City of Hope’s affordable blood test for lung cancer detection

To detect lung cancer, individuals usually undergo a low-dose computed tomography screening, commonly known as a CT scan. The City of Hope and DELFI Diagnostics Inc. are collaborating on a new screening method for lung cancer utilizing a simple blood test. This innovative approach aims to increase the number of individuals getting screened, thus potentially saving lives through early detection and treatment.

Dr. Dan Raz, a thoracic surgeon at City of Hope, expressed concern over the low adoption rate of lung cancer screening. The blood test has the potential to impact individuals who face various barriers to traditional screenings. Despite being covered by insurance, CT scans are often inconvenient, leading to low utilization rates compared to other cancer screening tests.

With lung cancer claiming the most lives annually in the U.S., the blood test's early detection capability could significantly reduce mortality rates. Dr. Peter Bach, the chief medical officer at DELFI, emphasized the importance of identifying individuals who should undergo a CT scan based on the blood test results. This proactive approach could potentially prevent thousands of deaths if widely implemented.