Lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer-related death in the western world. Of patients with lung cancer, in the region of 90% are either current or ex-cigarette smokers. Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for approx 80% of these cases. Despite improvements in the diagnostic evaluation and treatment of the disease, the prognosis for lung cancer patients remains appalling, with a 5-yr survival of 4—14% in developed countries (1 -3) . An increased understanding of the biology of lung cancer is essential to develop novel approaches for the management of the disease.
