232 Abstracts/Lung Cancer 13 (1995) 185-232

to influence. In the treatment of the disease, in spite of very intensive research, no decisive breakthrough occurred, though many new methods and medications were developed which can improve the quality of life of the cancer patient and can extend modestly, or even significantly the sutvival of the patient. The author discusses in separate chapters the dtug and surgical treatments of small cell lung cancer and non-small cell lung cancers in view of their different therapy and prognosis. He deals with the combination of drug and radiotherapy and with the recommended cytostatic combination in different fotms of lung cancer. He writes about the palliative procedures which can lead, though sometimes only for a short period, to improvement in malignant bronchial obstruction. He deals with the new cytostatica, which can result in a mote successful treatment of lung cancer.

Palliative therapy: Extensive small cell lung cancer Loehtet PJ St. Indiana Universily Hospital, 550 N University Blvd. Indianapolis, IN 46202-5265. Semin Oncol 1995;22:Suppl 3:40-4.

During the past two decades advances have been made in the systemic treatment of small cell lung cancer. Chemothetapy will produce objective responses in the majority of patients, yet few patients with extensive disease have prolonged survival. Combination regimens like cyclo- phosphamide/doxotubicin/vinctistine, cisplatin/etoposide, and cisplatin/ etoposide/ifosfamide have produced objective responses in 55% to 65% of patients. Recent clinical trials with single-agent chemotherapy suggest median lengths of survival that appear comparable to that obtained with combination therapy. Such approaches may be appropriate for elderly patients and will be evaluated in a prospective randomized trial. Ultimately, to provide the maximum palliative benefit for patients with extensive small cell lung cancer. the therapeutic benefit must be balanced against the costs of treatment (physical, psychological, and financial).

The plasminogen activation system and its role in lung cancer. A review Pappot H, Btunnet N. The Finsen Laboratory, Rigshospitalet, Strandboulevarden 49, DK-2100 Copenhagen. Lung Cancer (Ireland) 1995;12:1-12.

The utokioase pathway of the plasminogen activation is involved in ptoteolydc degradation of various tissues, including dissolution of the

exttacellulat matrix and basement membranes during the process of cancer cell invasion. Recent studies have demonstrated that components of the plasminogen activation system have a prognostic impact in breast, lung, colotcctal, bladder and g&tic cancer. A number of studies, reviewed here, have focused on the role of the plasminogen activation system in Werent lung cancer types. There seems to be an obvious difference between the expression, localization and prognostic impact of the components of the plasminogen activation system in different llmgcancertypes.ThedSreKes seenwuldbehelpful inundemtanding the biology of dfletent lung cancer types, and components of the plasmiwgen activation system may have prognostic relevance and clinical implications in some lung cancet types, even though confit- matoty studies are needed.

Molecular biologic features of non-small cell lung cancer. Clinical implications Rusch VW, Dmittovsky E. Department of Surges, Memorial Sloan- Kettering Cancer C&, I275 YorkAvenue. New York, NY 10021. Chest Sutg Clin North Am. 1995;5:39-55.

A fuller understanding of the fundamental mechanisms involved in tumor initiation, growth, and metastasis will enable us to develop innovative approaches to detection and treatment that will improve the poor sutvival of patients with lung cancer. Cuttent infotmation suggests that certain individuals may be ptedisposcd to devtloping lung cancer and that lung cancers, like other solid tumors, ate chatactetized by the activation of oncogenes, the expression of growth factor loops, and the inactivation of tumor suppressor genes. Within the next decade, it is likely that genetic abnormalities will be used to identify individuals at risk for lung cancer, to select patients for adjuvant therapy, and to develop novel fotms of treatment.

Lung cancer Ecketsbetget F. Klin. Abt. fir Hen-/Thorarchinrrgie, Universitatsklinik fur Chirwgie. Wahringer Gurtel 18-20, A-1090 Wien. Wien Med Wochenscht 1994;144:545-47.

Carcinoma of the lung constitutes 20% of all cancer in men and I 1% of all cancer in women. It is the most common cause of death from malignancy in both sexes. The number of patients is increasing every year. In the epidemiology and in the experiment smoking is found to be the teal factor in the pathogenesis of lung cancer.