This book provides a comprehensive and integrated view of lung cancer, combining global evidence with African-specific perspectives. It examines the epidemiology, histological subtypes, and multifactorial causes of the disease, with in-depth coverage of genomic alterations, molecular signatures, and population-specific variations in Africa. The chapters explore the combined impact of environmental exposures, tobacco smoke, air pollution, asbestos, silica, radon, and indoor pollutants and infectious agents, including viruses, bacteria, and parasites, as drivers of lung carcinogenesis. The volume also addresses the role of the exposome, chronic infections, immune modulation, and the lung microbiome in shaping disease risk, treatment response, and survival outcomes. The book also presents the advances in molecular diagnostics, biomarker discovery, precision oncology, and AI-enabled healthcare innovations alongside the influence of social determinants such as poverty, education, cultural factors, and healthcare access. With a focus on prevention, early detection, and equitable access to care, the book highlights African-led research, public health policies, and system-level solutions to reduce disparities and improve outcomes.

Key Features:

• Offers a comprehensive integration of global evidence with African-specific perspectives on lung cancer
• Explores epidemiology, histological subtypes, and multifactorial causes, including environmental and infectious drivers
• Highlights genomic alterations, molecular signatures, and population-specific variations relevant to Africa
• Examines the role of the exposome, chronic infections, immune modulation, and lung microbiome in carcinogenesis and outcomes
• Provides evidence-based recommendations for prevention, policy, and health system strengthening

This book is intended for researchers, clinicians, policymakers, and students in cancer research, molecular biology, epidemiology, public health, and related biomedical and health sciences fields, globally, with particular relevance for those engaged in advancing lung cancer research and care in Africa and other resource-constrained settings.

Zodwa Dlamini is a Professor of Molecular Oncology at the University of Pretoria with a strong track record in advancing cancer research, prevention, and care across Africa and globally. She is the Founding Director of the Pan African Cancer Research Institute (PACRI), Director of the SAMRC Precision Oncology Research Unit (PORU), and holder of the DSTI/NRF SARChI Chair in Precision Oncology and Cancer Prevention (POCP). She is a recipient of the 2024 South African Women in Science Award (SAWiSA) for Distinguished Woman Researcher and was awarded the prestigious Oppenheimer Memorial Trust Sabbatical Grant in 2026 to advance research on the exposome and cancer. She also serves as a Co-Investigator on the Cancer Grand Challenges initiative addressing global cancer inequities. Professor Dlamini is Founding President and Executive Board Member of the African Academy of Integrated Morphology and Health Sciences (AAIMHS), providing strategic leadership and institutional direction. She contributes to global science initiatives through the Global Alliance for Genomics and Health (GA4GH) and the Global Exposome Forum (GEF), and in 2025 chaired a high-level African exposomics consultation shaping continental strategy. She holds visiting professorships in the UK and USA, advancing global dialogue on precision health, exposomics, and cancer equity.