Saliva Could Be Used To Screen for Lung Cancer

There is currently no standard screening test for lung cancer and therefore the disease tends to be diagnosed in the late stages. A study was launched in November 2006 to determine whether saliva contains information that will help physicians identify lung cancer earlier. Lung cancer is the number one cancer killer in both men and women.

In the study, saliva samples are collected from healthy people who are current smokers, former smokers, or have never smoked. Separately, a saliva sample is collected from people who have a suspicious chest mass seen on a computed tomography (CT) scan or have been diagnosed with early-stage lung cancer, who are current smokers, former smokers, or have never smoked. Never smokers account for roughly 10% of all lung cancer cases--up to 21,000 cases per year in the United States.

The samples from healthy participants are compared to the samples from people with lung cancer to identify gene expression alterations that indicate lung cancer. If differences are found, the investigators will develop consistent genetic markers that could lead to routine saliva screening for lung cancer.

Glen J. Weiss, M.D., director of thoracic oncology at the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen; Phoenix, AZ, USA) clinical research services initiated this study at the University of Colorado Cancer Center (Aurora, CO, USA) in collaboration with investigators from the University of California-Los Angeles (Los Angeles, CA, USA) and the University of Kansas (Lawrence, KS, USA). Dr. Weiss said, "A saliva screen would be a useful tool in identifying which patients should receive certain testing such as CT or X-ray, for instance. A saliva screen is also easier on patients than say a sputum screening, in which the sputum, or phlegm, needs to be coughed up from deep in the lungs.”

The Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) is focused on developing earlier diagnoses and better treatments. Translational genomics research is a relatively new field employing innovative advances arising from the Human Genome Project and applying them to the development of diagnostics, prognostics, and therapies for cancer, neurological disorders, diabetes, and other complex diseases. Tgen's research is based on personalized medicine and the institute plans to accomplish its goals through robust and disease-focused research.


Related Links:
Translational Genomics Research Institute
University of Colorado Cancer Center
University of California-Los Angeles