On Sunday, May 15, a special session on lung cancer will examine the results of the National Lung Screening Trial (NLST) and its implications for clinical practice. A92: “Lung Cancer Screening: What We Have Learned from the National Lung Screening Trial (NLST) and What We Still Need to Know” will take place from 2 to 4:30 p.m. at the International Conference.
The NLST, a study sponsored by the National Cancer Institute, involved more than 50,000 current or former heavy smokers from across the United States. The trial compared two ways of detecting lung cancer: low-dose helical computed tomography (CT) and standard chest x-ray. Researchers released the study’s initial findings in late 2010.
“Each year, there are 210,000 new cases of lung cancer and 158,000 deaths in the U.S., making lung cancer the leading cause of cancer mortality in America and the world,” said Charles A. Powell, MD, associate professor of medicine in the Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, who will chair the session with ATS Section of Thoracic Oncology co-chairs James R. Jett, MD, and Edward A. Hirschowitz, MD.
“In the U.S.,” Dr. Powell added, “there are 90 million current and former smokers at risk for lung cancer, which means that the NLST results are expected to have a broad impact on lung cancer clinical care and on research initiatives. The session will directly address NLST implications on healthcare policy and economics and it will discuss opportunities and direction for future lung cancer early detection studies.”
Faculty members will explain the rationale, goals and objectives of the NLST; evaluate its primary results and place them in context with previously published results from randomized screening trials in Europe and with single-arm international studies; and examine the algorithms for detection, follow-up and treatment of pulmonary nodules detected by screening chest CT scans.
Scheduled topics and speakers include:
| • | Introduction—James R. Jett, MD, Denver, CO |
| • | National Lung Screening Trial: Goals and Study Design—Constantine A. Gatsonis, PhD, Providence, RI |
| • | NLST: What We Have Learned—Denise R. Aberle, MD, Los Angeles, CA |
| • | Generalizability of the NLST Results: Update on the Nederlands Leuvens Longkanker Screenings Onderzoek (NELSON) Screening Trial—Rob J. Van Klaveren, MD, PhD, Rotterdam, Netherlands |
| • | Evidence-Based Approach to Pulmonary Nodule Evaluation—David Midthun, MD, Rochester, MN |
| • | Public Policy and Economic Implications of Lung Cancer Screening Trial Results—William C. Black, MD, Lebanon, NH |
| • | Panel Discussion—Charles A. Powell, MD, New York, NY |
A92: “Lung Cancer Screening: What We Have Learned from the National Lung Screening Trial (NLST) and What We Still Need to Know”
Sunday, May 15, 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Four Seasons Ballroom 1-2, Colorado Convention Center