Lung cancer is the main cause of incidence and cancer mortality worldwide, both in men and women. In 2022, approximately 2.5 million people were diagnosed with lung cancer and, according to the latest data from the … International Agency for Cancer Research (IARC, for its acronym in English), the incidence in women continues to approach that of men. The document, which has analyzed global variations in the incidence of lung cancer in 2022 and its evolution over time according to the histological subtype, also verifies that the decrease in tobacco consumption in many countries causes the proportion of cases to increase In non -smokers.
Posted in ‘The Lancet Respiratory Medicine‘On the occasion of World Cancer Day, the study focuses on four main subtypes of lung cancer: adenocarcinomasquamous cell carcinoma, small cell carcinoma and large cell carcinoma.
The document shows that lung adenocarcinoma has emerged as the predominant subtype in recent years, with an increase in the risk observed among younger generations, especially in women, in most countries evaluated. In addition, the study highlights that the largest load of lung adenocarcinoma attributable to contamination by particulate material (PM) in the air was estimated in Eastern Asia, especially in China.
For Josep Maria BorràsScientific Coordinator of the Cancer Strategy of the National Health System and Director of the Catalan Oncology Plan“The article is of great importance because it confirms the change of the most frequent tumor in most countries: more cases of adenocarcinoma and less of squamous carcinoma, which can have repercussions on the type of treatment.”
Borrás explains a Science Media Center that “this tumor is more peripheral and has some better prognosis.”
In this sense, Freddie BrayChief of the SCancer surveillance ecation In the IARC and main author of the article, it emphasizes that “the results provide important information on how both the underlying risk and risk factors are evolving, offering clues about how we can prevent lung cancer optimally throughout the world.”
The study estimates that in 2022 there were approximately 1.57 million new cases of lung cancer between men and 908,000 among women. Adenocarcinoma was the predominant subtype, representing 45.6 % of male cases and 59.7 % of female, indicating a change with respect to the carcinoma of squamous cells (SCC), which historically was the most frequent in Many regions. It is believed that this change is influenced by modifications in smoking patterns and exposure to environmental pollutants.
A novel aspect of the study is the evaluation of cases of adenocarcinoma attributable to environmental pollution by PM. The data estimate that 114,486 cases in men and 80,378 in women were related to air pollution.
Pollution
“These findings highlight the growing role of environmental factors in the epidemiology of lung cancer, which requires urgent interventions in public health,” he says Rafael Marcos-Mrageraof the Catalan Institute of Oncology-Plan Director of Oncology.
“Changes in smoking patterns and exposure to air pollution are some of the main determinants of the changing risk profile in the incidence of lung cancer by subtype that we observe now,” says Bray. “Divergent trends between sexes in recent generations offer valuable information to cancer prevention specialists and policy responsible, who seek to develop and implement tobacco control strategies and air pollution adapted to high -risk populations.”
For Marcos-Mragera, the report underlines the urgent need to develop public health strategies adapted to combat lung cancer. «With tobacco control efforts showing effectiveness in the Reduction of squamous carcinoma ratesnow the attention must focus on environmental policies aimed at air pollution. In addition, continuous surveillance of lung cancer trends in younger generations will be crucial for the formulation of effective prevention and treatment programs ».
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