There are more treatment options than ever for people with early-stage lung cancer, but only 20% of people are diagnosed at stage I or II. Routinely diagnosing and treating lung cancer in its earliest stages should be the norm, not the exception.

The early detection research projects LUNGevity funds are focused on this goal so more people with lung cancer can live longer and fuller lives by starting treatment sooner when the disease is most treatable—and often curable.

Research grants are delivering exciting progress for early detection projects aimed at:

Early Detection Research Award

Scott L. Shofer, MD
Durham VA Medical Center Pulmonary Service, Durham, NC
Heterogeneity of Microarray-based Lung Cancer Signature in Patients with Lung Cancer
Funded by LUNGevity Foundation and The CHEST Foundation

Dr. Shofer’s research builds on work of earlier investigators who developed a lung cancer risk signature based on genetic changes in lung cells in smokers. Dr. Shofer hypothesizes that the lung cancer risk signature model is an indicator of how lung cells change during the process of cancer development. Should his hypothesis be correct, the lung cancer risk signature could be established as a sensitive biomarker capable of diagnosing patients with lung cancer by checking cells taken from the throat using a swab.

Michael Tainsky, PhD
Wayne State University, Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, MI
Autoantibody biomarkers for the detection of lung cancer
Funded equally by LUNGevity Foundation and the American Lung Association

Dr. Tainsky has developed a technology that takes advantage of the responses of the human immune system to identify cancer-associated proteins that bind to antibodies present in the blood of cancer patients but not in the blood of healthy subjects or those with benign diseases. Dr. Tainsky is working to develop a non-invasive screening test for the early detection of lung cancer by using cancer-associated antigens as biomarkers.

Early Detection Research Award

Milliman Consulting Services Agreement (CSA)
, , IL
2007 Lung Cancer Mortality Project
Funded equally by LUNGevity Foundation, Lung Cancer Alliance (LCA), American Legacy Foundation, Prevent Cancer Foundation, Joan's Legacy Foundation, Thomas G. Labrecque Foundation, and the Bonnie J. Addario Lung Cancer Foundation

Lung cancer screening is not established as a public health practice, yet the results of a large randomized controlled trial among a high-risk population showed that screening with low-dose spiral computed tomography reduces lung cancer mortality. Milliman Consulting Company is conducting a cost-benefit analysis to demonstrate whether improved health outcomes (by catching the lung cancer early so that it can be treated) correlate with increased cost savings among this population.

S. Patrick Nana-Sinkam, MD
The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
Circulating miRNA as a biomarker in lung cancer
Funded by LUNGevity Foundation and The CHEST Foundation

Dr. Nana-Sinkam is delineating the role of microRNA expression profiling in the diagnosis, management, and prognosis of lung cancer. He is testing whether microRNA expression profiles are detectable in the  blood of lung cancer patients. He will compare individuals with lung cancer with current and former smokers without lung cancer.

Early Detection Research Award

Clinton H. Doerr, MD
Mayo Graduate School of Medicine, Rochester, MN
Fluorescence in Situ Hybridization for the Detection of Lung Cancer
Funded by LUNGevity Foundation in collaboration with The CHEST Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the American College of Chest Physicians

Tests that improve the ability to detect tumors at their earliest stages have the potential to reduce lung cancer mortality. Dr. Doerr developed three fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) probe sets for the detection of lung cancer in cell specimens. His research is assessing the reliability of these probe sets and routine cell examination for the detection of lung cancer in cell specimens obtained from bronchoscopy.