Innovations in Early Lung Cancer Detection: Tracing the Evolution and Advancements in Screening.

Lung cancer mortality rates, particularly non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), continue to present a significant global health challenge, and the adoption of lung cancer screening remains limited, often influenced by inequities in access to healthcare. Despite clinical evidence demonstrating the efficacy of annual screening with low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) and recommendations from medical organizations including the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), the national lung cancer screening uptake remains around 5% among eligible individuals. Advancements in the clinical management of NSCLC have recently become more personalized with the implementation of blood-based biomarker testing. Extensive research into tumor-derived cell-free DNA (cfDNA) through fragmentation offers a novel method for improving early lung cancer detection. This review assesses the screening landscape, explores obstacles to lung cancer screening, and discusses how a plasma whole genome fragmentome test (pWGFrag-Lung) can improve lung cancer screening participation and adherence.

Clinical validation of a cell-free DNA fragmentome assay for augmentation of lung cancer early detection.

Lung cancer screening via annual low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) has poor adoption. We conducted a prospective case-control study among 958 individuals eligible for lung cancer screening to develop a blood-based lung cancer detection test that when positive is followed by an LDCT. Changes in genome-wide cell-free DNA (cfDNA) fragmentation profiles (fragmentomes) in peripheral blood reflected genomic and chromatin characteristics of lung cancer. We applied machine learning to fragmentome features to identify individuals who were more or less likely to have lung cancer. We trained the classifier using 576 cases and controls from study samples, and then validated it in a held-out group of 382 cases and controls. The validation demonstrated high sensitivity for lung cancer, and consistency across demographic groups and comorbid conditions. Applying test performance to the screening eligible population in a five-year model with modest utilization assumptions suggested the potential to prevent thousands of lung cancer deaths.

Physical and Chemical Compatibility of Extended-Release Triamcinolone Acetonide (TA-ER) with Common Local Anesthetics.

INTRODUCTION: Intra-articular (IA) corticosteroids are used extensively for the treatment of patients with knee osteoarthritis pain. In clinical practice, local anesthetics are frequently combined with corticosteroids prior to IA injection to provide rapid-onset analgesia. From this common practice there is no evidence to suggest that the addition of local anesthetics to corticosteroid preparations, including triamcinolone acetonide (TA), alters the physical properties or efficacy of the corticosteroid. Triamcinolone acetonide extended-release (TA-ER, formerly FX006) is a novel, microsphere-based TA formulation that demonstrated analgesic efficacy in phase 2 and 3 randomized controlled trials. METHODS: The current study assessed the compatibility of TA-ER and lidocaine, ropivacaine, and/or bupivacaine in vitro. The TA-ER and local anesthetic mixtures were assayed for changes in syringeability, pH, particle size, percentage free drug, purity, and appearance compared with TA-ER alone. RESULTS: By these measures, the combination of local anesthetics with TA-ER did not negatively impact the chemical or physical properties of TA-ER when compared to TA-ER controls. CONCLUSION: These results demonstrate that lidocaine, bupivacaine, and ropivacaine are physically and chemically compatible with TA-ER, suggesting that local anesthetic solutions can be added to TA-ER preparations in clinical practice without adversely affecting TA-ER in vitro product characteristics. FUNDING: Flexion Therapeutics, Inc.