Future directions in clinical research for lung cancer.
Even since the Surgeon General's 1964 report, the mortality rate from lung cancer has continued to rise. Although there is evidence that this continued increase in mortality will slow or level in the next decade, lung cancer mortality is a major health problem destined to remain with us for at least the next generation. There have been no established advances in the early detection or prevention of lung cancer in the last 30 years and our therapies have increased the cure rate only from 5 to 13% in this 30-year interval. Biologic advances have outpaced clinical advances in recent times and many of the advances are now ripe for clinical exploitation. There are currently more exciting clinical trials for all phases of lung cancer than at any time and it will be stimulating to witness the results of the clinical trials discussed herein. Hopefully, the results of these studies will lead to a decrease in lung cancer mortality in the next century, much as it increased in the past century.
Bunn
P A
PA
Division of Medical Oncology, University of Colorado Cancer Center, Denver.
D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D016207:Cytokines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy*; D008495:Medical Oncology; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012106:Research
D016207:Cytokines