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Molecular Pathology of Lung Cancer pp 5–6Cite as

Etiology of Lung Cancer

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Part of the book series: Molecular Pathology Library ((MPLB,volume 6))

Abstract

Lung cancer is the number one cause of cancer deaths in the US population and in the global population. Approximately 85% of the lung cancers in men and 47% of the lung cancers in women are caused by tobacco smoking globally. Although tobacco smoking is, by far, the major risk factor for lung cancer, only about 10% of tobacco smokers develop lung cancer, indicating that other factors also play a role in the development of lung cancer in tobacco-exposed individuals. Among tobacco smokers, the development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is by far the greatest risk factor for lung cancer. Although the majority of lung cancers are caused by tobacco smoking, a significant number of lung cancers develop in never smokers, representing 15% of lung cancers in men and 53% of lung cancers in women globally. These risk factors include family history/heritable factors, environmental tobacco smoke (secondhand smoke), exposure to certain cooking fumes (particularly among Chinese women), occupational and environmental exposures (radon, asbestos, arsenic, pollutants, etc.), hormonal factors, preexisting lung disease (including pneumonia and tuberculosis), dietary factors (including vitamin D levels), human immunodeficiency virus infection, human papilloma virus infection, and exposure to ionizing radiation.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pathology, The Methodist Hospital, 6565 Fannin Street, Houston, TX, 77030, USA

    Philip T. Cagle MD

  2. Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, NY, USA

    Philip T. Cagle MD

Authors
  1. Philip T. Cagle MD
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Correspondence to Philip T. Cagle MD .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. , Department of Pathology, The Methodist Hospital, 6565 Fannin Street, Houston, 77030, Texas, USA

    Philip T. Cagle

  2. Health Science Center at Tyler, Department of Pathology, The University of Texas, 11937 US Highway 271, Tyler, 75708, Texas, USA

    Timothy Craig Allen

  3. , Department of Pathology, Mount Sinai Medical Center, 1 Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, 10029, New York, USA

    Mary Beth Beasley

  4. , Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, 75 Francis St., Boston, 02115, Massachusetts, USA

    Lucian R. Chirieac

  5. Medical Center, Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh, 200 Lothrop St. - PUH C608, Pittsburgh, 15213, Pennsylvania, USA

    Sanja Dacic

  6. Medical Center, Department of Pathology &, Columbia University, 630 W. 168th Street VC-14-215, New York, 10032, New York, USA

    Alain C. Borczuk

  7. Medical School, Department of Pathology, Aberdeen University, Foresterhill, Aberdeen, Scotland, AB25 2ZD, United Kingdom

    Keith M. Kerr

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© 2012 Springer Science+Business Media New York

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Cagle, P.T. (2012). Etiology of Lung Cancer. In: Cagle, P., et al. Molecular Pathology of Lung Cancer. Molecular Pathology Library, vol 6. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-3197-8_2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-3197-8_2

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4614-3196-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4614-3197-8

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

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