title: Optimizing the Detection of Circulating Markers to Aid in Early Lung Cancer Detection.
abstract: Improving early detection of lung cancer is critical to improving lung cancer survival. Studies have shown that computerized tomography (CT) screening can reduce mortality from lung cancer, but this involves risks of radiation exposure and can identify non-cancer lung nodules that lead to unnecessary interventions for some. There is a critical need to develop alternative, less invasive methods to identify patients who have early-stage lung cancer. The detection of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are a promising area of research, but current technology is limited by a low yield of CTCs. Alternate studies are investigating circulating nucleic acids and proteins as possible tumor markers. It is critical to develop innovative methods for early lung cancer detection that may include CTCs or other markers that are low-risk and low-cost, yet specific and sensitive, to facilitate improved survival by diagnosing the disease when it is surgically curable.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA. vasmdhar@umich.edu.
authors.forename: Vasudha
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Murlidhar
authors.affiliation: Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA. nithyar@med.umich.edu.
authors.forename: Nithya
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ramnath
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA. snagrath@umich.edu.
authors.forename: Sunitha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nagrath
authors.affiliation: Section of Thoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Michigan, Taubman Center 2120, 1500 E. Medical Center Drive, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA. reddyrm@med.umich.edu.
authors.forename: Rishindra M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Reddy
keywords: biomarkers; circulating tumor cells; lung cancer; microRNA; proteomics