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Overview
WebMD  , Health Day News , The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and other news outlets have reported on a new test that uses inner cheek cells to screen patients at high risk of developing lung cancer. This screening method, developed by Perceptronix Inc. ( Vancouver, British Columbia), was recently presented at CHEST 2005, the annual scientific assembly of the American College of Chest Physicians .
According to a CHEST 2005 press release , Perceptronix is currently developing two tests for the screening of early-stage lung cancer: a sputum test and a cheek-cell test that uses epithelial cells scraped from the buccal mucosa. Both tests use automated quantitative cytometry (AQC), a computer-based technology, to analyze hundreds of cell nuclei for changes in shape, density and other parameters that predict the likelihood of lung cancer. The company is conducting clinical studies on both AQC tests to validate their sensitivity and specificity as early screening methods for patients at risk for lung cancer.
At this time, there are no FDA-approved, oral-based tests for early lung cancer detection, and the AQC-based tests being developed by Perceptronix require further clinical testing. Nevertheless, emerging technologies could soon provide dentists and other health-care professionals with an initial screening tool to detect early-stage lung cancer .
As noted in a recent Report to the Nation on the Status of Cancer , lung cancer is the second most common form of cancer in the United States and the leading cause of cancer death for American men and women. Since tobacco smoking is a primary risk factor for developing lung cancer and oral cancer, tobacco-use cessation is a key step for preventing or lowering the risks of these cancers and other primary diseases (e.g., cardiovascular disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease).
Dentists are encouraged to become fully informed about tobacco-use intervention techniques and to educate patients in overcoming their addiction to tobacco and the primary prevention of tobacco use. In addition, dentists can provide a valuable service by reminding former or current smokers of their increased risk of developing lung cancer, and refer at-risk patients to their primary-care physician for a complete health assessment.
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A–Z Topic: Smoking Cessation
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Science in the News is a service by the American Dental Association (ADA) to present current information about science topics in the news. The ADA is a professional association of dentists committed to the public's oral health, ethics, science and professional advancement; leading a unified profession through initiatives in advocacy, education, research and the development of standards. As a science-based organization, the ADA's evaluation of the scientific evidence may change as more information becomes available. Your thoughts would be greatly appreciated.
Document Posted December 2005
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