Unlike prostate, colon and breast cancers, screening for lung cancer has not been very successful. This is largely because screening focuses on just one risk factor, smoking history, yet many people who develop the disease do not have a history of smoking. Now, scientists have made progress in developing a blood test that could help flag individuals who are at a higher risk of developing lung cancer.
The new test aims to detect biomarkers in the blood that indicate the presence of early-stage lung cancer or a predisposition to the disease. This approach could significantly expand the population that can be screened, moving beyond the current criteria that primarily targets heavy smokers. Early detection is crucial for lung cancer, as the five-year survival rate for localized disease is 63%, compared to just 7% for distant metastases.
As it gets easier to detect lung cancer earlier, new treatment modalities like those being developed by Calidi Biotherapeutics Inc. (NYSE American: CLDI) and therapies under development by other companies may become more effective. Calidi Biotherapeutics is focused on developing stem cell-based therapies for cancer, including lung cancer, which could benefit from earlier diagnosis.
The advancement in blood-based screening could also reduce healthcare costs by avoiding unnecessary imaging and biopsies in low-risk individuals, while catching more cases in high-risk individuals who are not currently identified by smoking history alone. According to the American Cancer Society, lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the United States, accounting for about 25% of all cancer deaths. A blood test that improves early detection could have a major impact on survival rates.
Researchers caution that the test is still in development and requires validation in larger clinical trials before it can be widely adopted. However, the progress marks an important step toward a non-invasive, affordable screening tool that could be used in routine check-ups.
