BIOLOGY

PROJECT
Lung Cancer

Name: Karm Parmar

Class&Section-12thD Science

RollNo:12148

School - Green Valley High School

 CERTIFICATE

This is certify that Karm Parmar of class 12th D Roll no 12148 has
satisfactorily completed his biology project as prescribed by the CBSE
during the academic year 2021-2022

Internal examiner Teacher incharge

External examiner

Acknowledgement
I would like to sincerely and profusely thanks to my biology teacher
Mrs. Chaitali Malkan for their guidance and support in completing my
project. I would also like to thank and acknowledge our principal for all
the facility provided.
I would also like to thank to my family for their motivation and support
and their timely help for the completion of this project.

Karm Parmar
12 thD Science
Table of Contents
1. Introduction……………………………………………………………..4
2. Cause ……………………………………………………………………….5
3. Symptoms………………………………………………………………7
5. Prevention ………………………………………………………………8
6. Treatment…………………………………………………………………9
8. Conclusion………………………………………………………………..11
9. Reference…………………………………………………………………..12
 INTRODUCTION
Introduction to Lung Cancer
Lung cancer is the second most common cancer, accounting for about one out of five
malignancies in men and one out of nine in women. Unfortunately, over the past several
years, while the incidence of lung cancer has gradually declined in men, it has been rising
alarmingly in women. In 1940 only seven women in 100,000 developed the disease; today
the rate is 42 in 100,000. And all the evidence points to smoking as the cause. As one
specialist in the field reports, "How long it takes to get cancer depends on how many
cigarettes you smoke a day." However, studies prove that quitting smoking does lower the
risk.

There are two major types of lung cancer: small cell lung cancer (SCLC)—which is also called
oat cell cancer, because the cells resemble oat grains—and non-small cell lung cancer
(NSCLC). The aggressiveness of the disease and treatment options depend on the type of
tumor diagnosed. Because many types of lung cancer grow quickly and spread rapidly and
because the lungs are vital organs, early detection and prompt treatment—usually surgery
to remove the tumor—is critical.
 Cause
Smoking
Smoking tobacco is by far the leading cause of lung cancer. About 80% of lung cancer deaths
are caused by smoking, and many others are caused by exposure to secondhand smoke.

Smoking is clearly the strongest risk factor for lung cancer, but it often interacts with other
factors. People who smoke and are exposed to other known risk factors such
as radon and asbestos are at an even higher risk. Not everyone who smokes gets lung cancer,
so other factors like genetics probably play a role as well (see below).

Causes in people who don't smoke

ot all people who get lung cancer smoke. Many people with lung cancer formerly smoked,
but many others never smoked at all. And it is rare for someone who has never smoked to be
diagnosed with small cell lung cancer (SCLC), but it can happen. 

Lung cancer in people who don't smoke can be caused by exposure to radon, secondhand
smoke, air pollution, or other factors. Workplace exposures to asbestos, diesel exhaust or
certain other chemicals can also cause lung cancers in some people who don’t smoke.

A small portion of lung cancers develop in people with no known risk factors for the disease.
Some of these might just be random events that don’t have an outside cause, but others

might be due to factors that we don’t yet know about.

Lung cancers in people who don't smoke are often different from those that occur in people
who do. They tend to develop in younger people and often have certain gene changes that
are different from those in tumors found in people who smoke. In some cases, these gene
changes can be used to guide treatment.

Gene changes that may lead to lung

cancer
Scientists know how some of the risk factors for lung cancer can cause certain changes in the
DNA of lung cells. These changes can lead to abnormal cell growth and, sometimes, cancer.
DNA is the chemical in our cells that makes up our genes, which control how our cells
function. DNA, which comes from both our parents, affects more than just how we look. It
also ca ome genes help control when cells grow, divide to make new cells, and die:

 Genes that help cells grow, divide, or stay alive are called oncogenes
 Genes that help control cell division or cause cells to die at the right time are
called tumor suppressor genes
Cancers can be caused by DNA changes that turn on oncogenes or turn off tumor suppressor
genes. Changes in many different genes are usually needed to cause lung cancer..

