APPLIED-LUNG: Transforming lung cancer screening
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Artificial intelligence-integrated Plasma Proteomic anaLysis to Improve risk Evaluation and Decision-making in LUNG cancer screening (APPLIED-LUNG)
IRAS ID
356119
Contact name
Serena Chee
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Liverpool
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 11 months, 31 days
Research summary
Lung cancer accounts for 1 in 7(around 50,000) of new cancers diagnosed each year in the United Kingdom with over half diagnosed at a late stage. Most cancer-related deaths(1 in 5) are due to lung cancer.
To improve early diagnosis, the NHS has introduced lung cancer screening for people at high risk using low dose CT scans. While CT scans are effective at spotting lung cancer, the wide scale roll out of CT screening requires many resources. This is challenging in an already overstretched NHS.
Oxford Cancer Analytics (OXcan) has developed a new blood test capable of spotting lung cancer by analysing proteins in the blood.
In previous research involving over 1,800 patients, OXcan’s approach successfully picked up more than 8 in 10 early-stage lung cancers. The advantages of this blood test include safety, simplicity, and accessibility.
OXcan is working with NHS, University, and Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) partners to run this research study that will involve 11,000 participants at high risk of lung cancer having NHS Lung cancer screening with a low dose CT scan.
Willing participants will have blood taken once when attending for their CT scan to see how well the OXcan test works. The results will be compared with their CT scan results and any future cancer diagnosis. Blood/saliva/sputum/nose/mouth swabs may also be collected once to help improve future screening for lung cancer and other diseases. All participants will receive their usual care, including ongoing CT screening.
This study aims to measure the ability of the OXcan test to find lung cancer accurately and identify people at very low risk of lung cancer who may not need a CT scan. If successful, OXcan’s blood test could provide a safer, more convenient, and widely accessible approach to improve lung cancer screening.
REC name
London - Dulwich Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
25/LO/0807
Date of REC Opinion
19 Dec 2025
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion