Updates on lung cancer screening for early detection

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Radiology
• Genomics

Background:

• Lung cancer remains a leading cause of cancer mortality worldwide.
• Early detection significantly improves patient outcomes and survival rates.
• Current screening methods face challenges in accessibility and efficacy for all populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the current status and advancements in lung cancer screening.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) and liquid biopsy.
• To explore the potential of combined screening strategies for early lung cancer detection.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on lung cancer screening programs.
• Analysis of data from major international LDCT trials (e.g., NLST, NELSON, ILD).
• Examination of emerging liquid biopsy technologies for multi-cancer early detection (e.g., CCGA, Galleri®).

Main Results:

• LDCT screening, as implemented in Korea's National Lung Cancer Screening Program, demonstrates reduced mortality, increased uptake, and improved smoking cessation.
• International trials confirm LDCT's efficacy in lowering lung cancer mortality.
• Liquid biopsy technologies show potential for early cancer detection via blood tests, complementing LDCT.

Conclusions:

• Lung cancer screening programs, particularly LDCT, have proven effective in reducing mortality.
• Liquid biopsy offers a promising complementary approach for early cancer detection.
• Integrating LDCT and liquid biopsy is expected to enhance early detection strategies for lung cancer.