Posted on September 18, 2002 at 12:00 p.m.
A video news release will be sent up at the following times with the following coordinates:
9/18/2002 at 12:30-12:45 PM CT
9/19/2002 at 9:15-9:30 AM CT
Both feeds on C-Band Telstar 5, Transponder 15 DL 4000
BIRMINGHAM, AL — Two methods of detecting lung cancer will be compared in clinical studies at UAB and 29 other centers across the nation. The National Cancer Institute will announce the study on Wednesday, September 18. The National Lung Screening Trial (NLST) seeks to show if either spiral CT scanning or standard chest X-ray images is better at reducing deaths from this disease, and also will examine the risks and benefits from both modes of diagnosis.
“The NSLT will enroll 50,000 current or former smokers in a randomized, controlled study that is large enough to determine if there is a 20 percent or greater drop in lung cancer mortality from using spiral CT compared to X-ray,” said Dr. Mona Fouad, UAB principal investigator and professor of preventive medicine.
UAB lung cancer specialist Dr. Robert Garver, a co-principal investigator, said, “This trial is particularly important because this disease, usually caused by cigarette smoking, is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States, killing more people than breast, prostate, colon and pancreas cancers combined.”
Over the next two years, NLST researchers plan to enroll current or former heavy smokers between 55 and 74 years of age. They will be assigned by chance to receive either spiral CT or chest X-ray free of charge. They will receive the same screening procedure again one and two years later. Until 2009, researchers will contact participants by phone or mail at least yearly to monitor their health. Some participants will also be asked to provide blood, sputum or urine samples to be used for future research to test biomarkers that may someday help doctors better diagnose lung cancer.
People wanting more information on NLST may call (205) 975-7221 or toll-free in Alabama at 1-866-760-5864, or visit cancer.gov/nlst.
Spiral CT, a technology also called helical CT, was introduced in the 1990s. It can image tumors at a much smaller size than chest X-rays can. “No scientific evidence to date has shown that screening or early detection of lung cancer actually saves lives,” according to Fouad, “but NLST will be able to provide the evidence needed to determine whether spiral CT scans are better at reducing a person’s chances of dying from lung cancer. It is also possible that the increased sensitivity of spiral CT will result in more over-diagnosis and over-treatment, with its attendant harms and financial implications.”
She explained: “We know spiral CT can detect smaller abnormalities than X-ray can, so you’d think that would be a better test. But most of the abnormalities that will show up are scarring, inflammation or other things that only mimic lung cancer. These tests may cause anxiety for the participant or may lead to unnecessary biopsy or surgery. In addition, studies suggest that screening for lung cancer may detect small tumors that would never become life threatening.”
If one of the NLST screening tests reveals an abnormality that might be cancer, the study center will notify the participants and their primary care physicians, who will make decisions about further evaluation.