Chemoprevention of lung cancer is thought to significantly reduce the risk of acquiring these conditions in the subpopulation of patients with underlying health issues, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder and smoking-associated lung problems. Many strategies have been tested in the previous decades, with very few translating to successful clinical trials in specific subpopulations of patients. In this review, we analyze these strategies, as well as new approaches that have emerged throughout the last few years, including synthetic lethality concept and microbiome-induced regulation of lung carcinogenesis. Overall, the continuous effort in the area of lung chemoprevention is required to develop practical therapeutical approaches. Given the inconsistency of results obtained in clinical trials targeting lung cancer chemoprevention in various subgroups of patients that differ in the underlying health condition, race, and gender, we believe that individualized approaches will have more promise than generalized treatments.
Keywords: cigarette smoke; inflammation; nicotine; oxidative stress; repurposing; tumorigenesis.