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Lung Cancer: Screening/Prevention
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Folic Acid and Vitamin B12 Increase Risk of Cancer in Patients with Heart Disease (11/19/2009)
Researchers from Norway have reported that folic acid and B12 supplements in patients with ischemic heart disease increase the risk of cancer and all-cause mortality. The details of this study appeared in the November 18, 2009 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Society.
Bilateral Oophorectomy Increases Risk of Lung Cancer (7/30/2009)
Researchers from Canada have reported that women who have bilateral oophorectomy are 1.92 times as likely to develop lung cancer as women who have natural menopause. The details of this study appeared in an early on-line publication in the International Journal of Cancer on May 11, 2009.
Schizophrenia Associated with Increased Cancer Mortality (7/22/2009)
Researchers from France have reported that persons with schizophrenia have an increased risk of mortality from cancer, especially from breast cancer for women and lung cancer for men. The details of this study appeared in the August, 2009 issue of Cancer.
False-positive Results Are Common with Cancer Screening (7/21/2009)
Researchers affiliated with the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal, and Ovarian (PLCO) Cancer Screening Trial have reported that the risk of obtaining a false-positive result from screening for prostate, lung, colorectal, and ovarian cancer is high and becomes cumulatively higher with ongoing screening—after 14 screening tests, the cumulative risk of a false-positive is 60.4% for men and 48.8% for women. The results of this study were published in the May/June 2009 issue of the Annals of Family Medicine.
Lung Cancer Screening with Low-dose Computed Tomography Associated with High Rate of False Positives (6/12/2009)
Researchers from the National Institutes of Health have reported that individuals who undergo lung cancer screening with low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) are at a high risk for receiving false-positive results. The details of this study were presented at the 2009 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology in Orlando, Florida, on May 30.
Oophorectomy for Benign Disease Increases Heart- and Cancer-related Deaths (4/30/2009)
Researchers affiliated with the Harvard Nurses’ Health study have reported that women who have a hysterectomy and bilateral oophorectomy for benign disease have a lower risk of developing ovarian cancer but a higher risk of all-cause mortality, including cancer deaths, than women who have a hysterectomy without ooophorectomy. The details of this study appeared in the May 1, 2009 issue of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Beta-carotene, Retinol, and Lutein Supplements May Increase Risk of Lung Cancer (4/7/2009)
Researchers affiliated with the VITamins And Lifestyle (VITAL) cohort Study have reported that use of individual beta-carotene, retinol, or lutein supplements is linked with an increased risk of lung cancer. The details of this study appeared in the April 1, 2009 issue of the American Journal of Epidemiology.
Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs May Decrease Risk of Lung Cancer (4/3/2009)
Researchers from the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center have reported that use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may be associated with a small reduced risk of lung cancer. The details of this study appeared in an early online publication in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention on March 17, 2009.
Pulmonary Scarring on Chest X-Ray Is Associated with Lung Cancer Incidence (12/1/2008)
Researchers affiliated with the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal, and Ovarian (PLCO) Cancer Screening Trial have reported that pulmonary scarring is associated with the development of ipsilateral lung cancer. The details of this study were reported in the November 24, 2008 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine.
Beta-carotene in Multivitamins Harmful for Smokers (6/27/2008)
Researchers from the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center have reported that high-dose beta-carotene increases the risk of lung cancer in current smokers but not in former smokers. The details of this study were published in the July 1 issue of Cancer.
Blood Test Shows Promise for Early Detection of Lung Cancer (6/6/2008)
According to the results of a study presented at the 2008 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), an experimental blood test may eventually allow for earlier detection of lung cancer in smokers. The test assesses the presence of a lung cancer-associated RNA fingerprint in peripheral blood.
Hormone Replacement Therapy Increases Cancer Risk (3/11/2008)
Researchers affiliated with the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) have reported that hormone replacement therapy (HRT) increases the risk of breast cancer and lung cancer among postmenopausal women. These results were recently published in the March 5, 2008 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
PET Scans May Help Identify Early Lung Cancer (12/3/2007)
A systematic review by Canadian researchers has concluded that positron emission tomography (PET) scans may improve the accuracy of imaging in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and small cell lung cancer (SCLC). The details of this review appeared in an early on-line publication in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute on November 27, 2007.
Researchers Disagree with Conclusions of the International Lung Cancer Action Program on CT Screening (11/29/2007)
Researchers from several U.S. medical centers, the National Institutes of Health and the Nordic Cochrane Center have written a critique of the 2006 publication by the International Lung Cancer Action Program (I-ELCAP) that suggested CT screening for lung cancer was of proven benefit in improving survival. The details of this critique appeared in the November 26, 2007 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine.
