Update in lung cancer and mesothelioma 2012.

Lung cancer remains the number one cause of cancer-related death in the United States among both men and women. It is estimated that in 2013, there will be more than 200,000 new diagnoses of lung cancer and nearly 160,000 deaths (1). Despite the discovery and application of targeted therapies, the overall survival (OS) remains poor, with an overall 5-year survival approximating 16%. In addition, there are a growing number of cases among former smokers and never smokers. However, based on research advances in 2012, there is enthusiasm that improvements in early detection, coupled with tobacco cessation and the application of novel genetic and genomics technologies, will lead to improved outcomes.