Highlights and Takeaways of Canon Medical LCS Webinar | 25 Nov 2024 SGT/MNL 17:00-18:00

The webinar on lung cancer screening highlighted the importance of thoracic oncology and pulmonary critical care, the significance of low-dose computed tomography scans and mobile cancer screening, and the varying levels of awareness and practices in Western Europe, eastern United States, and South America.

Dr. Marie Pierre Revel, PhD reiterated the details of her network’s healthcare initiative primarily in France called SOLACE, an EU4Health project with the aim of strengthening lung cancer screening strategies using structured low-dose CT. Dr. Revel also highlighted another initiative called Lung Cancer Screening using low-dose CT and Artificial intelligence for DEtection (or CASCADE, for short), specifically for French women. The CASCADE study aims to urgently boost awareness among and increase the participation of women in deprived areas, and evaluate many reading modalities related to thoracic CT exams, as well as the role of artificial intelligence in lung cancer screening.

Dr. Kyle Chapman, MD explained his network’s LCS initiative, in particular the mobile cancer screening program of West Virginia University (WVU). The WVU mobile team reportedly includes pulmonologists, radiologists, thoracic surgeons and pathologists, as well as radiation and medical oncologists, working together for rapid diagnosis and treatment. Dr. Chapman centered on addressing lung cancer screening among patients in West Virginian and Appalachian rural areas, citing higher incidence and mortality rates, and suggesting the need for innovative methods to reach underserved populations, in particular through mobile lung cancer screening.

Dr. Ricardo Sales dos Santos, MD PhD detailed his work as a thoracic surgeon in Brazil, particularly via low-dose CT scan as well as lung cancer screening and early detection. Dr. dos Santos highlighted 1) his network’s efforts in ProPulmão, an LDCT lung cancer screening mobile unit helping high-risk lung cancer populations in Brazilian communities, as well as the 2) importance of thoracic surgery, which comprises the treatment of chest conditions, many of which are related to oncology. His team has cited challenges such as lack of access to hospitals or limited access to and investments in healthcare mostly in rural and certain urban regions, delays in forwarding cancer cases, less investment in cancer care and research, lack of updated information on lung cancer screening among healthcare professionals in these communities, and difficulties using cutting-edge technologies.

Takeaways for Himex Corp. and Canon Medical Partnership

The webinar showcased the need to anchor on the initiatives and raising awareness of our Canon Medical partnership, primarily in low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) scan imaging and lung cancer screening (LCS).

The emphasis is early LCS for high-risk patients even those without symptoms, aiding in the detection of lung cancer while it is still curative. Not screening early enough for patients without symptoms can lead to delays in diagnosis, and even to an advancement in lung cancer which will be less responsive to treatment.

Regarding the presence of a mobile LCS unit, like the mobile fleet that typically arrives in town squares or to individual’s villages and houses, this initiative can minimize transportation costs for patients, as well as boost visual awareness and brand equity among the population.

Dr. Revel POV

Lung cancer screening with low-dose CT indeed reduces lung cancer mortality. But in order to successfully implement LCS programs, there is a need to overcome several challenges, such as proper selection of high-risk individuals, standardization of nodule classification and measurement, specific training of radiologists, and optimization of screening intervals and screening duration, among others. Dr. Revel also emphasized addressing the psychological impact of screening on patients or screened individuals and on their quality of life, the impact of potential false positive findings, and the importance of stopping smoking.

In her Lung CAncer SCreening in French women using low-dose CT and AI for DEtection: CASCADE Study Protocol, she revealed that LCS using low-dose CT has been demonstrated to reduce lung cancer-related mortality in large random controlled trials. The study cited the potential role of AI in improving scanning/ screening, in particular comparing the performance of a single CT reading by general radiologists trained in LCS using AI as a second reader, to that of a double reading by expert thoracic radiologists. Dr. Revel emphasized a campaign for low-dose CT screening in high-risk women, since many LCS studies have predominantly underrepresented women and just included mostly male participants.

Dr. Chapman POV

Mobile LDCT lung screenings are important as part of outreach programs, like areas in rural Appalachia to detect early lung cancer. Dr. Chapman has already emphasized that coronary artery calcium (CAC) scoring on LDCT can identify calcium deposits in coronary arteries, and can help consider risk modification to prevent cardiovascular disease (CVD) incidents.

However, his network’s research on integrating cardiovascular risk assessment into mobile low-dose CT lung screenings in the rural Appalachian region reveals that it remains unknown if Lung CT Screening Reporting & Data System (Lung-RADS) scoring directly correlates with CAC scores. To note, the study covered a comprehensive analysis of the relationship between lung cancer risk, coronary artery calcium burden, and cardiovascular risk reduction strategies.

Dr. dos Santos POV

LDCT screening for lung cancer has indeed demonstrated effectiveness in reducing cancer mortality, according to the network of Dr. dos Santos and their First Brazilian Lung Cancer Screening Trial (BRELT1) study and initial prevalence round of screening, with the inclusion criteria similar as those of their National Lung Cancer Screening Trial (NLST). However, the team did not undertake these studies in areas where the incidence of granulomatous disease is high. (Do Current Lung Cancer Screening Guidelines Apply for Populations With High Prevalence of Granulomatous Disease?)*

Dr. dos Santos also emphasized the significance of mobile CT scanning practices and providing equitable care for lung cancer benefiting people in more rural areas, highlighting challenges and opportunities as well for implementing lung cancer screening in Latin American communities. Although there have been widespread disparities, like lack of access to water and education, the emergence of mobile CT scanning to more remote communities presents a positive opportunity for people with the offer of cancer screening via CT imaging. Leveling up awareness on lung cancer helps people and patients who may mistake lung cancer for other conditions such as pneumonia.

Marketing Link Materials for Reference and Sourcing

Below are the links that we can use as references for marketing initiatives on lung cancer screening, low dose CT and mobile CT solutions, lowering radiation dose and enhancing image quality, and leveraging AI (Silverbeam, etc.) for lung cancer:

https://global.medical.canon/specialties/lung-cancer-screening/the-growing-awareness-of-the-importance-of-lung-cancer-screeninghttps://us.medical.canon/products/computed-tomography/mobile-ct/lung-cancer-screening/https://global.medical.canon/publication/ct/V38_CTEU220165https://global.medical.canon/specialties/lung-cancer-screeninghttps://global.medical.canon/specialties/lung-cancer-screening/IndustrialInsights-topic1https://global.medical.canon/specialties/lung-cancer-screening/IndustrialInsights-topic2

* Chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) is a genetic disorder in which white blood cells called phagocytes are unable to kill certain types of bacteria and fungi. People with CGD are highly susceptible to frequent and sometimes life-threatening bacterial and fungal infections. Lung granulomas are usually related to a normal body process where the immune system tries to contain a foreign substance in the lungs. This might be a microorganism, pieces of inhaled metals or toxins, or damaged tissues from inflammatory or autoimmune diseases. Hence, most lung granulomas are not cancer (benign)