Lung Cancer

Lung cancer grows in tissues of the lung, usually in the cells that line the air passages. There are two main types of lung cancer: small cell and non-small cell.

Small cell lung cancer: About 13 percent of lung cancers are small cell lung cancers. This cancer often starts in the bronchi near the center of the chest. Although the cancer cells are small, they can multiply quickly and form large tumors that can spread throughout the body.

Non-small cell lung cancer: Most lung cancers (about 87 percent) are non-small cell lung cancers. This cancer spreads more slowly than small cell lung cancer. There are several types of non-small cell lung cancer. The cancer cells of each type grow and spread in the body in different ways.

• Adenocarcinoma is usually found in the outer part of the lung; it accounts for about 40 percent of all lung cancers
• Squamous cell carcinoma tends to be found in the middle of the lungs, near a bronchus (airway); it accounts for 25–30 percent of all lung cancers
• Large cell carcinoma can start in any part of the lung and tends to grow and spread quickly, which makes it harder to treat; it accounts for 10–15 percent of lung cancers

More than 226,000* people in the United States will be newly diagnosed with lung cancer in 2012.

Treatment options for lung cancer vary depending on the type of lung cancer, stage of the disease, previous treatment, and other medical conditions. Talk with your doctor about what treatment options may be available for you.

*American Cancer Society. Cancer Facts and Figures 2012. Atlanta: American Cancer Society; 2012

Lung Cancer Clinical Trials

The NCI Center for Cancer Research (CCR) conducts clinical trials at the NIH Clinical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. CCR is currently conducting the following trials for patients with lung cancer. Click on the trials below for additional details, including a summary of key eligibility criteria, study outline, and information on how to contact the principal investigators and their staff directly. For information on a particular trial or to discuss a screening visit, contact a member of the research team listed on the trial’s summary.

If you need further assistance, call our toll-free number at 1-888-NCI-1937 (1-888-624-1937) to be connected to a referral coordinator appropriate for your diagnosis.