Smoking
is the leading cause of preventable morbidity and mortality. Lung cancer is the major cause
of cancer death in the developed world. No prevention, screening
or therapeutic regimen has been proven to be effective against
lung cancer. New approaches are urgently needed.
EAGLE is a unique collaboration between the
United State (NCI) and Italy (UNIMI). It represents collaborative
efforts of over 100 scientists, clinicians and support staff. The
study goals are to identify the genetic and environmental determinants
of both lung cancer and smoking and to shed light on the determinants
of therapy success and long term survival in patients diagnosed
with lung cancer. The EAGLE group has completed
data collection for a multi-center case-control study of lung
cancer in the Lombardy Region of Italy; over 2000 cases and
2000 controls were enrolled between 2002 and 2005.
The rich integrative platform of EAGLE will enable a new generation
of scientists to address the scientific and clinical challenges
posed by lung cancer.