The underfunding of lung cancer research

Abstract

Despite major advances in the field of oncology in research, diagnostic methods, and treatment modalities, lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer death in the United States among both men and women. With an estimated 215,020 new cases and 161,840 deaths in 2008, lung cancer is responsible for more than 25% of all cancer deaths. Given these alarming statistics, one would assume that lung cancer research would be a priority for funding. Surprisingly, this could not be further from the truth. In terms of research funding, lung cancer is all but forgotten. Various government agencies fund cancer research, including the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and National Cancer Institute (NCI), the Department of Defense (DOD), and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Of the $5.570 billion in NIH funding for all cancer research in 2008, $726 million was granted for breast cancer, $290 million for prostate cancer, and $274 million for colorectal cancer. Unfortunately, only $169 million was spent on research for the number one cancer killer, lung cancer. Similarly, in 2008 the DOD sponsored $138 million to fund breast cancer research, $80 million for prostate cancer, and $10 million for ovarian cancer. Meanwhile, lung cancer was given no designated funding. Fortunately, recent advocacy has resulted in the funding of a new $20-million Lung Cancer Research Program through the DOD for fiscal year 2009. Nonetheless, overall federal research funding per cancer death remains 21 times greater for breast cancer and 13 times greater for prostate cancer than for lung cancer research. This alarming disparity is not simply isolated to cancer research funding but also extends to lung cancer prevention and control, where a surprising two thirds of the $300,000 earmarked by the CDC is allocated to breast and cervical cancer while only $100,000 of the CDC budget is focused on smoking cessation. No CDC dollars are earmarked for prevention of lung cancer aside from smoking cessation, and although smoking cessation is extremely important, it is not appropriate to assume that it is the cure for all lung cancer, anymore than it is the cure for all cases of coronary artery disease or stroke. The average person with lung cancer stopped smoking nearly a decade before the development of lung cancer, and the incidence of lung cancer among nonsmokers is estimated to be as high as 30,000 to 50,000 cases/year.