[Molecular biology in the diagnosis of lung cancer].
BACKGROUND
Lung cancer is the most prevalent and deadly cancer in the world. Despite extensive efforts made in the development of diagnostic methods, the overall five-year survival rate remains low.


METHODS
Research articles and reviews.


CONCLUSIONS
Significant progress has been made in understanding the molecular and cellular mechanisms and pathogenesis in lung cancer. In addition to abnormalities in proto-oncogenes and tumour suppressor genes, aberrant promoter hypermethylation is now recognised as an important component in lung cancer progression. Sensitive assays have been developed to assess promoter methylation in biological fluids that may be used in screening programmes and diagnosis of lung cancer. The development of gene expression profiling techniques has led to new approaches to lung cancer classification and diagnosis.
Haugen
Aage
A
Toksikologisk seksjon, Statens arbeidsmiljøinstitutt, Postboks 8149 Dep, 0033 Oslo. age.haugen@stami.no
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D018288:Carcinoma, Small Cell / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D025202:Molecular Diagnostic Techniques; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D040901:Proteomics; D015996:Survival Rate
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor