Unraveling the common genetic basis for COPD, emphysema and lung cancer. KU Leuven
Lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are two smoking-related respiratory disorders that are both leading causes of mortality worldwide. Between 50% and 90% of smokers diagnosed with lung cancer have pre-existing COPD. The frequent co-occurrence of both diseases in the same patient is not only due to shared risk factors, such as age and smoking, but also because COPD independently increases the risk of lung cancer up to ...