Lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: needs and opportunities for integrated research.
Lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are leading causes of morbidity and mortality in the United States and worldwide. They share a common environmental risk factor in cigarette smoke exposure and a genetic predisposition represented by the incidence of these diseases in only a fraction of smokers. The presence of COPD increases the risk of lung cancer up to 4.5-fold. To investigate commonalities in disease mechanisms and perspectives for disease chemoprevention, the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) and the National Cancer Institute (NCI) held a workshop. The participants identified four research objectives: 1) clarify common epidemiological characteristics of lung cancer and COPD; 2) identify shared genetic and epigenetic risk factors; 3) identify and validate biomarkers, molecular signatures, and imaging-derived measurements of each disease; and 4) determine common and disparate pathogenetic mechanisms. These objectives should be reached via four research approaches: 1) identify, publicize, and enable the evaluation and analysis of existing datasets and repositories of biospecimens; 2) obtain phenotypic and outcome data and biospecimens from large studies of subjects with and/or at risk for COPD and lung cancer; 3) develop and use animal and other preclinical models to investigate pathogenetic links between the diseases; and 4) conduct early-phase clinical trials of potential chemopreventive agents. To foster much needed research interactions, two final recommendations were made by the participants: 1) incorporate baseline phenotyping and outcome measures for both diseases in future longitudinal studies of each disease and 2) expand collaborative efforts between the NCI and NHLBI.
Punturieri
Antonello
A
Division of Lung Diseases, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, 6701 Rockledge Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892-7952, USA. punturieria@nhlbi.nih.gov
Szabo
Eva
E
Croxton
Thomas L
TL
Shapiro
Steven D
SD
Dubinett
Steven M
SM
D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D035843:Biomedical Research / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000639:trends; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic / Q000639:trends; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008648:Mesoderm / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D009154:Mutation; D054547:National Cancer Institute (U.S.); D054555:National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (U.S.); D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000503:physiopathology; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D014481:United States
D015415:Biomarkers; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor