Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), the frequently fatal pathology of the
respiratory tract, accounts for half a billion cases globally. COPD manifests via
chronic inflammatory response to irritants, frequently to tobacco smoke. The progression
of COPD from early onset to advanced disease leads to the loss of the alveolar wall,
pulmonary hypertension, and fibrosis of the respiratory epithelium. Here, we focus
on the epidemiology, progression, and biomarkers of COPD with a particular connection
to lung cancer. Dissecting the cellular and molecular players in the progression of
the disease, we aim to shed light on the role of smoking, which is responsible for
the disease, or at least for the more severe symptoms and worse patient outcomes.
We summarize the inflammatory conditions, as well as the role of EMT and fibroblasts
in establishing a cancer-prone microenvironment, i.e., the soil for ‘COPD-derived’
lung cancer. We highlight that the major health problem of COPD can be alleviated
via smoking cessation, early diagnosis, and abandonment of the usage of biomass fuels
on a global basis.