radiation therapy and the introduction of new chemotherapeutic agents. However, the decisive breakthrough has been the development of new immunopathological techniques, which allow for the detection of special genetic mutations and initiate individualised therapy according to this finding. The number of patients who benefit is still small however, the quality of life and survival rates of those who respond to this treatment are impressive. The pharmaceutical industry invests heavily in the development of new diagnostic tools and effective treatment modalities, so expectations for the future are great. Smoking is still the most important risk factor worldwide. The set-up of preventive measures to reduce the smoking rate is therefore of paramount importance. However, some measures must be viewed with a critical distance. The dissemination of electronic cigarettes all over the world is viewed critically by experts and most of the lung societies [2]. The long-term consequences of these devices must be carefully examined before a final assessment is possible. Thoracic oncology plays an increasingly important role in respiratory medicine, as well as in the European Respiratory Society (ERS). Knowledge about oncology must make up a substantial part of a respiratory physician’s training, not only for those working in a hospital, but also for those in an outpatient setting. This issue of the ERS Monograph provides a comprehensive overview of the current knowledge of lung cancer in clinical practice and research. The Guest Editors have done great job of ensuring that all aspects of this complex disease are represented, meaning this book will be of interest to a very broad readership. References 1. Torre LA, Bray F, Siegel RL, et al. Global cancer statistics, 2012. CA Cancer J Clin 2015 65: 87–108. 2. Brandon TH, Goniewicz ML, Hanna NH, et al. Electronic nicotine delivery systems: a policy statement from the American Association for Cancer Research and the American Society of Clinical Oncology. Clin Cancer Res 2015 21: 514–525. viii