When it comes to lung cancer screening, experts feel that it is important to determine who is suitable for the test. In this regard, the latest research from the team of the University of Texas has indicated that a blood test along with the individual history of the patient will help them determine who will benefit from the lung cancer screening.
Lung Cancer Screening: Blood Test Helps Determine Who Is Suitable
The current recommendations to assess the suitability for lung cancer screening are complicated, and the new research hopes to simplify the process in the future. The research claims that the blood test, along with other markers developed by the team, will give better results.
The study was conducted on several participants who also had a long-term history of smoking. The participants were to be screened for lung cancer as well as prostate, ovarian and colorectal cancer. As per the study, the blood test model developed by the researchers will help to identify nearly 10% more lung cancer cases and suggest them for proper screening. Not only that, but it also reduced the referrals for participants who were not suitable for the screening by a huge number.
Many experts believe that this is a good development as the regular method of CT scan used to screen lung cancer patients is not available in several countries, and it is also expensive. In this regard, the simple blood test used in this study helps determine with better accuracy as to who is suitable for the low dose CT scan conducted for lung cancer screening.
As per the current recommendations in the US, adults who are at high risk for developing lung cancer receive a low dose CT scan on a yearly basis. Adults in the age group of 50 to 80 years are usually selected for such screening, and the doctors also consider their smoking history.
In most cases, candidates with a smoking history of more than 15 years are considered suitable for lung cancer screening. It is interesting to note that the low dose CT scan has to be done on a yearly basis, and this is not a convenient option in every situation.
The new study aims to predict who is suitable for the lung cancer screening in a better way, and it can assess lung cancer risk among participants for six years. This is suitable for people who currently smoke or have done it before for several years in the past.
Researchers say that they have used different types of markers with the blood test to get accurate results. Apart from that, the biggest advantage of this study is that it helps to provide a cost-effective alternative for choosing the right candidates for lung cancer screening in the long run.
While the study claims to improve the existing system of screening by nearly 10%, experts believe that even a 5% improvement will mean a lot to the system. According to reports, millions of patients worldwide will benefit from this study as they can get better screening opportunities without spending too much money. Even though the blood test can be done in a simple lab, experts believe that FDA approval will only come in after a lot of clinical trials.
The researchers are hopeful that this can help the system screen fewer people and do it in a better way. The more accurate results for choosing the right candidates for lung cancer screening will help even the patients in the long run. The low dose CT scan is currently provided using standard guidelines. This can improve in the near future with the outcome of the research.
