21 January 2013

Lung cancer trial to be discussed in lecture

A new trial that aims to reduce lung cancer mortality will be discussed at a lecture taking place at the University of Dundee this week.

Dr Tom Fardon will deliver a British Science Association talk, organised by the organisation's Tayside & Fife Branch, entitled 'Lung cancer: will early detection save lives?' at the D'Arcy Thompson Lecture Theatre, Tower Building on Wednesday, 23rd January.

Dr Fardon, Consultant Chest Physician at Ninewells Hospital and a Senior Lecturer at the University, is part of a team looking to recruit people to take part in a trial of a new blood test that can detect small cancers up to five years earlier than the current system allows.

The Early Cancer Detection Trial means tumours can be diagnosed before they cause any health problems and it is believed Early CDT could revolutionise the way solid tumours such as lung, breast, colon and prostate cancers are detected and treated.

Around 5000 people in Scotland will die from lung cancer this year. Dr Fardon says the trial partners - the Universities of Dundee and Glasgow, NHS Tayside and NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde - are hoping to recruit 10,000 people from these areas.

"As well as talking about the aim of the trial, and about lung cancer itself, I will be encouraging people to attend for a simple blood test if invited," he said. "This is a antibody test which can detect cancer at the microscopic level before it becomes a radiological cancer.

"Typically, lung cancer patients present very late, which obviously has an impact on prognosis and limits the treatment options. Patients who have a positive test will be randomised to receive a CT scan to see if the cancer has advanced to an operable stage. If it has, we may be able to operate and if not we will use other treatments to manage the cancer.

"At the end of the trial we will compare the results with those achieved by the current best practice and we hope to see a marked improvement in outcomes."

It is hoped the trial will be able to begin later this year. More information about the project is available by contacting Professor Frank Sullivan on f.m.sullivan@dundee.ac.uk or by calling 01382 383738.

The British Science Association lecture, 'Lung cancer: will early detection save lives?', takes place at the D'Arcy Thompson Lecture Theatre, Tower Building, at 7pm on Wednesday, 23rd January. Admission is free and open to all.

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University of Dundee
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