Lung cancer cases are increasing among non-smokers

Lung cancer cases are increasing among non-smokers around the world. One of the main reasons for this may be air pollution and the worsening environmental situation, writes *The Guardian*.

According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), lung cancer is the fifth most common cause of death among oncological diseases. In 2022, 2.5 million people were diagnosed with this disease worldwide. The largest number of cases was observed in East Asian countries, especially China.

Scientists note that lung cancer in non-smokers most often manifests itself in the form of adenocarcinoma. In 2022, this disease accounted for 45.6% of lung cancer cases in men and 59.7% in women. In 2020, these figures were 39.0 and 57.1 percent, respectively.

In recent decades, adenocarcinoma has become the most common subtype of lung cancer. In 2022, more than 200,000 cases of adenocarcinoma were diagnosed, most of which were associated with air pollution. According to IARC, this type accounts for 70 percent of lung cancer cases in non-smokers.

Lung cancer rates are also increasing among women. In 2022, the disease was diagnosed in 900,000 women worldwide. According to *The Guardian*, in 2023, the number of women diagnosed with lung cancer in the UK exceeded that of men for the first time.

In August 2024, clinical trials of a new lung cancer vaccine began in London. Developed by German biotechnology company *BioNTech*, the vaccine stimulates the immune system to fight cancer cells. In trials at University College London, the vaccine was shown to kill cancer cells without harming healthy tissue. This approach is safer than traditional chemotherapy and could be a more effective treatment for patients. Follow “Zamin” news on “Telegram”