Acquired gene changes

Gene changes related to lung cancer are usually acquired during a person's lifetime rather
than inherited. Acquired mutations in lung cells often result from exposure to factors in the
environment, such as cancer-causing chemicals in tobacco smoke. But some gene changes

may just be random events that sometimes happen inside a cell, without having an outside
cause.

Acquired changes in certain genes, such as the RB1 tumor suppressor gene, are thought to be
important in the development of SCLC. Acquired changes in genes such as the p16 tumor
suppressor gene and the K-RAS oncogene, are thought to be important in the development of
NSCLC. Changes in the TP53  tumor suppression gene and to chromosome 3 can be seen in
both NSCLC and SCLC. Not all lung cancers share the same gene changes, so there are
undoubtedly changes in other genes that have not yet been found

Symptoms
Lung cancer typically doesn't cause signs and symptoms in its earliest stages. Signs and
symptoms of lung cancer typically occur when the disease is advanced.

Signs and symptoms of lung cancer may include:

 A new cough that doesn't go away

 Coughing up blood, even a small amount

 Shortness of breath

 Chest pain

 Hoarseness

 Losing weight without trying

 Bone pain

 Headache

Complications

Lung cancer can cause complications, such as:

 Shortness of breath. People with lung cancer can experience shortness of breath if cancer
grows to block the major airways. Lung cancer can also cause fluid to accumulate around the
lungs, making it harder for the affected lung to expand fully when you inhale.

 Coughing up blood. Lung cancer can cause bleeding in the airway, which can cause you to
cough up blood (hemoptysis). Sometimes bleeding can become severe. Treatments are
available to control bleeding.

 Pain. Advanced lung cancer that spreads to the lining of a lung or to another area of the body,
such as a bone, can cause pain. Tell your doctor if you experience pain, as many treatments
are available to control pain.

 Fluid in the chest (pleural effusion). Lung cancer can cause fluid to accumulate in
the space that surrounds the affected lung in the chest cavity (pleural space).

Fluid accumulating in the chest can cause shortness of breath. Treatments are
available to drain the fluid from your chest and reduce the risk that pleural effusion will
occur again.

 Cancer that spreads to other parts of the body (metastasis). Lung cancer often
spreads (metastasizes) to other parts of the body, such as the brain and the bones.

Cancer that spreads can cause pain, nausea, headaches, or other signs and
symptoms depending on what organ is affected. Once lung cancer has spread beyond
 the lungs, it's generally not curable. Treatments are available to decrease signs and
symptoms and to help you live longer.

Prevention

There's no sure way to prevent lung cancer, but you can reduce your risk if you:

 Don't smoke. If you've never smoked, don't start. Talk to your children about not
smoking so that they can understand how to avoid this major risk factor for lung
cancer. Begin conversations about the dangers of smoking with your children early so
that they know how to react to peer pressure.

 Stop smoking. Stop smoking now. Quitting reduces your risk of lung cancer, even if
you've smoked for years. Talk to your doctor about strategies and stop-smoking aids
that can help you quit. Options include nicotine replacement products, medications and
support groups.

 Avoid secondhand smoke. If you live or work with a smoker, urge him or her to quit.
At the very least, ask him or her to smoke outside. Avoid areas where people smoke,
such as bars and restaurants, and seek out smoke-free options.

 Test your home for radon. Have the radon levels in your home checked, especially if
you live in an area where radon is known to be a problem. High radon levels can be
remedied to make your home safer. For information on radon testing, contact your
local department of public health or a local chapter of the American Lung Association.

 Avoid carcinogens at work. Take precautions to protect yourself from exposure to

toxic chemicals at work. Follow your employer's precautions. For instance, if you're
given a face mask for protection, always wear it. Ask your doctor what more you can
do to protect yourself at work. Your risk of lung damage from workplace carcinogens
increases if you smoke.

