Lung Cancer - Laboratorians

What is Lung Cancer?

Lung cancer is the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells in one or both lungs. As they grow, the abnormal cells can form tumors and impede the function of the lung. Left untreated, lung cancer eventually causes death. Symptoms include a cough that does not go away, chest pain, hoarseness, weight loss, loss of appetite, bloody or rust-colored sputum, shortness of breath, recurring infections such as bronchitis and pneumonia, and wheezing. However, lung cancer usually does not cause severe symptoms until it has spread too far to be cured. Approximately 84 percent of lung cancers are diagnosed in an advanced stage.¹

Lung cancer is caused by internal factors inherited from our genes and external or environmental factors like exposure to asbestos, radon, and smoke. Of all internal and external factors, the number one cause is smoking cigarettes. A 2008 World Health Organization (WHO) report noted that in the 20^th century, the tobacco epidemic killed 100 million people. During the 21^st century, it could kill one billion.² Both smoking and lung cancer are important health issues worldwide.

Detecting Lung Cancer

Unlike other cancers, like cervical and prostate cancers, there has never been a good technique to screen for lung cancer. In fact, the American Cancer Society notes that because lung cancer often spreads beyond the lungs before it causes symptoms, a good screening test to find lung cancer early could save many lives.¹

Biomarkers and Screening

Fortunately, blood tests can now uncover biomarkers that are early indicators for lung cancer. These developments have made lung cancer prognosis more hopeful including aid in diagnosing between non-small cell lung cancer and small cell lung cancer, estimating disease prognosis and progression, monitoring recurrence after treatment, and vastly improving screening-aiming to find lung cancer early when there are more options. It has been shown that screening with multiple circulating tumor markers provides improved sensitivity for cancer detection in people not showing symptoms before they reach the fatal, advanced stage.² Screening could even become part of an annual physical for high-risk patients, particularly ones who may fall within the 34 percent of the population who have gene variants that can make them more susceptible to lung cancer.³

Lung Cancer Biomarker Tests

Tests for lung cancer biomarkers are reliable, accurate, non-invasive, and affordable diagnostic tools. Abbott Laboratories recently launched ARCHITECT ProGRP as a marker for small cell lung cancer. ProGRP is a precursor of gastrin releasing peptide (GRP), which is a hormone secreted from neuroendocrine cells. Neuroendocrine type tumors include small cell lung cancer. This test is used to aid in the differential diagnosis of lung cancer and disease management, both in conjunction with other clinical methods.

Benefits of Biomarker Testing

Testing for biomarkers gives labs a valuable new tool to offer in the detection and treatment of lung cancer. Abbott's ARCHITECT ProGRP test has high sensitivity, specificity, and concentration. Follow-up treatment is more accurate after diagnosis, reducing the chance of delivering false positives to patients. You can be confident in the results you're providing to physicians. Biomarker tests are also cost-effective, allowing you to offer a highly advanced lung cancer screening option to physicians and patients.

It's called the 90/10 survival curve-catch cancer early and there's a 90 percent survival rate but catch it in its later stages and chances of survival are only 10 percent.⁴ Early detection of lung cancer is the key to improving the outcome of the disease. The signs are there. And now you can help find them.

Lung Cancer Case Study [PDF/7.6 MB]

References

¹American Cancer Society
²Journal of Clinical Laboratory Analysis 20: 42-46 (2006)
³http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1727161,00.html
⁴Wired Magazine