Editors Choice
Lung Cancer in Turkey
Turkey stretches from the Balkans to the Middle East and is among the larger countries in terms of land area and population (Fig. 1). Turkey’s population of approximately 85 million people encompasses a diverse genomic, ethnic, and cultural heritage with roots from several empires and civilizations dating back to the Paleolithic age. According to the GLOBOCAN 20201 registry, lung cancer (LC) comprises 17.6% of all cancer types. It ranks highest in Turkey, with 41,000 new cases in 2020 and an age-adjusted incidence rate of 41.7 and 8.7 per 100,000 for men and women, respectively.Lung Cancer in Rwanda
Rwanda is a landlocked country in East Africa with an estimated population of approximately 12.5 million in 2018, making it the second most densely populated country in Africa.1,2 Rwanda is counted among low-income countries, with a little more than 80% of Rwandans living in rural areas. Women represent approximately a half of the population.3 Figure 1 is the map of Rwanda in relation to its neighboring countries.Antiangiogenesis May Not Be a Universal Booster of EGFR Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors
Since the concept of antiangiogenesis was introduced in oncology, various types of systemic anticancer treatment, from cytotoxic chemotherapy, molecular targeted therapy, to immunotherapy, had been attempted to be combined with antiangiogenic agents. At around 2010, cytotoxic chemotherapy and EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) were two pillars of systemic treatments for NSCLC, and the combination of antiangiogenic agents and EGFR TKIs was thus naturally to be explored.Determining Whether YAP1 and POU2F3 Are Antineuroendocrine Factors
Rudin et al.1 reported that SCLCs can be subtyped into four groups (SCLC-A, SCLC-N, SCLC-Y, and SCLC-P) according to four molecules—ASCL1, NEUROD1, POU2F3, and YAP1—based on gene expression data of primary SCLC samples and cell lines. Initially, both YAP1 and POU2F3 were identified as markers of the non-neuroendocrine (non-NE) phenotype of SCLC; however, subsequent studies have gradually revealed that YAP1 and POU2F3 have different significance.EGFR Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor Sequencing Revisited: From the Revival of Old Tools to the Integration of New Agents
In this issue of the Journal of Thoracic Oncology, Piccirillo et al.1 report the results of the BEVERLY trial, a randomized phase 3 study that reveals the progression-free survival (PFS) benefit of bevacizumab to erlotinib as first-line treatment for Italian patients with metastatic NSCLC with common EGFR mutations. In this large study, after a median follow-up of 36.3 months, median investigator-assessed PFS was 15.4 months with erlotinib plus bevacizumab and 9.6 months with erlotinib alone (hazard ratio = 0.66, 95% confidence interval: 0.47–0.92).Lung Cancer in Colombia
Colombia is a country on the northwest of South America, and it is divided into 32 departments, a capital district, 1121 municipalities, and indigenous territories. Population growth in the period 1990 to 2016 was 42.0%, during which time population structure became regressive and older, with most living in urban areas (82%) (Fig. 1A–C). The Colombian health system is made up of a social security sector and a private sector. The system's backbone is the General Social Security Health System, with a coverage near to 100%.Lung Cancer in Germany
Since the reunification of the Federal Republic of Germany with the German Democratic Republic in 1990, Germany, situated in middle Europe, has become the most populous country in Europe with 83.5 million inhabitants. With a gross domestic product of 3.8 trillion U.S. dollars (2020), it is the largest national economy in the European Union and the fourth worldwide. As a result of the political reorganization after World War II, a federal organization has been adopted, delegating a large number of tasks to each of the 16 federal states, thereby, enabling a more regionalized approach (e.g., education or the health system).Lung Cancer in Pakistan
Pakistan is the fifth most populous country in the world with an estimated population of more than 207 million located in South Central Asia between the Himalayas and Arabian Gulf. It has a population density of 260 per km2 with 10 major metropolitan cities. Although each of these 10 cities has a population of more than 10 million, only 36.4% of the total population lives in urban areas. Administratively, it consists of four provinces and federal capital territory as illustrated in Figure 1.1 Pakistan ranks as a low- to middle-income country with a gross national income per capita of USD 1410 according to the World Bank 2020 data.Lung Cancer in Sudan
Sudan, with an area of 1,886,068 km2, is the third-largest country in Africa. This African Arab country is surrounded by North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa, and the Middle East. In 2020, the population of Sudan was about 43.8 million.1 The population structure is young, with approximately 40% under 15 years of age, as illustrated in Figure 1. Sudan is a low-income country despite its abundant natural resources, with approximately half of the population living below the poverty line. In 2011, with the independence of South Sudan under the term of Comprehensive Peace Agreement,2 Sudan lost almost half of its revenue, as South Sudan took with it approximately 75% of all oil production and reserves.Lung Cancer in Japan
Japan is located in East Asia and consists of five large islands and numerous smaller islands, with a total of 6852 islands (Fig. 1). Mountainous areas cover 75% of the country, and the population is concentrated in the plains along the coast. Because it is an island nation and because of the policy of seclusion that lasted for more than 300 years during the Edo period, it is almost ethnically homogeneous. The total population is 125.36 million, ranking 11th in the world. The average life expectancy of men is 81 years, and that of women is 87 years, making Japan a country with one of the highest life expectancies in the world.Lung Cancer in the United Kingdom
The U.K. population is approximately 67 million, of whom most (85%) reside in England, with 8%, 5%, and 3% residing in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland (NI), respectively. Most U.K. health care including cancer diagnosis and treatment is delivered in a “free-at-the point of care” National Health Service (NHS), a globally unique government-funded health care network, paid for through taxation, with new interventions undergoing cost-effectiveness appraisal for reimbursement. Private health insurance is uncommon (11%).Lung Cancer in Nepal
