Abstract
Incidence of second malignancies in patients with advanced lung cancer is not well-studied, in part because of a short survival in this patient population. Apart from a genetic predisposition, various environmental hazards may also be at play in their pathogenesis. Chronic smoking exposure decreases T-cell responsiveness and stimulates production of a variety of inhibitory cytokines. Paclitaxel has been associated with several immunosuppressive effects such as decreased numbers and activity of dendritic cells, NK-cells, and monocytes. We herein describe the first series of lung cancer patients who developed colonic polyps/colon cancer either during or immediately following chemotherapy with paclitaxel, suggesting a possible role of this agent in their pathogenesis.
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