This report considers the biological and behavioral mechanisms that may underlie the pathogenicity of tobacco smoke. Many Surgeon General's reports have considered research findings on mechanisms in assessing the biological plausibility of associations observed in epidemiologic studies. Mechanisms of disease are important because they may provide plausibility, which is one of the guideline criteria for assessing evidence on causation. This report specifically reviews the evidence on the potential mechanisms by which smoking causes diseases and considers whether a mechanism is likely to be operative in the production of human disease by tobacco smoke. This evidence is relevant to understanding how smoking causes disease, to identifying those who may be particularly susceptible, and to assessing the potential risks of tobacco products.

The book blends basic and clinical research on respiratory carcinogensis. The contributions tackle a variety of respiratory-related cancers, notably non-small cell lung carcinoma, pleural mesothelioma, mediastinal tumors, or larynx cancer. The focus is on the search for novel molecular markers, derived from easily accessible tissues in clinical settings, such as the serum or bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, which could help diagnose cancer at an early stage and have a prognostic therapeutic value. The transcriptional mechanisms which endow cells with the capacity for unlimited proliferation are considered, with silencing of tumor suppressor genes is the exemplar. Chapters provide insight into a variety of cancer-related disorders of the respiratory tract, novel ways of differential diagnosis and treatment. The aim is to bring the current clinical procedures into alignment with the latest basic research findings. The book is a text for respiratory researchers, clinicians, and pathologists.

This broadly-based reference resource was compiled as a result of the rapid rise in lung cancer incidence among the world's industrialized nations. Leading researchers address modern research on the respiratory epithelium.