Believe it or not, quitting smoking can save your life. Today, World No Tobacco Day, we highlight the importance of this issue, as more than 8 million deaths are linked each year to tobacco use1, a truly staggering figure.
In addition, looking at lung cancer statistics makes the impact of tobacco on its development clear, making it one of the deadliest diseases associated with smoking. That is why it is crucial to understand the danger and take steps to prevent it.
Lung cancer: how does it develop?
- Lung cancer is among the most prevalent forms of cancer worldwide and is one of the leading causes of death related to tobacco use.
- It is characterised by the uncontrolled proliferation of abnormal cells in lung tissue, leading to the formation of malignant tumours. The main types are non-small cell carcinoma and small cell carcinoma, and both are closely linked to tobacco use.
The role of tobacco in the development of lung cancer
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), nearly 90% of lung cancer cases worldwide are attributed to tobacco. Smokers have a significantly higher risk of developing this disease compared with non-smokers, and that risk increases with the number of cigarettes smoked and the duration of the smoking habit. However, it is not the only type of cancer resulting from this activity, as smoking can also cause cancer in other parts of the body2.
Tobacco contains a wide range of toxic and carcinogenic chemicals
that severely affect the lungs and other organs in the body. Components such as tar, formaldehyde, benzo[a]pyrene, and arsenic, present in tobacco smoke, can damage the DNA of lung cells, promoting the development of cancer.
Numerous studies have established a direct link between smoking and lung cancer. Regular inhalation of tobacco smoke causes damage to lung tissue, chronic inflammation, and genetic mutations, predisposing to the formation of malignant tumours. And not only that: second-hand smoke also increases the risk of lung cancer in non-smokers, posing a danger that can go unnoticed.
How to curb lung cancer: research, prevention, and therapies
Research plays a fundamental role in understanding the relationship between smoking and lung cancer, as well as in developing prevention and treatment strategies.
In recent decades, significant advances have been made in this field, such as identifying risk factors and underlying mechanisms, understanding the onset and progression of the disease; developing early detection methods, such as low-dose computed tomography (LDCT); evaluating advanced therapies to understand the genetic variability of lung cancer patients and its influence on treatments; and advancing interventions to help people quit smoking or to intervene once the disease has been diagnosed.
“There have been two essential revolutions in the last 20 years”
Luis Paz-Ares
Head of the Medical Oncology Department at Hospital 12 de Octubre
1. Treatments targeting molecular targets
We have learned which molecular alterations underlie many tumours, which ones cause many tumours, and we are able to produce specific inhibitors of those genes that drive tumours, so that if you can switch off the tumour’s engine you can, if not eradicate it, at least stop it for a while. This has had a major impact, and we have therapies specifically targeted for approximately 40% of lung cancers.
2. Immunotherapy
It has had a very significant impact on patients with lung cancer, advanced tumours, and more recently on tumours that are either non-metastatic, locally advanced, and even on those in patients who are candidates for surgery.”
In this regard, further research will continue to be developed to contribute to the prevention, detection, and treatment of smoking-related lung cancer. Among future research areas, we will see:
- Identification of biomarkers: study of specific biomarkers that can be used to detect lung cancer at early stages or predict treatment response in smoking patients.
- Advanced therapies: exploration of emerging therapies, such as immunotherapy and gene therapy, for the treatment of smoking-related lung cancer.
- Precision medicine and personalised oncology: many genes have been discovered that provide data about a patient’s cancer history and its behaviour. At Hospital 12 de Octubre, with FERO’s support, clinical trials have been developed concluding that there are specific treatments that are effective when a particular genetic alteration is present. Therefore, this genetic profile of tumours guides the most specialised treatment for the patient.
- Studies on the impact of new technologies: research into the impact of new technologies, such as e-cigarettes, on the risk of lung cancer and other smoking-related health problems.
- Screening programmes: screening will be very important for high-risk patients to reduce lung cancer mortality. The next step is to implement these programmes in Spain.
FERO’s commitment to lung cancer research
Thanks to FERO’s institutional relationship with Hospital 12 de Octubre over the last 5 years, significant advances are being achieved in this and other types of cancer.
At this hospital, lung cancer research projects are being carried out under the leadership of Dr Luis Paz-Ares, and among the next challenges are advanced therapies and precision medicine.
“The FERO Foundation programme enables this agreement to individualise the treatment of many patients and to launch many clinical trials with innovative therapies aimed at patients with specific new molecular alterations.”
“We are especially pleased with the collaboration and agreements with FERO and with everyone who makes it possible for FERO to fund us.”
Luis Paz-Ares
Head of the Medical Oncology Department at Hospital 12 de Octubre
Hopefully we will continue to see results like these for much longer, and we can continue and expand these partnerships that help us all chart a hopeful path towards curing cancer.
On this World No Tobacco Day, we issue a collective call to promote a tobacco-free lifestyle, raise awareness of its consequences, and provide support to those who want to quit smoking.
Together, we can save lives and build a healthier future for everyone
. At FERO, we are already doing so. Will you join us?
1 World Health Organization. 2 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
