A coalition has developed to support the strongest possible public position against smoking. For the first time, lung cancer incidence has leveled off in white males. Women and minorities continue to be a major target for smoking cessation programs. However, with no decline in smoking rates since 1991, tobacco use will continue to significantly affect the development of lung cancer. Lung cancer is a problem in Arizona, and tobacco smoking will result in a greater number of people with this disease.
Lung cancer is very difficult to treat.
The most successful regimens involve the use of high doses of toxic drugs to destroy the tumor. This will have a greater impact on the Arizona Health Care System, with all of its attendant increases in costs for care of those afflicted. However, little work has been done to determine if these approaches can support the development of the T cells that are lost during the drug treatment procedure. Another serious problem is the expansion and long-term storage of HSCs to allow for multiple transplants. In our laboratory, we wish to develop new approaches to dealing with these problems.