CT Still Not Recommended for Lung Cancer Screening (11/28/2007)
According to guidelines published by the American College of Chest Physicians, there is still no definitive evidence that screening methods such as low-dose computed tomography (CT) reduce the risk of death from lung cancer.
Baseline CT Screening Reported Useful for Asbestos Exposed Population (11/21/2007)
Researchers from Italy have reported that CT screening of persons exposed to asbestos is useful for the detection of early lung cancer. The details of this study appeared in the November, 2007 issue of The Oncologist.
Further Data Show Significantly Improved Survival with CT Screening for Lung Cancer (11/16/2007)
Researchers from Japan have reported that individuals undergoing low-dose computed tomography (CT) scans for early detection of lung cancer have a favorable mortality rate of less than 14% at 10 years following diagnosis. The details of this study were published in the December, 2007 issue of Lung Cancer.
Screening CT Detects More Lung Cancers than Chest X-Ray at Baseline (11/7/2007)
Researchers from Italy have reported that CT detects four times more lung cancers than chest X-Ray.
Autoantibodies to Cancer Associated Antigens May Help Detect Early Lung Cancer (10/22/2007)
Researchers from the UK and Germany have reported that an autoantibody response to one or more tumor associated antigens could provide a specific test for the detection of early lung cancer. The details of this study appeared in an early on-line publication in Thorax on October 11, 2007.
Iressa® Active in the Treatment of Adenocarcinoma of the Esophagus (10/11/2007)
Researchers from the UK have reported that Iressa (gefitinib) is an active and well tolerated treatment for adenocarcinoma of the esophagus. The details of this study appeared in the October 1, 2007 issue of Clinical Cancer Research.
Students Report High Level of Exposure to Secondhand Smoke (10/3/2007)
According to an international survey of students between the ages of 13 and 15 years, almost half of the nonsmokers reported that they were exposed to secondhand smoke at home and a similar number reported that they were exposed to secondhand smoke outside of the home. These results were published in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
CT Lung Cancer Screening Outside a Clinical Trial Not Recommended by ACCP (9/18/2007)
The American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP) has concluded that “no screening modality has shown to alter mortality outcomes” of patients at high risk of lung cancer. They recommend that “individuals undergo screening only when it is administered as a component of a well-designed clinical trial with appropriate human subjects’ precautions.” The details of this study were included in a September 2007 supplement to Chest and are part of the ACCP Evidence-Based Clinical Guidelines (2nd Edition) on Lung Cancer.
Sputum Test May Aid in Detecting Lung Cancer (9/18/2007)
According to results presented at the 2007 International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) conference, genetic markers that can be detected in a patient’s sputum may aid in the screening process for early diagnosis of lung cancer.
Fruit and Vegetable Consumption Decreases Lung Cancer Incidence in Smokers (7/13/2007)
European researchers have determined that a high intake of fruits and vegetables significantly lowers the incidence of lung cancer in smokers. The details of this study appeared in the September, 2007 issue of the International Journal of Cancer.
Surgeon General Reports on Health Consequences of Secondhand Smoke (7/5/2007)
The 2006 Report of the Surgeon General on the health consequences of involuntary exposure to tobacco smoke was published in the June 2007 issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine. A copy of the complete report can be accessed on the US Department of Health and Welfare website.
Workplace Exposure to Second-Hand Tobacco Smoke Associated with Increased Lung Cancer Risk (3/15/2007)
An international multi-center study has confirmed that exposure to second-hand tobacco smoke increases the risk of developing lung cancer. The details of this study appeared in the March 1, 2007 issue of the American Journal of Public Health.
High Intake of Vegetables and Fruit Reduces Risk of Lung Cancer in China (2/22/2007)
A Chinese study has shown that a high intake of vegetables and fruit drastically reduces the risk of lung cancer. The reduced risk is particularly evident in smokers but is also apparent in non-smokers.
Physical Activity May Reduce Lung Cancer Risk in Female Smokers (1/10/2007)
Researchers from the University of Minnesota and the University of Pennsylvania have reported that physical activity may reduce the risk of developing lung cancer in current and former smokers.
Further Data Indicates Hereditary Link to Lung Cancer (11/20/2006)
Researchers from the United Kingdom have reported that individuals who have family members diagnosed with lung cancer, particularly those whose family members were diagnosed at an early age, are at a significantly increased risk of developing lung cancer themselves.
