Non-small-cell lung cancers: a heterogeneous set of diseases

Abstract

Non-small-cell lung cancers (NSCLCs), the most common lung cancers, are known to have diverse pathological features. During the past decade, in-depth analyses of lung cancer genomes and signalling pathways have further defined NSCLCs as a group of distinct diseases with genetic and cellular heterogeneity. Consequently, an impressive list of potential therapeutic targets was unveiled, drastically altering the clinical evaluation and treatment of patients. Many targeted therapies have been developed with compelling clinical proofs of concept; however, treatment responses are typically short-lived. Further studies of the tumour microenvironment have uncovered new possible avenues to control this deadly disease, including immunotherapy.

MicroRNA-29c Functions as a Tumor Suppressor by Targeting VEGFA in Lung Adenocarcinoma

“…Non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for 85% of all lung cancer cases and approximately half of NSCLC are lung adenocarcinoma (LAD) [2]. With high invasiveness and early metastasis, LAD often presents with locally advanced or metastatic disease at prognosis [3].…”

Somatic mutation-associated T follicular helper cell elevation in lung adenocarcinoma

“…Since increased mutational load may identify tumours with specific mutational drivers, we assessed whether Tfh expression associated with KRAS or EGFR status, common driver mutations in NSCLC with heterogeneous immune infiltration patterns. 25 Interestingly, there was no significant difference of Tfh levels in tumours bearing mutated KRAS or EGFR compared to those with wild-type KRAS or EGFR (Fig S6), suggesting that Tfh recruitment relates to the number of mutations rather than specific driver mutations.…”

Pituitary sex hormones enhance the pro-metastatic potential of human lung cancer cells by downregulating the intracellular expression of heme oxygenase-1

“…The four major histological types of bronchial carcinoma are squamous cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, large cell undifferentiated carcinoma, and small cell carcinoma, and the first three can be grouped in the category termed NSCLC to distinguish them from SCLC. SCLC is more common in men than in women and is strongly associated with cigarette smoking (17) and, in contrast to NSCLC, is derived from the neuroendocrine cells of the lung, which are characterized by the expression of neuron-specific enolase, neurosecretory granules, and neurofilaments and the ability to secrete a host of polypeptide hormones (18,19). These tumors are composed of small, dark, round-to-oval, lymphocyte-like cells (albeit larger than lymphocytes) that have scant cytoplasm and hyperchromatic nuclei (20).…”