Lung cancer still accounts for the highest number of cancer deaths worldwide, and the numbers are increasing. It is considered curable when detected in its earliest stages (which rarely happens) and inevitably fatal when found in an advanced stage. Unfortunately, there is not currently any exact definition for what constitutes an ?advanced stage.? Despite new diagnostic techniques, the overall five-year survival rate has been hovering around 14% for far too long. The problem of lung cancer is not homogeneous: in the US, (non-small cell) adenocarcinomas predominate, while squamous and small cell carcinomas are more frequent in Europe. The different types do not have the same biology, do not manifest the same tumor markers, and their response to therapy will differ.
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