In a recent study published in Cancer Discovery , researchers developed and validated a blood-based, cell-free deoxyribonucleic acid (cfDNA) fragmentome assay for lung cancer detection, which, if the results were positive, would be followed by low-dose computed tomography (LDCT). Study: Clinical validation of a cell-free DNA fragmentome assay for augmentation of lung cancer early detection . Image Credit: MMD Creative/Shutterstock.
com Lung cancer is a major death cause, and yearly screening is crucial. However, chest LDCT has low adoption due to patient barriers like inadequate awareness, radiation concerns, and limited availability. Other challenges include poor smoking history recording, a lack of defined practices, and specialist follow-up.
A blood-based lung malignancy screening test, like the fragmentome technique, could increase screening rates by analyzing specific chromatin configurations in peripheral blood. In the present DELFI-L101 study, researchers developed a hematological test using machine learning to analyze DNA fragmentomes and identify individuals at risk of lung cancer. Individuals testing positive would undergo LDCT.
Beginning March 2021, the researchers enrolled 958 individuals aged 50–80 with ≥20 pack-years of smoking across 47 United States (US) facilities. Eligibility features resembled the LDCT screening criteria of the 2015 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS). They excluded individuals with cancer therapy within one year, a history of hemato.
