To note, the circulating levels of caspase-4 were significantly low (p < 0.0001) in the plasma of patients (n = 10) who were diagnosed of chronic respiratory diseases (i.e. tuberculosis, emphysema) (here defined as lung pathologies), pathologies that were not related to COPD and/or lung cancer, compared to NSCLC patients (Figure 1B). The gene discussed is CASP4; the disease is chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.