and protein ...

Cancer Stem Cells in Lung Cancer: Distinct Differences between Small Cell and Non-Small Cell Lung Carcinomas

Combined modality therapy of non-small cell lung cancer.

Combined modality therapy of locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer has become a widely used means of treatment with several reports of benefit found in randomized phase III trials. Progress in this area may, however, be less substantive than it appears. Phase III trials routinely take the better part of a decade to initiate, complete, and analyze, and the flood of phase II trials are larg...