Progress Against Lung Cancer
1970–1979
Progress Against Lung Cancer 1970–1979 Mid-1970s: Chemotherapy combinations prove effective in small cell lung cancer
Progress Against Lung Cancer 1980–1989
Progress Against Lung Cancer 1980– : Second-hand smoke formally declared a carcinogen
Progress Against Lung Cancer 1980– : Scientists discover key genetic vulnerability in tumor cells – EGFR
Progress Against Lung Cancer 1990–1999
Progress Against Lung Cancer 1990– –1992: Combining chemotherapy and radiation prolongs survival for non-small cell lung cancer
Progress Against Lung Cancer 1990– : Simultaneous radiation and chemotherapy boosts survival for small cell lung cancer
Progress Against Lung Cancer 1990–1999 Mid-1990s: New generation of chemotherapy drugs for non-small cell lung cancer
Progress Against Lung Cancer 1990– : Analysis affirms benefits of chemotherapy for advanced non-small cell lung cancer
Progress Against Lung Cancer 1990– : Topotecan approved as second round of treatment for small cell lung cancer
Progress Against Lung Cancer 1990– : Cranial radiation reduces risk of small cell lung cancer spreading to the brain 1999: Simultaneous chemotherapy and radiation proven most effective for stage III non-small cell lung cancer 1999: Giving radiation to the chest twice-daily increases survival for small cell lung cancer
Progress Against Lung Cancer 2000–Present
Progress Against Lung Cancer 2000–Present 2000: Study links household radon exposure to lung cancer 2000: Second round of chemotherapy boosts survival in advanced non-small cell lung cancer
Progress Against Lung Cancer 2000–Present 2003: First targeted drug approved for non-small cell lung cancer
Progress Against Lung Cancer 2000–Present 2004: Studies show that specific EGFR mutations are associated with response to gefitinib 2004: FDA approves second targeted drug, erlotinib, for non-small cell lung cancer 2004–2005: Adjuvant therapy proven effective in lung cancer
Progress Against Lung Cancer 2000–Present 2005: Anti-angiogenic drug bevacizumab extends survival for advanced lung cancer 2005: New project to map lung cancer genome
Progress Against Lung Cancer 2000–Present 2008: Circulating tumor cells in the blood can help track treatment response in select patients
Progress Against Lung Cancer 2000–Present 2009: Maintenance therapy improves survival for advanced non-small cell lung cancer
Progress Against Lung Cancer 2000–Present 2010: Older patients should be considered for the same aggressive chemotherapy as younger patients 2010: Adding palliative care to standard chemotherapy improves survival for advanced lung cancer patients 2010: New lung cancer staging system is adopted 2010: Drug aimed at a newly identified target causes dramatic tumor shrinkages 2010: CT scanning reduces lung cancer deaths among heavy smokers
Progress Against Lung Cancer Five-Year Survival Source: National Cancer Institute
Progress Against Lung Cancer Mortality Source: National Cancer Institute
Progress Against Lung Cancer New Cases Source: National Cancer Institute
Visit CancerProgress.Net for an interactive timeline of progress against a range of common cancers CancerProgress.Net is a project of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, which represents nearly 30,000 physicians who treat people with cancer and research new cures