Biomarkers Can Promote Risk Stratification in CT Scanning for Lung Cancer Detection

Biomarkers Can Promote Risk Stratification in CT Scanning for Lung Cancer Detection

Despite recent advances in surgical options, radiation and chemotherapy for the treatment of lung cancer, cure rates have not changed in 30 years, and lung cancer continues to kill more people than the next four leading causes of cancer death combined. This occurs in part because lung cancer most often does not present itself until the advanced stages when it is essentially incurable. However, if lung cancer is detected early, surgery can cure a majority of patients. If more patients are identified earlier in their disease course, lung death rates could drop significantly. To this end, low-dose spiral chest CT scans are effective in detecting lung cancer in its early stages, with a 20% reduction in mortality in heavy smokers who were screened.