This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Pajares, M. J. Articles by Montuenga, L. M. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Pajares, M. J. Articles by Montuenga, L. M.

Molecular Profiling of Computed Tomography Screen-Detected Lung Nodules Shows Multiple Malignant Features

¹ Oncology Division, Center for Applied Medical Research; Departments of ² Pathology, ³ Radiology, ⁴ Thoracic Surgery, and ⁵ Pulmonary Medicine, Clínica Universitaria de Navarra; and Departments of ⁶ Histology and Pathology, ⁷ Genetics and ⁸ Biochemistry, Schools of Medicine and Sciences, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain

Requests for reprints: Luis M. Montuenga, Área de Oncología. Centro para la Investigación Médica Aplicada, University of Navarra, Avenida Pío XII, 55, 31008 Pamplona, Spain. Phone: 34-948194700; Fax: 34-948194714. E-mail: lmontuenga{at}unav.es

Rationale and Purpose: 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.

Experimental Design: 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. (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2006;15(2):373–80)

This article has been cited by other articles:

				S. M. Lippman and J. V. Heymach The Convergent Development of Molecular-Targeted Drugs for Cancer Treatment and Prevention Clin. Cancer Res., July 15, 2007; 13(14): 4035 - 4041. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]