The Importance of the Immune System and Molecular Cell Signaling Pathways in the Pathogenesis and Progression of Lung Cancer

Abstract

Lung cancer is a disease that in recent years has become one of the greatest threats to modern society. Every year there are more and more new cases and the percentage of deaths caused by this type of cancer increases. Despite many studies, scientists are still looking for answers regarding the mechanisms of lung cancer development and progression, with particular emphasis on the role of the immune system. The aim of this literature review was to present the importance of disorders of the immune system and the accompanying changes at the level of cell signaling in the pathogenesis of lung cancer. The collected results showed that in the process of immunopathogenesis of almost all subtypes of lung cancer, changes in the tumor microenvironment, deregulation of immune checkpoints and abnormalities in cell signaling pathways are involved, which contribute to the multistage and multifaceted carcinogenesis of this type of cancer. We, therefore, suggest that in future studies, researchers should focus on a detailed analysis of tumor microenvironmental immune checkpoints, and to validate their validity, perform genetic polymorphism analyses in a wide range of patients and healthy individuals to determine the genetic susceptibility to lung cancer development. In addition, further research related to the analysis of the tumor microenvironment; immune system disorders, with a particular emphasis on immunological checkpoints and genetic differences may contribute to the development of new personalized therapies that improve the prognosis of patients.

Biochemical Signposts: Navigating the Landscape of Early Cancer Diagnosis and Prognostic Insights

“…The biomarker scoring calculation (Condition 1) is applied to rank the biomarkers given their importance. Contrasting the outcomes and existing writing, our biomarker scoring calculation shows further developed precision in distinguishing applicable biomarkers across various malignant growth types [25]. The combination of numerous biomarkers gives a more exhaustive comprehension of the sub-atomic scene, upgrading the potential for early malignant growth recognition [26].…”

Vaping, Environmental Toxicants Exposure, and Lung Cancer Risk

“…Heavy metals are significant environmental toxicants globally, and their toxicity is a major public health concern [ 221 ]. Health adverse effects from metals in food, water, and air have been reported [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 ]. Heavy metals include industrial or electronic wastes, gasoline and diesel engine exhausts, pesticides, paints, incinerators, and agricultural products; they can be easily absorbed via ingestion, inhalation, or dermatological routes [ 6 ].…”

“…Several extrinsic and intrinsic factors play a significant role in LC pathogenesis. Extrinsic factors included lifestyle, environmental toxicants, occupational exposure, and some specific infections, while intrinsic influences involved sex, immune, and genetic factors [ 2 , 9 , 10 , 11 ]. The potential role of genetic sustainability and gene mutations and alteration in developing and progression of LC was described in numerous published studies [ 12 , 13 , 14 ].…”

The genomic landscape of the immune system in lung cancer: present insights and continuing investigations

“…The immune system plays a significant role in monitoring, recognizing, and destroying tumor cells under homeostatic conditions. Therefore, any dysregulation in immune-related responses and genomic-level mutations should be scrutinized as they may be related to lung cancer pathogenesis ( Smok-Kalwat et al, 2023 ). The lung tumor microenvironment (TME), characterized by a heterogeneous cell population and intricate interactions, plays a significant role in the progression of lung cancer and the efficacy of treatment ( Zhang et al, 2021 ).…”