Review
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World J Respirol. Nov 28, 2013; 3(3): 67-76
Published online Nov 28, 2013. doi: 10.5320/wjr.v3.i3.67
Role of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in lung cancer pathogenesis
Clara E Green, Alice M Turner
Clara E Green, Alice M Turner, Centre for Translational Inflammation Research, University of Birmingham, B152WB Birmingham, United Kingdom
Alice M Turner, Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust, B9 5SS Birmingham, United Kingdom
Author contributions: Green CE conducted literature searches; Green CE and Turner AM contributed to writing the article.
Supported by The National Health Service (United Kingdom, Clara E Green); Research grants from the National Institute of Health Research (United Kingdom, Alice M Turner); Alpha 1 Foundation, MRC, Linde Real Fund, Healthcare Infection Society (United Kingdom, Alice M Turner); a Contract for Research Services to Mologic (Alice M Turner); Educational Talks or Advisory Boards from Boehringer, GSK, Novartis and Almirall (Alice M Turner).
Correspondence to: Alice M Turner, Clinician Scientist, Honorary Consultant Physician, Centre for Translational Inflammation Research, University of Birmingham, Mindelsohn Way, B15 2WB Birmingham, United Kingdom. a.m.wood@bham.ac.uk
Telephone: +44-121-3713886 Fax: +44-121-3713887
Received: July 8, 2013
Revised: August 26, 2013
Accepted: September 3, 2013
Published online: November 28, 2013
Core Tip

Core tip: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has been shown to be an independent risk factor for lung cancer regardless of smoking history, suggesting that COPD and lung cancer may share a common pathogenesis. Chronic inflammation and oxidative stress are the most likely mechanistic links between COPD and lung cancer. Further analysis and elucidation of the molecular mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of COPD and lung cancer should provide us with new treatment modalities and perhaps a key to understanding how the risk of lung cancer in COPD patients may be reduced.