[Molecular approach to lung cancer].

Lung cancer is associated with a number of cytogenetic abnormalities, such as chromosomal deletions on 3p, 12q, and 17p, which suggest the involvement of multiple tumor suppressor genes. These findings led to the discovery of the inactivation of the Rb and p53 genes in lung cancer. Recent remarkable progress in molecular biology should add a number of genes to the list of tumor suppressor gene involved in the pathogenesis of lung cancer. In addition, dominant oncogenes as well growth factors and their receptors have been shown to be involved in this process. Our understanding of the molecular pathogenesis of this fatal disease will now allow us to design new strategies to better diagnose and treat lung cancer. In this symposium, we discuss how the molecular oncological approach can be used to reduce the rapidly increasing rates of death due to lung cancer.