PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Meera Ragavan
AU  - Manali I. Patel
TI  - The evolving landscape of sex-based differences in lung cancer: a distinct disease in women
AID  - 10.1183/16000617.0100-2021
DP  - 2022 Mar 31
TA  - European Respiratory Review
PG  - 210100
VI  - 31
IP  - 163
4099  - http://err.ersjournals.com/content/31/163/210100.short
4100  - http://err.ersjournals.com/content/31/163/210100.full
SO  - EUROPEAN RESPIRATORY REVIEW2022 Mar 31; 31
AB  - In stark contrast to a few decades ago when lung cancer was predominantly a disease of men who smoke, incidence rates of lung cancer in women are now comparable to or higher than those in men and are rising alarmingly in many parts of the world. Women face a unique set of risk factors for lung cancer compared to men. These include exogenous exposures including radon, prior radiation, and fumes from indoor cooking materials such as coal, in addition to endogenous exposures such as oestrogen and distinct genetic polymorphisms. Current screening guidelines only address tobacco use and likely underrepresent lung cancer risk in women. Women were also not well represented in some of the landmark prospective studies that led to the development of current screening guidelines. Women diagnosed with lung cancer have a clear mortality benefit compared to men even when other clinical and demographic characteristics are accounted for. However, there may be sex-based differences in outcomes and side effects of systemic therapy, particularly with chemotherapy and immunotherapy. Ongoing research is needed to better investigate these differences to address the rapidly changing demographics of lung cancer worldwide.Sex-based differences in lung cancer span the care continuum. This suggests lung cancer may increasingly be viewed as a distinct disease in women, with implications for screening and treatment. Lung cancer research should capture these sex-based differences. https://bit.ly/2WfhaB4