LUNGevity is excited to announce the launch of the LUNGevity Early Lung Cancer Center (ELCC). The ELCC was created to accelerate the development of early detection and early treatment options, so people diagnosed with lung cancer have the best chance for long-term survival and a better quality of life.
The ELCC is launching at a pivotal moment for the lung cancer community building on decades of advancements in therapeutics and detection methods.
Today, almost 80% of lung cancer diagnoses are made in late stage (III and IV). The Center’s goal is to shift the percentage of lung cancer diagnoses to early stage (I and II) when it is most treatable. Lung cancer has the potential to look more like prostate or breast cancer where it is found early, there are abundant treatment options, and patients live long and full lives.
The LUNGevity Early Lung Cancer Center is a multifaceted effort to improve lung cancer survival by making early detection and early disease management the norm. We are looking forward to working with our Center’s External Advisory Board, partners, and stakeholders to improve rates of lung cancer screening, establish and standardize incidental nodule programs, and leverage emerging technologies and research for the early detection and treatment of lung cancer.
Leah Fine, Vice President of the LUNGevity Early Lung Cancer Center
Key opportunities for the ELCC include:
- Screening — Only 6% of the eligible population in the United States is being screened for lung cancer. The ELCC will utilize policy initiatives, patient-focused research, and educational programs to increase the uptake of lung cancer screenings.
- Incidental pulmonary nodules (IPN) — Nearly five million people have chest CT imaging (not for lung cancer screening) in the United States, with close to 40% of scans showing an incidental finding. Appropriate follow-up for these patients occurs just 30% of the time. The ELCC will work with health systems and researchers to implement and standardize IPN workflows for follow-up care for these patients.
- Early-stage therapeutics — The ELCC will ensure that patients have access to recently approved therapies by working through legislative policy and healthcare provider education.
- Emerging technologies — The ELCC is supportive of the development of new technologies, such as blood-based cancer detection tests or artificial intelligence for radiology, that, when proven, can expand access and work in tandem with existing protocols to detect lung cancer earlier.
LUNGevity thanks AstraZeneca for being a Founding Sponsor of this initiative. We are grateful for the leadership support of the Thomas G. Labrecque Foundation, the Stern Family, the Family and Friends of Meenakshi Ponnusamy, and the Pomerance and Berl Families.