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Why has squamous cell carcinoma become one of the most concerned types of lung cancer?
Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is a histological type of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), second only to lung adenocarcinoma in lung cancer, and mainly originates from the bronchi. With its strong association with smoking, this type of lung cancer has attracted the attention of many scientists and medical professionals.
The tumor cells of squamous cell carcinoma have a squamous appearance similar to epidermal cells, which is a key feature of this cancer.
Symptoms of squamous cell lung cancer are similar to other forms of lung cancer and include a persistent cough, coughing up blood, chest pain, shortness of breath, and even weight loss. These symptoms may be caused by invasion or compression of adjacent chest structures by the tumor.
Smoking is the most important risk factor for squamous cell lung cancer. According to the Nurses' Health Study, smokers have a relative risk of developing this type of lung cancer of about 5.5, and this risk figure increases significantly with the increase in years of smoking. .
Squamous cell carcinomas usually arise from the larger bronchi and tend to metastasize early to regional lymph nodes. Its external spread occurs more slowly than other major types of lung cancer. Many studies have shown that the gradual process from benign changes to cancer can take years.
In some cases, squamous cell carcinoma tumors become so large that they may become necrotic in the center and form a cavity.
Gene mutations in this cancer are relatively frequent, especially in tumor suppressor genes such as TP53, making squamous cell carcinoma one of the most mutated tumor types. These genetic changes not only drive tumor development but may also affect how well a tumor responds to treatment.
Squamous cell lung cancer is usually diagnosed through early tests such as lung imaging tests. When the tumor begins to block the bronchi, the patient will experience more obvious symptoms. In addition, different types of abnormal cells can be detected in the laboratory through bronchial washings or cytology.
According to the 2015 World Health Organization classification of lung tumors, squamous cell carcinoma is divided into three types: keratinizing, non-keratinizing, and basal.
Treatment for squamous cell lung cancer generally depends on the stage of the cancer, its resectability, and the genetic changes in the individual tumor. Early-stage squamous cell lung cancer is treated with surgical removal, while more advanced cases are usually treated first with systemic chemotherapy.
Although targeted therapies for squamous cell lung cancer have been slower to develop, immunotherapy has brought new hope, especially the treatment targeting PD-1, which has been licensed in the UK and shows good response potential.Squamous cell carcinoma deserves attention in lung cancer efforts because it is not only the most common type, but also affects the lives of many smokers. According to 2012 data, squamous cell carcinoma accounted for 22.6% of all lung cancer cases.
While smoking rates are decreasing worldwide, the incidence of lung adenocarcinoma is increasing, causing the relative incidence of squamous cell carcinoma to decline. Therefore, it becomes increasingly important to publicly publicize the dangers of smoking. To date, approximately 91% of squamous cell carcinoma cases are related to smoking, and men are at a higher risk of developing the disease than women.
The discussion of the epidemiology of squamous cell carcinoma and the leaps in treatment technology raises the question: What are the future challenges and opportunities in the fight against this deadly disease?
