Lung Health Check pilot: Ireland's flagship lung cancer screening trial

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Radiology
• Public Health

Background:

• Low-dose chest CT (LDCT) effectively detects early lung cancer (LC) and reduces mortality in high-risk groups.
• Lung cancer risk scores, like the PLCO_M2012, enhance screening accuracy.
• Ireland currently lacks a national LC screening program, highlighting a critical public health gap.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the feasibility and uptake of a community-based LC screening program in Ireland.
• To investigate novel blood and breath biomarkers for improved early LC detection.
• To enhance LC screening success through primary care engagement and accessibility.

Main Methods:

• A pilot feasibility clinical trial inviting ~30,000 adults (55-74 years) via general practitioners.
• High-risk individuals receive a 'lung health check' (LHC) including spirometry, smoking cessation advice, and LDCT in a mobile unit.
• A subset will provide biospecimens (blood/breath/sputum) for biomarker analysis over two 12-month screening rounds.

Main Results:

• This pilot study will report on the feasibility and uptake rates of community-based LC screening.
• The study aims to identify novel biomarkers that can supplement existing risk scores for early LC detection.
• Direct participant invitation and a translational biomarker arm are novel aspects of this trial.

Conclusions:

• This pilot study is the first of its kind in Ireland, assessing community-based LC screening feasibility.
• Findings will inform the potential implementation of a national lung cancer screening program.
• The integration of novel biomarkers may significantly improve early lung cancer detection rates.