Interstitial lung disease in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer: causes, mechanisms and management

The incidence of lung cancer has markedly increased in the past few decades and is still increasing in many countries worldwide. Lung cancer is a leading cause of death in many developed countries, and approximately 140 000 new cases are identified each year in the US alone ( Green, 2004 ). The majority of patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) are diagnosed with advanced disease and cannot undergo radical surgical treatment. Typically, patients from this large group are offered best supportive care or palliative treatment regimens incorporating various combinations of chemotherapy and radiotherapy.