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Ask the Experts Archive > Types of Cancer > Lung Cancers > General Concerns
Blood Test to Detect Lung Cancer
Affiliation: Abramson Cancer Center of the University of Pennsylvania
Last Modified: August 19, 2008
Dear OncoLink "Ask The Experts,"
I recently saw a story on the news with you discussing a blood test that can detect lung cancer early. Can you tell me more about this test?
Anil Vachani, MD, Attending Physician at the University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, responds:
Unlike other blood tests typically used to detect cancer, this test does not look for substances produced by cancer cells as they grow. Instead, the test you’re referring to looks for the genetic signature of immune-system cells that are activated by encounters with tiny lung tumors. So, it cannot detect “pre-cancer”, but detects changes in white blood cells that have encountered lung cancer cells in the body. The goal of the test is to detect lung cancer early enough to improve outcomes for people. The diagnostic test, which uses peripheral blood mononuclear cells, is still in early development and will require several additional studies to be performed prior to any potential clinical use. If the test continues to show good rates of detection, it would still be several years away from prime time clinical use.
There are currently no available blood tests for monitoring patients for early lung cancer or recurrence after surgery for lung cancer. The most commonly used method for monitoring patients at high risk for developing lung cancer or after lung cancer surgery is to undergo periodic imaging studies, either by chest x-ray or CT scan. There is no data to support one versus the other, although the use of CT scan is becoming more routine for this indication and large studies are ongoing. This should be done under the care of a surgeon, oncologist, or pulmonologist.