title: Research in progress--LungSEARCH: a randomised controlled trial of surveillance for the early detection of lung cancer in a high-risk group.
abstract: Low-dose CT screening for lung cancer is effective but expensive. Therefore, cheaper or more focused screening strategies may be required. LungSEARCH is a randomised prospective trial of 1568 high-risk individuals (ie, current or former moderate to heavy smokers with mild/moderate COPD) who undergo either annual sputum cytology/cytometry testing or no screening. Those with abnormal sputum then receive annual CT and fluorescent bronchoscopy for the remainder of 5 years, to identify early stage lung cancer. It is hoped that these simple initial tests could identify those requiring expensive CT scans, and the aim is to demonstrate a stage shift towards early stage cancers.Trial registration numbers
  ISRCTN80745975, clinicaltrials.gov: NCT00512746.
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Medicine, University College London Hospitals, and The Royal Brompton Hospital, London, UK.
authors.forename: Stephen G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Spiro
authors.affiliation: Deputy Director Clinical Trials Unit, University College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: Allan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hackshaw
mesh_terms: D001999:Bronchoscopy; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods*; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011446:Prospective Studies; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000150:complications; D013183:Sputum / Q000737:chemistry; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
keywords: Lung Cancer