Alberta Lung Cancer Screening Program

This research study, sponsored by the Alberta Cancer Foundation, is being conducted across Alberta. The study has enrolled 800 participants at risk of lung cancer to undergo chest CT scan screening for lung cancer.

The screening scans are performed in Calgary, Edmonton and Fort McMurray.

UNFORTUNATELY WE CANNOT ACCEPT ANY ADDITIONAL PARTICIPANTS INTO THE STUDY AT THIS TIME.

Lung Cancer

Lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer in Canada. The main reason for these high death rates from lung cancer is that the majority of lung cancers are detected at an advanced stage when they are not easily cured. On the other hand, localized lung cancers at early stage can be treated with very high cure rates.

Early detection of lung cancer through screening with a computed tomography (CT or CAT scan) is a promising way to reduce lung cancer deaths, but there is still a lot which we need to understand about lung cancer screening before this testing can be offered to everyone at risk.

Cigarette smoking is the most important risk factor in the development of lung cancer. Preventing the onset of smoking and bringing about successful smoking cessation in current smokers will most effectively achieve primary prevention of lung cancer. The interaction between subjects with ongoing tobacco addiction and a screening program may offer an ideal opportunity to intervene and assist these individuals in quitting.

What do we hope to learn?

The general aim of this study is to find out how to best screen for lung cancer using low-dose spiral CT scan.

We want to test a new lung cancer risk "calculator" which may tell us who is most likely to get lung cancer and would be most likely to benefit from screening. We also want to test another calculator which can help us decide how likely a spot found on the lung is to be cancer or not. We will also test a more systematic method for radiologists to use when they interpret screening CT exams. We want to see if combining a smoking cessation counseling program within the screening program can help more current smokers quit. We want to determine the actual costs and health care resources required for a screening program in Alberta. Finally, we want to develop and test a web-based lung cancer screening portal for individuals to manage their screening process.

What is involved in this study?

Participants found to qualify for the study will undergo three screening CT scan examinations of the chest, once every 12 months. Additional scans may also be required if abnormalities are found.

Current smokers will be randomized (selected by chance) to one of the 2 smoking cessation interventions. One group will simply be provided with a pamphlet outlining smoking cessation resources available in Alberta. The other group will be contacted by phone by a counselor trained to assess and assist individuals in quitting.

This research study is being conducted in Alberta and 800 people have been recruited into a 3 annual CT scan screening program for lung cancer.