Lung cancer, like asbestosis and mesothelioma, can be caused by exposure to asbestos. Many who suffer from lung cancer and mesothelioma have to undergo invasive procedures when being diagnosed. However, new procedures are being developed to test for lung cancer and may help trigger the development of similar tests for other cancers.
Promising New Lung Cancer Detection Test
Steven Dubinett, M.D., is the senior author of a study presented at the American Association for Cancer Research – International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer’s (AACR-IASLC) joint conference in California that may change current diagnostic procedures.
Dr. Dubinett is the director of the Lung Cancer Research Program at the Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center at the David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). He stated that approximately one in every 500 x-rays shows a lung nodule of “indeterminate significance.” When that occurs, a physician will order a biopsy or insert a scope into the lungs for further review. However, Dr. Dubinett says that new research has discovered and assembled 40 biomarkers made up of proteins that can be used to detect lung cancer. A biomarker or biological marker, is a substance in the blood that can be detected and measured with blood tests. In this case, the biomarkers being tested are the proteins believed to contribute to lung cancer, or the proteins that change when cancer exists.
Status Of New Detection Test
The new procedure, however, is still in the developmental stages. It will likely take years before it is clinically available. If successful, the tests will also likely be able to detect lung cancer in early stages. As with many other illnesses, early detection can help raise survival rates significantly.
Through clinical trials and research, clinicians and researchers will continue to gain a better understanding of how cancer develops, and new procedures will continue to be developed to help provide better care for those who suffer from these diseases.
We Support Research To Find Better Detection And Treatment For Cancer Patients
Galiher DeRobertis & Waxman is committed to supporting research to help find a cure and better treatment for lung cancer, mesothelioma and asbestosis. For over 30 years, our law firm has helped our clients and their families obtain compensation for asbestos-related diseases. We know a diagnosis like lung cancer can be devastating, and we know from our clients how uncomfortable and stressful diagnostic and treatment procedures can be.
Through our legal work, we collaborate with cancer researchers and institutions, and we are very encouraged by their efforts to develop new detection methods and treatments, and to eventually find a cure for these terrible diseases.