Annual Spiral CT Screening May Detect Curable Lung Cancer (10/27/2006)
Researchers associated with the International Early Lung Cancer Action Program have reported that the 10-year survival of patients with CT screen-detected stage I lung cancer was 88% for all patients and 92% for those undergoing surgery within one month of diagnosis.
FISH Plus Cytology Optimal for Detecting Lung Cancer Bronchoscopy Specimens (9/21/2006)
Researchers from the Mayo Clinic have reported that fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) is more accurate than cytology in detecting lung cancer in bronchoscopy specimens, but both tests together are even more accurate.
Scarring and Pulmonary Fibrosis on Screening Chest X-Rays Associated with Increase Risk of Lung Cancer (9/13/2006)
Researchers affiliated with the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal and Ovarian Screening (PLICO) Trial have reported that persons with scarring and pulmonary fibrosis on chest X-rays performed as part of a screening program is associated with a two-fold increase in the incidence of lung cancer.
Many Abnormalities on CT Screening for Lung Cancer Do Not Require Biopsies (5/5/2006)
Researchers from Cornell University have reported that many abnormalities detected on annual computerized tomography (CT) screening scans for lung cancer clear with observation with or without antibiotics. Only persistent or growing nodules required further evaluation. The details of this report appeared in the April 2006 issue of Chest.
Computed Tomography Screening for Lung Cancer Detects Early Disease (3/1/2006)
Researchers affiliated with the International Early Lung Cancer Action Program Investigators have reported that Computed Tomography (CT) screening detects a higher percentage of early stage lung cancer than observed in a non-screened population.
Dogs Put Their Noses to Work in the Fight Against Cancer (2/2/2006)
Researchers from Pine Street Foundation in San Anselmo, California, have reported that dogs can identify patients with breast or lung cancer based on the smell of their breath.
Baseline Chest X-Rays Detect Early Lung Cancer (12/23/2005)
Researchers affiliated with the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal and Ovarian (PLCO) Cancer Screening Trial found that nearly half of the lung cancers identified on initial screening were stage I compared to the 16% usually observed in clinical practice.
High Intake of Phytoestrogens Associated with Lower Risk of Lung Cancer (10/4/2005)
Researchers from M.D. Anderson Cancer Center have reported that diets rich in phytoestrogens are associated with a lower incidence of lung cancer than in individuals consuming diets low in phytoestrotens.
Histopathological Features of Lung Cancers Provide No Predictive Value for Response to Adjuvant Chemotherap (7/13/2005)
Researchers from France and Austria have reported that histological features of stage I-III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) do not appear to predict for response to adjuvant chemotherapy.
Family History of Early Onset Lung Cancer Increases Risk of Lung Cancer Especially in Blacks (6/23/2005)
Researchers from Karmanos Cancer Institute have reported that first-degree relatives of patients with early onset lung cancer have an increased risk of smoking induced lung cancer that is greater in black individuals than in white individuals.
Genetic Testing Helps Predict Response of NSCLC to Iressa® (6/9/2005)
Researchers from the United States and Europe have reported that a high epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene copy number, identified by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), can predict responses to Iressa (gefitinib) in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
Statin Use Associated with Decreased Incidence of Prostate, Lung and Breast Cancer (5/31/2005)
Three studies were reported at the 2005 meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology that suggest statins are active in reducing the risk of developing prostate, lung and breast cancer.
Five-Year Experience with CT Screening for Lung Cancer (5/11/2005)
Researchers form the Mayo Clinic have reported their 5 year experience with computerized tomography (CT) screening for lung cancer and concluded that this technique allows early detection with an associated high rate of benign nodules.
International Conference Recommends Lung Cancer Screening (4/27/2005)
The Como International Conference Position Statement on lung cancer screening has concluded that high-risk individuals should be encouraged to enroll in ongoing trials evaluating lung screening. In the U.S., this primarily means studies of annual computerized tomography (CT) scans.
Patients with Lung Cancer Have High Incidence of Second Primary Cancers (4/20/2005)
Researchers from the Leiden University in the Netherlands have reported that patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) have a high incidence of previous and subsequent primary cancers. The details of this retrospective analysis were reported in the April 2005 issue of Chest.
More Evidence that Passive Smoking Causes Lung Cancer (2/11/2005)
Researchers affiliated with the International Agency for Research on Cancer confirm that “environmental tobacco smoke is a risk factor for lung cancer and other respiratory diseases, particularly in ex-smokers.” Researchers from Hong Kong also “found significant dose-dependent associations between passive smoking and mortality from lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, stroke, ischaemic heart disease, and from all cancers, all respiratory and circulatory diseases, and all causes.”
