New blood-based risk score for lung cancer prevention
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A new study published in the journal Cell found that a blood-based inflammatory risk score may identify people at higher risk of lung cancer before symptoms appear. By combining large-scale population data, laboratory research, and clinical trial analyses, the investigators found that the test may help determine who is most likely to benefit from preventive treatment. By moving beyond traditional risk models based mainly on age and smoking history, this approach examines biological signs of inflammation, which may support more targeted screening, closer monitoring, and preventive care. Further research is still needed, but the findings could improve early detection and help reduce lung cancer deaths.
Source
Pandya, T., Zagorulya, M., Leung, M. M., Augustine, M., Liu, L. Y., Leppä, A. M., Baruchel, U., Ng, S. W., Klockner, T., Mugabo, M., Griffen, A. J., Blyuss, O., Iliakis, C. S., Grenov, A., Haase, K., Muller, D. C., Chan, K. H., Wu, J., Burk, V. A., Wright, N., … Swanton, C. (2026). Plasma signals of lung tumor promotion for molecular cancer prevention. Cell, 189(13), 3903–3921.e26. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2026.05.005
Additional Reading
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/04/well/lung-cancer-prevention.html