Researchers look at saliva for life-saving information
Researchers at the University of Colorado Cancer Center are collecting saliva to determine if it holds valuable screening information for lung cancer.
Glen Weiss, MD, chief fellow of hematology/medical oncology at UCCC, received funding from the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer to conduct the pilot study. In the study, samples of saliva are collected from healthy people who are current or former smokers or never smokers. Separately, saliva is collected from people who have been diagnosed with early-stage lung cancer, who are current, former smokers or never smokers.
The samples of healthy participants will be compared to the samples from people with lung cancer to identify alterations in gene expression that may indicate lung cancer. If differences between the two groups of samples are found, researchers will work to define consistent genetic markers that could be used for routine saliva screening for lung cancer. Researchers from the University of California-Los Angeles (UCLA) are also participating in the laboratory investigation for this study.
“ This is one of only a few studies designed to find genetic signs of lung cancer in both smokers and non-smokers,” Weiss explained. “People know that smoking is associated with a majority of lung cancers, but at least 15 percent of people in the United States with lung cancer never smoked.”
Lung cancer kills more people than any other cancer. With no standard screening test available, lung cancer is typically diagnosed in advanced stages, when a cure is most difficult to achieve. A study recently published in the New England Journal of Medicine showed that spiral CT screening can detect lung cancer earlier and may extend survival.
“ It is not practical to conduct spiral CT screening for everyone who might be at risk for lung cancer,” Weiss explained. “It is an expensive procedure and may unnecessarily expose patients to radiation.”
Weiss went on to explain that with a saliva screen, physicians would have a tool to identify which patients should receive testing with technologies such as spiral CT or X-ray. In addition, a saliva screen would be easier for patients than other tests currently in research studies, such as sputum screening. Sputum comes from deep in the lungs and can be difficult for patients to produce.
The trial will enroll a total of 48 participants who will be asked to provide one saliva sample. Individuals between the ages of 50 and 79, with varied smoking histories are invited to apply to participate in the study. Call DeLee Peake, clinical research associate, at (303) 372-9360 for more information.