The Environmental Protection Agency Issues Health Advisory on Radon to Prevent Lung Cancer (2/8/2005)
On January 15, 2005 the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) urged Americans to test for radon gas in their homes to prevent lung cancer. In a separate report, researchers from Europe published the latest analysis of the effect of radon in homes and the risk of lung cancer in the February issue of the British Journal of Medicine.
Smokers with Chronic Bronchitis and Emphysema are at Higher Risk of Lung Cancer (12/1/2004)
A recent study performed by researchers at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and published in the October 2004 issue of Cancer Causes and Control reports that smokers with a history of chronic bronchitis or emphysema are at an increased risk of developing lung cancer.
Risk of Lung Cancer Reduced in Men Who Quit Smoking (9/7/2004)
The results of a study published online in the August 3, 2004 issue of the British Journal of Cancer indicate that men who quit smoking can significantly reduce their risk of developing lung cancer. The benefit of quitting was found even if the men waited until middle age to do so.
Lung Cancer Detected by Sputum Cytology is Clinically Meaningful (7/30/2004)
Researchers from Japan have reported that two thirds of patients with untreated squamous cell carcinoma of the lung diagnosed by sputum cytology died within 10 years of lung cancer. They suggest that “overdiagnosis bias does not appear to be a factor in screening for this disease”. The details of this report appeared in the July 2004 issue of Chest.
Pilot Study Demonstrates Feasibility of a Randomized Comparison of CT Versus Chest X-Ray for Lung Cancer Screening (7/27/2004)
Researchers affiliated with the Lung Screening Study of the National Cancer Institute have reported the background data for the current large (50,000 person) randomized comparison of CT versus chest X-ray for detecting early lung cancer. The details of this report appeared in the July 2004 issue of Chest.
Topical Alpha-Lactalbumin-Oleic Acid Derived From Human Breast Milk Effective for Skin Papillomas (7/1/2004)
Researchers from Sweden have reported that the topical application of alpha-lactalbumin-oleic acid can eradicate skin papillomas induced by human papilloma virus (HPV). This observation could lead to further studies in HPV-associated cancers such as cancer of the cervix. The details of this report appeared in the June 24, 2004 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
Researchers Caution Against Wide Spread Use of Low-Dose CT Screening for Lung Cancer (6/16/2004)
Researchers from Duke University and the Mayo Clinic compared mortality rates of CT-scanned individuals at high-risk of lung cancer with those of similar patients screened by X-ray and sputum cytology. They concluded that “CT screening could produce similar outcomes to prior chest radiographic trials in this high-risk group.” The details of these analyses appeared in the June 1, 2004 issue of the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
U.S. Preventive Services Task Force Updates Lung Cancer Screening Guidelines (5/5/2004)
In the May 4, 2004 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine, members of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) updated their recommendations for screening of persons at high-risk for lung cancer. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death in men and is becoming a leading cause of cancer-related death in women in the US and throughout the world. Despite these statistics, there are currently no recommendations for screening of high-risk individuals.
U.S. and European Research Reveals an "Epidemic" of Lung Cancer among Women (4/21/2004)
A special report in the April 14, 2004 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association calls attention to the increase in lung cancer in women.
1 A similar phenomena has been reported from Europe in the June 10, 2004 issue of the International Journal of Cancer.
2
Secondhand Smoke Causes Lung Cancer in Non-Smokers and Carcinogen Identified in Urine of Nonsmoking Casino Gamblers (1/28/2004)
Researchers have found a clear dose-response relationship between exposure to secondhand smoke and the incidence of lung cancer. This combined analysis of two studies was published in the December 2003 issue of the International Journal of Cancer.
1 In a separate study, researchers from the University of Minnesota were able to measure a tobacco-specific lung carcinogen in the urine of non-smoking individuals visiting a casino for 4 hours where smoking was allowed.
2
PET Scanning More Accurate Than CT for Staging of Mediastinum in Patients with NSCLC (12/4/2003)
Researchers from Stanford University have performed a meta-analysis of published reports concerning the relative accuracy of positron emission tomography (PET) and computed tomography (CT) in mediastinal staging of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). They concluded that PET was more accurate than CT but was less specific when enlarged nodes were present by CT. The results of this study and an editorial questioning the wide spread acceptance of PET for this purpose were published in the December 2, 2003 issue of the
Annals of Internal Medicine.
Combined PET/CT Scan Improves Staging for NSCLC (11/11/2003)
Researchers from Germany have reported that dual-modality PET/CT (positron emission tomography/computed tomography) scanning improves accuracy of staging for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) compared with either modality alone. The results of this study were published in the November 2003 issue of
Radiology.
