Advancement in early lung cancer detection

Kwun M. Fong
University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia

Lung Cancer remains the biggest cause of cancer deaths around the world, and presentation is usually at a late stage when cure no longer possible.  In the age of immunotherapy and targeted therapy curative treatment options are critical for early disease remains surgery as the mainstay but now including modern stereotactic radiation and ablation technologies.

Early detection of lung cancer is thus crucial for improving patient outcomes, and significant progress has been made. Low-dose CT (LDCT) scans are currently the standard for screening high-risk individuals.  Artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms can help analyse LDCT images to improve accuracy speed of detection/diagnosis, and differentiating between benign and malignant nodules.  Emerging technologies include liquid biopsies of blood and/or other bodily fluids for cancer-related biomarkers like circulating tumour cells (CTCs), cell-free DNA (cfDNA), and exosomes,  breath analysis (Volatile Organic Compounds - VOCs),  biomarkers and genomics.  These promising technologies can help us save lives and each requires careful assessment of accuracy, standardisation, validation across settings and integration with existing tools to ensure they are safe, effective and cost-effective and applicable to everyone at risk around the globe including low and middle-income countries.