Nepal is a beautiful, landlocked country located between India and the People’s Republic of China, with rich cultural heritage and diverse nature. Nepal, with an area of 147,516 km2, occupies 0.03% land area of the world and has a population of approximately 30 million.1 Although small geographically, the topography extends from the flat Terai plains in the south to central hills and high Himalayas in the north. Nepal is home to people of 126 different caste or ethnic groups, speaking 123 different languages.Lung Cancer in Korea
South Korea is geographically located in East Asia, constituting the southern part of the Korean Peninsula (Fig. 1). The major administrative divisions in South Korea are nine provinces and seven metropolitan cities, with a current population of around 51.8 million and a density of 516 per km2. In 2018, a total of 28,628 patients (accounting for 11.7% of all newly diagnosed cancers) was diagnosed with lung cancer in South Korea. Lung cancer is the second most common cancer in men and the fifth most common cancer in women.Lung Cancer in Vietnam
Vietnam, a low–middle-income Southeast Asian country with a population of 96.5 million, is the 15th most populous country in the world.1 In 1986, the Vietnamese Government introduced Doi Moi economic reform, transforming Vietnam from a socialist to a market economy. As a result, Vietnam achieved an annual gross domestic product growth rate of 6.2% to 7.02% from 2011 to 2019.1 Rapid economic growth was associated with improved general health. Life expectancy at birth increased from 71 years in 1990 (66.0 y for men and 75.1 y for women) to 73.6 years (71.0 y for men and 76.3 y for women) in 2019.Lung Cancer in Greece
Greece is a South European country, located at the east part of the Mediterranean basin and the southern edge of the Balcan Peninsula, with a population of 10,720,000 in 2019. In the past decade, Greece’s mixed economy has gradually recovered from the financial deficit crisis that burst out in 2009 and led to the supervised funding of the country from the European Union (EU) and International Monetary Fund for several years. With a nominal per capita income of U.S. $31,413 in 2019 (adjusted to purchasing power parity), Greece has now reached approximately two-thirds of the EU-28 average.Lung Cancer in Singapore
Singapore is a small island city-state in Southeast Asia (Fig. 1), with a multiracial population of 5.7 million people, comprising 76% Chinese, 15% Malays, and 9% Indians and other races.1 Lung cancer presents a significant health challenge to our aging population.Lung Cancer in Austria
Austria is located in Central Europe and surrounded by Germany and the Czech Republic in the North, Slovakia and Hungary in the East, Slovenia and Italy in the South, and Liechtenstein and Switzerland in the West (Fig. 1). Austria has been a member of the European Union since 1995. Austria has a current population of approximately 8.9 million people and consists of nine Federal Provinces (Fig. 1). Vienna with nearly 2 million inhabitants is the capital city and has regularly been ranked among the most livable cities in the world.Lung Cancer in Republic of China
Located in the west Pacific between Japan and the Philippines, the Republic of China has a population of more than 23 million people. Malignant tumors are the leading cause of death in the Republic of China, and lung cancer is the main cause of death for male and female individuals with cancers.1 In 2018, the five-year survival rate of lung cancer was approximately 26.5%. Between 1998 and 2018, the number of lung cancer deaths increased from 5749 to 9388. Approximately 70% of the 14,282 individuals diagnosed as having cancers of the lung, bronchus, or trachea in 2017 had stage III or IV lung cancer.Immunotherapy for Thymic Cancers: A Convoluted Path Toward a Cherished Goal
The remarkable success of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) against several cancers has had a significant impact on the management of these diseases and marked the beginning of a new era in cancer therapy.1 A subset of patients develop durable responses, and an improvement in survival has been observed in multiple settings.2,3 ICIs are generally well tolerated, but immune activation can occasionally cause severe toxicity.4 Identification of biomarkers of response and toxicity is an active area of research.Lung Cancer in France
“It is what we believe we already know that often prevents us from learning” Claude Bernard (1813–1878)Lung Cancer in Australia
Australia’s population of 25 million lives in eight states and territories covering 7.6 million km2. There is a strong history of migration and cultural diversity with 29.7% of the population born overseas. The population is aging, with the proportion aged 65 years and over increasing from 12.3% to 15.9% between 1999 and 2019, and this is projected to increase further.Lung Cancer in Lithuania
Lithuania is a Northeastern European country (Fig. 1) the southernmost of the Baltic states. According to statistics in 2019, Lithuania had an estimated population of 2.79 million residents. In March 1990, Lithuania declared its independence from the Soviet Union and in 1991, became a member of the United Nations. Since then, there have been a series of reforms, both in the national economy and in the health system.Lung Cancer in Israel
Israel is a small country with just over 8 million citizens. It has had universal health coverage since the introduction of a progressively financed statutory health insurance system in 1995.1Lung Cancer in Malaysia
Malaysia is a Southeast Asian country occupying parts of the Malay Peninsula and the island of Borneo. The population of Malaysia (just over 30 million) is multi-ethnic; approximately half the population is ethnically Malay, with large minorities of Chinese, Indians, and indigenous peoples. Approximately 70% of the population is urban (Fig. 1).1 Life expectancy of Malaysians at birth is 74.9 years.2Checkpoint Inhibitors in SCLC: How Much Can We Trust in Randomized Cohorts of Phase I/II Trials?
SCLC is the most aggressive subtype of lung cancer (accounting for about 15% of all lung cancers) with a poor prognosis because most patients are diagnosed in the advanced stages. No major treatment advances have been made in the past 20 years, with the SCLC survival rate being less than 10% of the 5-year overall survival (OS) rates.1,2
