Research and clinical trials

Research into causes of lung cancer

Researchers around the world are looking at the causes of lung cancer.

Go to Cancer Research UK’s clinical trials database if you are looking for a trial for lung cancer in the UK. You need to talk to your specialist if there are any trials that you think you might be able to take part in.

Find a clinical trial

Research and clinical trials

All cancer treatments must be fully researched before they can be used for everyone. This is so we can be sure that:

they work
they work better than the treatments already available
they are safe

To make sure the research is accurate, each trial has certain entry conditions for who can take part. These are different for each trial.

Hospitals do not take part in every clinical trial. Some trials are only done in a small number of hospitals, or in one area of the country. You may need to travel quite far if you take part in these trials.

Genes and lifestyle

Researchers are collecting information to learn more about lung cancer's causes in the Liverpool area. They are interested in the relationship between:

the places someone has lived
the jobs they have done
their health, medical and family history

To look at this, they are making a store of information from around 2,500 people diagnosed with lung cancer in the Liverpool area of the UK.

The researchers will look at the damage to caused by exposure to things such as tobacco smoke and pollution.

They will also try to identify genes that might increase the risk of lung cancer.

Air pollution

The TRACERx study looked at how non small cell lung cancer (NCSLC) changes over time.

As part of the study, the researchers wanted to find out more about the causes of lung cancer in people who have never smoked. It is common for people with non small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who have never smoked to have changes () in a gene called .

The researchers looked at the link between NCSLC with EGFR changes and tiny (microscopic) particles in the air. These are called particulate matter, or PM. They can include particles such as smoke, soot and dust.

The researchers looked at thousands of people and analysed hundreds of tissue samples. They found that increased exposure to particulate matter can change how the works. And that this can increase the risk of NSCLC developing. This is for people with a change in the EGFR gene.

Lung cancer main page

Lung cancer starts in the windpipe (trachea), the main airway (bronchus) or the lung tissue. Cancer that starts in the lung is called primary lung cancer.

Research and clinical trials for lung cancer

Current research is looking at ways to improve the diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer.

Treatment for lung cancer

Your treatment depends on several factors. These include what type of lung cancer you have, how big it is and whether it has spread (the stage). It also depends on your general health.

What is metastatic lung cancer?

Metastatic lung cancer is when the cancer has spread from the lung and gone to another part of the body.

Living with lung cancer

There is support available during and after treatment to help you cope. This includes support from your clinical nurse specialist, cancer charities, community services, and family and friends.