Trial seeks improved lung-cancer screening by combining imaging and biomarkers

May 3, 2012 in Cancer

National Jewish Health is seeking to refine and improve lung-cancer screening by combining a blood test with CT imaging to detect disease earlier and more effectively. The trial combines a CT chest scan and the EarlyCDT-Lung blood test to screen for cancer, and seeks to build on recent research demonstrating that CT screening alone can reduce lung-cancer mortality.

"We have learned that of high-risk patients can reduce lung-cancer deaths. But we need to enhance screening to detect a greater number of early-stage lung cancers. That is the patient's best chance of a cure," said James Jett, MD, Professor of Medicine at National Jewish Health and principal investigator on the trial. "Combining CT screening with biomarker tests, such as the EarlyCDT-Lung, may help us detect more lung cancers at earlier stage while reducing the number of biopsies or operations performed for non-canceorus abnormalities."

EarlyCDT-Lung, developed by Oncimmune, Inc., detects antibodies that a person's immune system produces in its attempt to fight cancer. It has been shown that some antibodies may be detectable as long as five years before symptoms develop.

The National Trial recently demonstrated that screening patients with a high risk of developing cancer can reduce lung-cancer deaths by 20 percent. However, the CT screening also produces many false alarms, or false positives, which can lead to invasive follow-up testing, such as biopsy or surgery, that ends up finding only benign (non-cancerous) abnormalities. Researchers believe that the combination of the two tests, with their different detection strategies, may work together to make a screening method that is effective both medically and economically.

Lung cancer is the number one cause of cancer deaths in the United States, killing about 160,000 Americans every year; more than breast, colon and deaths combined. Early detection of lung cancer dramatically improves a patient's curative treatment options. Five-year survival for patients with advanced, stage IV disease is only 1 percent, while those whose cancer is detected early at stage I have a 70 to 80 percent of surviving five years. Five year-survival of all in the United States is only 16 percent, because the disease is usually detected at an advanced stage when it becomes symptomatic.

"Early detection of cancer could dramatically improve survival and reduce the terrible toll it takes on people today," said Debra Dyer, MD, radiologist at National Jewish Health and co-principal investigator on the study. "We believe this study may demonstrate an effective method for doing just that."

The trial will screen 1,600 participants over 4 years. They will receive both the EarlyCDT-Lung and a low-dose CT scan at no charge. Particpants need to be 50-75 years of age, have a smoking history of at least 20 pack-years (equivalent to a pack a day for 20 years), and be a current or former smoker who quit fewer than 10 years ago. Those who have a history of cancer other than skin , serious illness that limits their life expectancy to less than 5 years, or currently use oxygen to breathe are not eligible for the study.

Provided by National Jewish Health search and more info website

not rated yet  

Rank not rated yet
Relevant PhysicsForums posts

More news stories

American cancer society celebrates 100 years of progress

(HealthDay)—The American Cancer Society, which is celebrating on Wednesday a century of fighting a disease once viewed as a death sentence, is making a pledge to put itself out of business.

Cancer created 6 hours ago | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

CT detects twice as many lung cancers as X-ray at initial screening exam

National Lung Screening Trial (NLST) investigators also conclude that the 20 percent reduction in lung cancer mortality with low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) versus chest X-ray (CXR) screening previously reported in the ...

Cancer created 7 hours ago | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Research offers promising new approach to treatment of lung cancer

Researchers have developed a new drug delivery system that allows inhalation of chemotherapeutic drugs to help treat lung cancer, and in laboratory and animal tests it appears to reduce the systemic damage ...

Cancer created 10 hours ago | popularity not rated yet | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Study details genes that control whether tumors adapt or die when faced with p53 activating drugs

When turned on, the gene p53 turns off cancer. However, when existing drugs boost p53, only a few tumors die – the rest resist the challenge. A study published in the journal Cell Reports shows how: tumors that live even i ...

Cancer created 10 hours ago | popularity not rated yet | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Small increase in cancer risk following CT scans in childhood and adolescence

Study leader, Professor John Mathews from the University of Melbourne said this small increase in cancer risk must be weighed against the undoubted benefits from CT scans in diagnosing and monitoring disease.

Cancer created 14 hours ago | popularity not rated yet | comments 0


Rate of bicycle-related fatalities significantly lower in states with helmet laws

Existing research shows that bicyclists who wear helmets have an 88 percent lower risk of brain injury, but researchers at Boston Children's Hospital found that simply having bicycle helmet laws in place showed a 20 percent ...

Slowing the aging process—only with antibiotics

Swiss scientists reveal the mechanism responsible for aging hidden deep within mitochondria—and dramatically slow it down in worms by administering antibiotics to the young.

Researchers complete largest genetic sequencing study of human disease

Researchers from Queen Mary, University of London have led the largest sequencing study of human disease to date, investigating the genetic basis of six autoimmune diseases.

Brain can be trained in compassion, study shows

Until now, little was scientifically known about the human potential to cultivate compassion—the emotional state of caring for people who are suffering in a way that motivates altruistic behavior.

Having both migraines, depression may mean smaller brain

(HealthDay)—Migraines and depression can each cause a great deal of suffering, but new research indicates the combination of the two may be linked to something else entirely—a smaller brain.

Novel approach for influenza vaccination shows promise in early animal testing

A new approach for immunizing against influenza elicited a more potent immune response and broader protection than the currently licensed seasonal influenza vaccines when tested in mice and ferrets. The vaccine ...