Lung cancer remains one of the most common cancers with the highest mortality rate. In 2020, lung cancer alone caused 1.8 million deaths worldwide, accounting for 18% of all cancer deaths. It is estimated that by 2030, there will be 10 million deaths per year due to lung cancer. Although significant advancements have been made in lung cancer treatments, the 5-year survival rate has remained unchanged for nearly three decades. Therefore, identifying novel therapeutic interventions for lung cancer is urgently required. Although smoking cigarettes is the primary risk factor for lung cancer, being associated with 80-90% of lung cancer-related deaths in the United States, chronic inflammatory lung diseases such as COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) are other major risk factors for lung cancer. Patients with COPD are more likely to develop lung cancer. Studies have identified several associations and genetic overlaps between lung cancer and COPD. This necessitates the urgent requirement for effective and feasible interventions to cope with COPD and lung cancer.

The aim and scope of this Research Topic is to focus on recent advances in treatments for lung cancer and chronic inflammatory lung diseases. This will include targeted therapies and immunopharmacological approaches. Numerous preclinical and clinical studies have shown that immunotherapeutic approaches have enhanced antitumor effects. Several novel immune checkpoints have been identified with potential therapeutic efficacy. This section will underpin the novel drug developments and therapeutic targets of investigational agents.

Submissions to this topic may include, but are not limited to, the following potential areas of research:

1) Targeted therapies, including monoclonal antibodies and small molecules, and precision medicine in lung cancer
2) Immunopharmacology (including advancements in immunotherapy such as immune checkpoint inhibitors, inflammatory cytokine inhibitors, cancer vaccines, and immunomodulatory drugs)
3) Anti-angiogenic therapy
4) Novel anti-inflammatory therapy for COPD (small molecule inhibitors such as CXCR2 antagonists, PI3K inhibitors, PDE inhibitors, and p38 MAPK inhibitors)

By highlighting future research on lung cancer therapeutics and chronic respiratory diseases, this section is poised to bring several advancements that can significantly improve treatment outcomes.

This topic collection welcomes submissions of the following article types: Original Research Articles, Brief Research Reports, Case Reports, Reviews, Mini-reviews, Methods, and General Commentary.

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