Early Detection

The University of Kentucky Markey Cancer Center uses KLCR Program funds to advance studies into the early detection of lung cancer. Three research studies and one core program are active:

The Marty Driesler Cancer Project—Lung Cancer Screening Study

Representative Hal Rogers, Kentucky 5th Congressional District, working with the Markey Cancer Center Director, Dr. Alfred Cohen, and the President of the University of Kentucky, Dr. Lee Todd, developed the foundational concepts that drive this project. Representative Rogers launched the Project with two Congressional earmarks (2004 & 2005). The University of Kentucky has provided bridging support as needed and the KLCR Program now funds the study while researchers explore additional funding sources.

The Marty Driesler Cancer Project recruits 5th Congressional District citizens who are at very high-risk of developing lung cancer. To be eligible for the study, an individual must:

Be between 55-75 years of age
Have a smoking history of at least 1 pack of cigarettes every day for 40 years (if the person has smoked for 20 years, then 2 packs a day) OR a former smoker who stopped within the last 10 years
Results from a pulmonary function test are FEV1/FVC<70%
- FEV – forced expiratory volume
- FVC – flow volume curve
- “Vital capacity measured with the subject exhaling as rapidly as possible; data relating volume, expiratory flow, and time form the basis for other pulmonary function tests, e.g., flow-volume curve, forced expiratory volume, forced expiratory time, forced expiratory flow.”

All participants must identify a primary care physician.

Some applicants are excluded from the study. The exclusion criteria include:

Personal history of lung cancer
Enrolled in any other lung screening or cancer prevention trial
Chest CT within the past 12 months
Inability to lie flat with arms raised above the head
Requires oxygen supplementation
Prior malignancy within last five years except adequately treated non-melanomatous skin cancer or in-situ cervical cancer, or those still on treatment
Life expectancy of less than five years
Inability to give informed consent

The Marty Driesler sites are regional healthcare facilities in Hazard, Morehead, Prestonsburg, and Somerset. Each site has a Principal Investigator and Study Coordinator.

Hazard ARH Regional Medical Center
St. Claire Regional Medical Center
Highlands Regional Medical Center
Lake Cumberland Regional Hospital

The University of Kentucky Marty Driesler Research Coordinator is Lara Sutherland.

Our Lady of Bellefonte Hospital, Ashland lung cancer screening study

The Our Lady of Bellefonte Hospital (OLBH) lung cancer screening study is the result of an idea from a surgeon who practiced at OLBH in 2003. Dr. Andre Baron at UK and OLBH professionals worked together to design this early detection research. Since high cancer prevalence makes a screening test perform better and the FIVCO Area Development District (east-northeast Kentucky) has a high prevalence of lung cancer, the FIVCO population was ideal for determining if a screening test or a screening program of multiple tests works well enough to recommend for routine use in medical practice.

To enroll in this study, individuals:

Must be smokers and non-smokers 55 years of age or older
Asymptomatic individuals and individuals with symptoms suspicious of lung cancer or lung infections such as a worsening cough, haemoptysis, discolored sputum, fever or unexplained weight loss are recruited

Excluded from this study are

Individuals with a prior history of cancer, with the exception of non-melanoma skin cancer

This same study is replicated at the University of Kentucky Hospital.

Contact: Andre Baron, Ph.D.

The Solitary Pulmonary Nodule study at UK

The Solitary Pulmonary Nodule study recruited participants through the Chandler Medical Center Multidisciplinary Lung Cancer Clinic at the University of Kentucky Hospital and the pulmonary clinics at the University of Kentucky and the University of Louisville. In addition, referral to the study from outside physicians contributed participant accrual.

To participate in the study, individuals had to meet the following criteria:

Male or non-pregnant female at least 30 years old
Chest x-ray or chest CT demonstrating a solitary pulmonary nodule ≥8mm and ≤30 mm (.031 to 1.18 inches)

However, any of the following criteria excluded an individual:

Individuals with a nodule that shows benign calcification, fat, extensive necrosis, or cavitation as seen on thin-section CT images
Individuals with nodules that have not grown for more than 2 years
Individuals who are allergic to iodinated contrast material, or who have a creatinine level equal to or greater the 1.5 mg/dL
Individuals who already have a tissue diagnosis of their nodule
Pregnancy
Body weight greater than 350 pounds

Dr. Eric Bensadoun closed this study to accrual with the 85th participant. Since then he has analyzed data and concluded that although PET imaging and contrast-enhanced CT had comparable ability to identify nodules, PET imaging identifies more malignant nodules making it the preferred test in the evaluation of solitary pulmonary nodules.

Contact: Eric Bensadoun, M.D.

The Markey Biospecimen Core Program

At the request of the KLCR Program Governance Board, the Markey Cancer Center developed a biospecimen core program that collects, stores, and dispenses for translational research purposes, lung cancer tissue and liquid specimens. Program staff are transferring existing specimen data from the original database to the national caTissue data management system. In addition, BCP staff are working with programmers at the Kentucky Cancer Registry to connect the two databases so that individuals who donate specimens and later develop lung cancer can be located, de-identified, and linked to those donations.

Contact: Rita Basuray, Ph.D.