 Eat a diet full of fruits and vegetables. Choose a healthy diet with a variety of fruits
and vegetables. Food sources of vitamins and nutrients are best. Avoid taking large
doses of vitamins in pill form, as they may be harmful. For instance, researchers
hoping to reduce the risk of lung cancer in heavy smokers gave them beta carotene
supplements. Results showed the supplements actually increased the risk of cancer in
smokers.

 Exercise most days of the week. If you don't exercise regularly, start out slowly. Try
to exercise most days of the week.

TREATMENT
Diagnosis

Broncho
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Testing healthy people for lung cancer

People with an increased risk of lung cancer may consider annual lung cancer screening using
low-dose CT scans. Lung cancer screening is generally offered to older adults who have smoked
heavily for many years or who have quit in the past 15 years.

Discuss your lung cancer risk with your doctor. Together you can decide whether lung cancer
screening is right for you.
Tests to diagnose lung cancer

If there's reason to think that you may have lung cancer, your doctor can order a number of tests
to look for cancerous cells and to rule out other conditions.

Tests may include:

 Imaging tests. An X-ray image of your lungs may reveal an abnormal mass or nodule.
A CT scan can reveal small lesions in your lungs that might not be detected on an X-ray.

 Sputum cytology. If you have a cough and are producing sputum, looking at the sputum
under the microscope can sometimes reveal the presence of lung cancer cells.

 Tissue sample (biopsy). A sample of abnormal cells may be removed in a procedure

called a biopsy.

Your doctor can perform a biopsy in a number of ways, including bronchoscopy, in

which your doctor examines abnormal areas of your lungs using a lighted tube that's
passed down your throat and into your lungs.

Mediastinoscopy, in which an incision is made at the base of your neck and surgical
tools are inserted behind your breastbone to take tissue samples from lymph nodes is
also an option.

Another option is needle biopsy, in which your doctor uses X-ray or CT images to
guide a needle through your chest wall and into the lung tissue to collect suspicious
cells.

A biopsy sample may also be taken from lymph nodes or other areas where cancer
has spread, such as your liver.

Careful analysis of your cancer cells in a lab will reveal what type of lung cancer you have. Results
of sophisticated testing can tell your doctor the specific characteristics of your cells that can help
determine your prognosis and guide your treatment.

Tests to determine the extent of the cancer

Once your lung cancer has been diagnosed, your doctor will work to determine the extent (stage)
of your cancer. Your cancer's stage helps you and your doctor decide what treatment is most
appropriate.

Staging tests may include imaging procedures that allow your doctor to look for evidence that
cancer has spread beyond your lungs. These tests include CT, MRI, positron emission
tomography (PET) and bone scans. Not every test is appropriate for every person, so talk with
your doctor about which procedures are right for you.
The stages of lung cancer are indicated by Roman numerals that range from 0 to IV, with the
lowest stages indicating cancer that is limited to the lung. By stage IV, the cancer is considered
advanced and has spread to other areas of the body.

Conclusion
Lung cancer is the leading cause of death over the world and the only chance of cure for patients affected
from this kind of cancer is surgical resection.
This is mainly due to the fact that several factors are involved in lung cancer develoment and progression
and to date the diagnostic methods available for an early and efficient detection are not sufficient.
Although lung cancer research data have accumulated dramatically during the past several years, there is no
database specifically focusing on lung cancer molecular biology available yet.
In this short review we have summarized some of the factors contributing to lung cancer, but it is just an
overview of the most important proteins involved in lung cancer disease, which are often mutated or present
an unusual pattern of expression compared to the healthy tissue.
All together these data are important for understanding the nature behind this type of cancer and also to
understand that basic research on proteins, miRNAs and all the other epigenetic modifications could be used
to develop more powerful diagnostic tools, as well as prognostic or predictive markers or even for the
development of new targeting therapies for lung cancer.
Reference
1. Class 12th Biology NCERT.
Internet Sources:
2. www.google.com
3. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/lung-
cancer/diagnosis-treatment