Molecular profiling of computed tomography screen-detected lung nodules shows multiple malignant features.
OBJECTIVE
Low-dose spiral computerized axial tomography (spiral CT) is effective for the detection of small early lung cancers. Although published data seem promising, there has been a significant degree of discussion concerning the potential of overdiagnosis in the context of spiral CT-based screening. The objective of the current study was to analyze the phenotypic and genetic alterations in the small pulmonary malignancies resected after detection in the University of Navarra/International Early Lung Cancer Action Project spiral CT screening trial and to determine whether their malignant molecular features are similar to those of resected lung tumors diagnosed conventionally.


METHODS
We analyzed 17 biomarkers of lung epithelial malignancy in a series of 11 tumors resected at our institution during the last 4 years (1,004 high-risk individuals screened), using immunohistochemistry and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). A parallel series of 11 gender-, stage-, and histology-matched lung cancers diagnosed by other means except screening was used as control.


RESULTS
The molecular alterations and the frequency of phenotypic or genetic aberrations were very similar when screen-detected and nonscreen-detected lung cancers were compared. Furthermore, most of the alterations found in the screen-detected cancers from this study were concordant with what has been described previously for stage I-II lung cancer.


CONCLUSIONS
Small early-stage lung cancers resected after detection in a spiral CT-based screening trial reveal malignant molecular features similar to those found in conventionally diagnosed lung cancers, suggesting that the screen-detected cancers are not overdiagnosed.
Pajares
María J
MJ
Oncology Division, Center for Applied Medical Research, Clínica Universitaria de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain.
Zudaire
Isabel
I
Lozano
María D
MD
Agorreta
Jackeline
J
Bastarrika
Gorka
G
Torre
Wenceslao
W
Remírez
Ana
A
Pio
Ruben
R
Zulueta
Javier J
JJ
Montuenga
Luis M
LM
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D008403:Mass Screening; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010641:Phenotype; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012907:Smoking; D036542:Tomography, Spiral Computed
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor