Inhalation adjuvant therapy for lung cancer

Background: Lung cancer is the leading cause of new cancer cases and also is the number one cause of cancer death in both male and females in the United States and the world. Lung cancer is histologically separated into either small-cell (SCLC) or nonsmall-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). NSCLC is much more common, and can occur in the periphery (adenocarcinomas) or central airways (squamous cell carcinomas). Methods: The literature pertaining to lung cancer adjuvant therapy and inhalation lung cancer chemoprevention was reviewed. Results: It is argued that inhalation of chemotherapy as an adjuvant in Stage II NSCC and inhalation of chemopreventive agents in Stage I adenocarcinomas are direct paths to improve lung cancer therapy as well as demonstrate the ultility of inhalation therapy. Conclusions: If successful, inhalation delivery may be extended to the treatment of other types of lung cancer.