Blood protein panel to improve lung cancer screening and biopsy decisions
Official title: The Lung EArly Proteins project: A LEAP toward implementing biomarkers in lung cancer screening
Funded at International Agency for Res on Cancer · NIH-11164575 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Looks at whether a blood test that measures specific proteins can help decide who should start lung cancer screening and when a lung nodule needs a biopsy, mainly for current and former smokers.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | International Agency for Res on Cancer NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Lyon, France) |
| Project start | September 8, 2022 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $660,204 |
| NIH project number | 4R01CA262164-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11164575 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Current and former smokers at risk for lung cancer who are eligible for low-dose CT screening are the main candidates for this approach.
✕Less likely to help
People who never smoked or who are not eligible for lung cancer screening are unlikely to benefit from this work.
What this research studies
You would be helping develop a blood test that measures proteins linked to early lung cancer. The team will analyze stored blood samples taken before diagnosis from people in large screening trials to see if repeated protein measurements over time spot cancer earlier than a single test. They will validate the findings in an independent group and study how the protein panel might guide starting low-dose CT screening and decisions about biopsying nodules. The work combines lab protein measurements with statistical models using data from past screening studies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could help target screening to people most likely to benefit and reduce unnecessary biopsies and follow-up tests.
How similar studies have gone: Earlier analyses showed the INTEGRAL protein panel improved a smoking-based risk model's AUC by about 0.15, though using repeated measurements and implementing the panel in clinical decisions is a new step.
Where this research is happening
-
International Agency for Res on Cancer
Lyon, France Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Robbins, Hilary a. — International Agency for Res on Cancer
- Study coordinator: Robbins, Hilary a.
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.