The “Asian Paradox” in multiple primary lung cancer: a geographic monopole driven by phenotypic divergence

Journal article : Letter

The global clinical trial landscape for multiple primary lung cancer (MPLC) exhibits a striking geographic anomaly. Through a systematic analysis of 8212 lung cancer registrations (2015–2024), we identified a cohort of 17 trials explicitly targeting MPLC. Analysis revealed an absolute geographic monopole: 100% of these trials were investigator-initiated in China, with a complete absence of active protocols in Western registries. We argue that this segregation is not accidental but driven by the “Asian phenotype”,which is characterized by indolent, multifocal ground-glass nodules (GGNs), demands lung-sparing local strategies distinct from the systemic paradigms favored in the West. We urge the international community to transition from universal guidelines to phenotype-stratified management frameworks.

Authors: Shi, J; Gao, Y

• Publication status: Published
• Publisher: Nature Research
• Journal: npj Primary Care Respiratory Medicine
• Volume: 36
• Issue: 1
• Article number: 23
• Publication date: 2026-04-06
• Acceptance date: 2026-03-14
• DOI: 10.1038/s41533-026-00504-7
• EISSN: 2055-1010
• ISSN: 2055-1010
• Language: English
• Subtype: Letter