Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Lung cancer is the second most commonly diagnosed cancer in both men and women in the United States and the leading cause of all cancer deaths. Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the most common type of lung cancer.¹

What is Lung Cancer?

• Lung cancer is the uncontrolled growth of cancerous cells originating in the lungs.¹
• In 2013, more than 228,000 Americans are estimated to be diagnosed with lung cancer; approximately 160,000 are projected to die from the disease.¹
• It is estimated that approximately 60 percent of lung cancer diagnoses are made when the disease is in the advanced stages.²

• What are the Types of Lung Cancer?

  • Lung cancer is divided into two major types, small-cell (SCLC) and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). NSCLC is the more common type and accounts for almost 9 out of every 10 cases of lung cancer.¹

• What are the Symptoms of Lung Cancer?

  • The early stages of lung cancer do not typically cause symptoms.¹
  • In later stages, lung cancer symptoms include:¹
  • Persistent cough
  • Mucus streaked with blood
  • Chest pain
  • Hoarseness
  • Weight loss and loss of appetite
  • Recurrent pneumonia or bronchitis

• What Causes Lung Cancer?

  • Many cases of lung cancer can be linked to smoking, but other known risk factors for the disease include:¹
  • Second-hand smoke
  • Exposure to radon or asbestos
  • Family history of lung cancer
  • Approximately 10 percent of lung cancer cases occur in non-smokers.³

• Who Gets Lung Cancer?

  • Lung cancer is more prevalent in people over the age of 45, but younger people may be at risk due to genetic factors.¹
  • The chance that a man will develop lung cancer in his lifetime is about 1 in 13, and about 1 in 16 for women.¹
  • There are also differences in lung cancer incidence based on ethnicity. African-American men are about 40 percent more likely to develop lung cancer than white men.¹

• What is the Prognosis for People with Lung Cancer?

  • If lung cancer is diagnosed at an early stage, individuals are twice as likely to live five years compared to a late-stage diagnosis.¹
  • If lung cancer spreads to other organs, five-year survival declines to less than five percent.²

• What is the Role of Biomarkers in Lung Cancer?

  • Certain molecular characteristics, or biomarkers, have been identified that can be detected by diagnostic tests to help guide treatment decisions. These biomarkers include, but are not limited to, mutations in the Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR), which are found in 10-15 percent of NSCLC tumors.⁴

• How is NSCLC Treated?

  • People diagnosed with NSCLC should have their tumor tested to determine which treatment option is appropriate for them.^5,6
  • Standard treatments for NSCLC may include the following:¹
  • Surgery
  • Radiation therapy
  • Chemotherapy
  • Targeted medicines

• References

  ¹ American Cancer Society. Lung Cancer (Non-Small Cell) Detailed Guide. http://www.cancer.org/acs/groups/cid/documents/webcontent/003115-pdf.pdf.

  ² National Cancer Institute. Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results Stat Fact Sheets: Lung and Bronchus. http://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/lungb.html.

  ³ Subramanian J, Govindan R. Lung Cancer in Never Smokers: A Review. Journal of Clinical Oncology. 2007;25:561-570.

  ⁴ Socinski M. The Emerging Role of Biomarkers in Advanced Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer. Clinical Lung Cancer. 2010;11:149-159.

  ⁵ Keedy V, Termin S, Somerfield M, et al. American Society of Clinical Oncology Provisional Clinical Opinion: Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) Mutation Testing for Patients With Advanced Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer Considering First-Line EGFR Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor Therapy. Journal of Clinical Oncology. 2011;29(15):2121-2127.

  ⁶ National Comprehensive Cancer Network. NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer. http://www.nccn.org/professionals/physician_gls/pdf/nscl.pdf.