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Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer mortality in the United States, accounting for 21% of all deaths.¹ This year, more than 238,340 U.S. men and women will be diagnosed with lung cancer, and over 127,000 will die from the disease. Lung cancer is generally diagnosed at an advanced, incurable stage because patients often lack signs and symptoms in the early stages of the disease. Several factors have been shown to contribute to the development of lung cancer, smoking and exposure to environmental carcinogens being the most prevalent; however, 10-15% of lung cancers occur in people who are non-smokers.² Lung cancer risk for our military is significant, with 24% to as high as 38% of Service Members smoking compared to 14% of civliians.³ Deployments also worsen smoking rates by about 50%. Among military Veterans, lung cancer is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths, with about 15 Veterans dying of lung cancer each day.⁴ An estimated 900,000 Veterans remain at risk due to age, smoking, and other environmental exposures during and after military service.⁵ Despite improved screening methods for lung cancer and advances in treatment, the 5-year survival rate remains low at 28% for non-small cell lung cancer and only 7% for small cell lung cancer.¹

The LCRP has developed a strategy to address multiple issues in lung cancer research over the cancer continuum of care spectrum. The following Areas of Emphasis are critical gaps in cancer research, care, and/or patient outcomes that, if addressed, will lead to reduced suffering from lung cancer and improved quality of life for Service Members, Veterans, and the general public.

• Biology and Etiology
  • Understand the molecular mechanisms of initiation and progression to lung cancer.
  • Understand contributors to lung cancer development other than tobacco.
• Prevention
  • Identify innovative strategies for prevention of the occurrence of lung cancer(s) or subsequent primaries.
  • Identify innovative strategies for the prevention of recurrence or metastases from lung cancer.
• Detection, Diagnosis, and Surveillance
  • Improve approaches to screening and early detection of lung cancer.
  • Identify strategies for prompt detection and/or characterization of progressive disease.
• Treatment and Prognosis
  • Identify innovative strategies for the treatment of lung cancer, including overcoming resistance.
  • Develop or optimize biomarkers to assist with therapeutic decision-making.
  • Enhance the treatment and understanding of brain metastases in lung cancer.
• Health Outcomes and Survivorship
  • Identify and understand the long-term and cumulative effects of lung cancer and its treatment(s) with respect to the impact of comorbidities on patient care, and also, more broadly, in respect to their effects on patients and their quality of life including, but not limited to, physiological, psychosocial, cognitive, and financial effects.
• Disparities
  • Advance equity and reduce lung cancer disparities among underserved and underrepresented populations.