CT Scans in Screening for Lung Cancer in Current and Former Smokers

Development of a Lung Cancer-Screening Program at the University of Nebraska Medical Center: A Feasibility Study

RATIONALE: Screening tests, such as CT scanning, may help doctors find cancer cells early and plan better treatment for lung cancer.

PURPOSE: This clinical trial is studying how well a lung cancer screening program using CT scanning works in current and former smokers.

OBJECTIVES:

• To assess the feasibility of establishing a lung cancer screening program at the University of Nebraska Medical Center using CT scanning in normal study participants with at least a 30 pack-year history of cigarette smoking.
• To determine if it is possible to screen 100 high-risk individuals with high-resolution CT scanning for the presence of suspicious pulmonary nodules.
• To compare an effective and definitive work-up on all study participants with abnormal results within a defined time period from initial screening.

OUTLINE: Study participants complete a detailed questionnaire (paper or electronic version) at baseline to provide personal and family information for inclusion in the registry database. Registry data includes information on participants' medical history, diet, lifestyle habits, and any past or current environmental exposures, as well as family history of cancer within each participant's extended family tree. An instruction manual on completing the questionnaires is provided to all study participants. The System Coordinator of the registry may provide additional information or clarification of the information provided in the questionnaires via a structured telephone interview. Data on study participants and their families is entered into the registry database either manually via the paper-based questionnaires or electronically via interactive Web-based questionnaires completed by participants through the registry website.

Study participants also undergo a low-dose spiral CT scan at baseline. The resulting images are stored electronically and linked to the web-based participant registry. A radiologist then reviews the images, reports on any abnormalities, and renders an interpretation of the scan as being positive or negative for lung nodules. The radiologist's findings are then conveyed to the study participant's primary care physician and the following determinations are made: participants with negative findings (i.e., non-calcified solid nodules < 5 mm or non-solid nodules < 8 mm) are returned home and scheduled for a repeat CT scan in 1 year; participants with abnormalities not related to lung cancer are referred to their primary care physician for further action; and participants with positive findings undergo additional diagnostic work-up and treatment* as described below.

• Non-calcified solid nodules ≥ 5 and ≤ 15 mm: Study participants undergo a course of antibiotics followed by a high-resolution CT scan at 3 months. If the CT findings are stable, then participants return for a repeat CT scan in 1 year. If the nodules are growing, participants undergo additional diagnostic work-up, which may include biopsy of the positive nodule by their treating clinician.
• Non-solid nodule ≥ 8 mm: Study participants undergo treatment with an antibiotic, CT follow-up, and additional diagnostic work-up, if appropriate, as described previously.
• Non-calcified solid nodules > 15 mm: Study participants undergo work-up for a positive nodule, as above.

NOTE: *Study participants who demonstrate radiographic abnormalities that are suspected to be of an inflammatory nature are given a 10-day course of a broad spectrum respiratory antibiotic, preferably a fluoroquinolone, by the participating physician who enrolled that participant into the study.

Study participants with negative CT findings undergo CT screening once yearly for up to five years, in the absence of a diagnosed malignancy. Diagnostic work-up for repeat CT scans is as follows:

• Any new lesion: Study participants undergo a work-up as previously described for non-calcified solid or non-solid nodules.

• Any non-calcified nodule that was present earlier and grew in size:

  • Growth < 3 mm: Study participants undergo a repeat CT scan in 6 months. If there is further growth, participants are worked-up for a positive nodule, or, if the scan is stable, participants undergo a repeat scan 1 year after the most recent scan.
  • Growth between 3 mm and 5 mm: Study participants undergo a high-resolution CT scan in 3 months and further diagnostic work-up for a positive nodule, as described previously, if there is growth. If there is complete resolution of the nodule, participants undergo repeat screening CT scan in 1 year after the most recent scan. If there is partial resolution of the nodule, another high-resolution CT scan is performed 3 months later. Participants with a stable nodule undergo repeat screening CT scan 1 year after the most recent scan.
  • Growth ≥ 5 mm: Study participants receive a course of an antibiotic and undergo high-resolution CT scanning after 1 month. The following assessments are also performed: work-up for a positive nodule, if there is further growth; repeat screening CT scan in 1 year after the most recent scan, if there is complete resolution of the nodule; high-resolution CT scan in 3 months, if there is partial resolution of the nodule; and repeat screening CT scan 1 year after the most recent scan, if the nodule is stable.

All study participants undergo blood sample collection at baseline for use in future studies. Additional blood samples are obtained from study participants with positive CT scans for future research on smoking-related diseases. Tissue samples obtained from diagnostic biopsy or surgical specimens are also stored for future research.

Once a malignancy is diagnosed and a definitive intervention is performed, study participants are followed periodically thereafter.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Current and former smokers with at least a 30 pack-year history of smoking
• Body weight less than 140 kg (308 pounds)
• Able to lie flat
• Able to comply with long-term follow-up
• Functional capacity and willingness to undergo diagnostic work-up of suspicious nodules and curative therapy if lung cancer is detected
• Nursing mothers allowed
• Able to come to clinic for screening

Exclusion Criteria:

• No cognitive impairment that would preclude providing informed consent
• No other concurrent or prior malignancy within the past five years except superficial basal cell carcinoma or nonmelanoma skin cancer
• No condition that would preclude screening, diagnosis, or surgical treatment
• Not pregnant/negative pregnancy test