RESUMO
INTRODUCTION: Human bronchioloalveolar carcinoma (BAC) is a disease with an evolving definition. "Pure" BAC, characterized by a bronchioloalveolar growth pattern and no evidence of stromal, vascular, or pleural invasion, represents only 2 to 6% of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cases, but up to 20% of NSCLC cases may contain elements of BAC. This imprecise definition makes it difficult to perform epidemiologic analyses or to generate accurate animal models. However, because BAC appears to behave clinically differently from adenocarcinoma, a better understanding of this disease entity is imperative. METHODS/RESULTS: At the BAC Consensus Conference in 2004, our committee discussed issues relevant to BAC epidemiology, pathogenesis, and preclinical models. CONCLUSIONS: Elucidation of molecular events involved in BAC tumorigenesis will allow for more precise epidemiologic studies and improved animal models, which will enable development of more effective treatments against the disease.
