Early molecular biomarkers in lung cancer

Lung cancer is the most common malignancy in the UK and Mersey side, in the Northwest of England, has the highest rate of lung cancer in the U.K. Detection of lung cancer usually occurs too late for effective treatment accounting for the high mortality rate and a five year survival rate of 5%. The Liverpool Lung Project is a 10 year prospective study assessing early markers for lung cancer that may, in time, bring forward the point of detection and hence increase survival. In this report we outline some of the markers being considered for assessment including p53 mutation, loss of heterozygosity, fractional allele loss (FAL) and genetic polymorphisms in enzymes associated with xenobiotic metabolism.