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CT Scans plus PET Scans Detect Early Lung Cancer in Heavy Smokers (8/26/2003)
Italian researchers have reported that PET scans can help distinguish benign from malignant lesions detected on annual CT screening for lung cancer in heavy smokers. These results were published in the August 23, 2003 issue of the
Lancet.
Integrated PET-CT Improves Staging of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (6/24/2003)
Researchers from the University of Zurich have reported that integrated PET-CT scanning can improve the diagnostic accuracy of staging of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The study found that combined PET-CT improves preoperative staging of lung cancer, resulting in a change in therapy for 1 in 4 patients. These findings were reported in the June 19, 2003 issue of the
New England Journal of Medicine.
Aggressive Treatment, Including Surgery, Improves Outcome of Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (6/13/2003)
According to the results of a large inter-group trial recently presented at the 39th annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, radiation and chemotherapy followed by surgery improves survival compared to radiation and chemotherapy alone in patients with stage IIIA non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with mediastinal nodal involvement.
FDA Approves Iressa® (gefitinib) for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (5/5/2003)
Today, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced the approval of oral Iressa® (gefitinib) as a single agent treatment for patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who have failed platinum and taxane based treatment. Until now, Iressa® had been approved only in Japan, but not by any European country. It has been reported that Australia approved Iressa® for the same indications last week.
More Information On CT Screening For Lung Cancer (3/4/2003)
Computerized tomography (CT) scans are effective for identifying early-stage lung cancer in individuals at a high risk. However, this technique has been criticized because of the high rate of false positive pulmonary nodules detected and the lack of demonstration that earlier diagnosis leads to an improved survival. A randomized controlled trial that shows disease-specific mortality benefit would be the best way to establish the role of CT scanning in high-risk individuals. Such a study, The National Lung Screening Trial, is being carried out at the present time but the results of this trial will not be known for several years and even then the results will only be applicable for 2-3 years of follow-up. Thus, physicians and high-risk individuals not participating in this trial need to decide whether or not to perform annual CT examinations. A recent advance reported online which will appear in the March 2003 issue of
Radiology may help in this decision making.
1
Cost-Effectiveness of CT Screening for Lung Cancer Questioned (1/17/2003)
Lung cancer is the most common cancer in the world and is the leading cause of cancer death, with 160,000 deaths in the U.S. annually. Lung cancer is a disease that commonly goes undetected until the cancer has progressed to a point that it can no longer be cured. For this reason, the development of accurate screening methods to detect lung cancer early, before symptoms arise, is of great importance. However, at the present time there is no consensus on the benefits of routine screening of high-risk patients with chest x-rays or sputum cytology. Computerized tomography (CT) is a very sensitive test that has been used to detect early lung cancer. The Early Lung Cancer Action Project was designed to evaluate whether annual CT screening is useful for detecting early lung cancer in high-risk individuals. There have now been two reports from this study suggesting that CT screening allows for the diagnosis of lung cancer at substantially earlier and more curable stages when compared with no screening.
1
In these studies, false-positive test results were uncommon when biopsies were performed after documented growth of small nodules. The Early Lung Cancer Action Project is currently performing a randomized trial of CT screening versus no screening in high-risk individuals and the results of this trial will probably not be known for at least 10 years. In the meantime, the question for physicians is whether or not to screen high-risk patients with CT scans.
Screening Tests May Improve Survival in Patients with Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (5/1/2002)
Studies of the effects of periodic chest x-rays and sputum examinations in patients at high risk for NSCLC have consistently yielded negative results. Based on these studies, the American Cancer Society does not recommend screening for early lung cancer detection, even in individuals at very high risk. In a recent reanalysis of old data generated in a randomized trial of screening in high risk patients, Dr. Strauss from Boston University School of Medicine has challenged these interpretations. In a study published in the April 16, 2002 issue of the
Journal of Clinical Oncology, he concluded that randomization to screening significantly improved lung cancer survival in a study called the Mayo Lung Project.
Air Pollution in Cities Increases Risk for Lung Cancer and Cardiopulmonary Incidence (3/7/2002)
Air pollution has been associated with increased cardiopulmonary and cancer risks. However, documentation of the magnitude of these risks has been infrequent. Recently, researchers in New York and Utah have evaluated the health effects of long-term particulate air pollution. They assessed the relationship between long-term exposure to fine particulate air pollution and all-cause, lung cancer and cardiopulmonary mortality.
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