Lung Cancer ScreenINg and Outcomes BiobanK (LINK): A Collection of Biological Materials and Data for Lung Cancer Research

Summary

The LINK study aims to collect samples and data from people with and without lung cancer to help accelerate lung cancer research, improve early detection, and find better treatments. This is especially important for diverse and underrepresented groups, including those with limited tobacco exposure history.

Lung cancer is the most common and deadliest cancer in the world. Many patients are diagnosed late when survival rates are low because early-stage lung cancer often has no symptoms. Screening can find lung cancer early and reduce deaths. Most research focuses on high-risk smokers. A well-organized sample collection can help researchers study lung cancer. It can help them find and confirm new signs of the disease. It can also improve treatments and discover new ways to fight it.

We will collect each participant's health information, family lung cancer history, symptoms, and medical history. Participants will complete a 20-30 minute questionnaire about their health and lifestyle. We will also collect data from medical records. This includes test results, biopsy and surgery results, and cancer staging information. Blood samples will be collected from each participant at the start. In some cases, we will also collect toenail clippings to check for long-term radon exposure.

The LINK study seeks to answer key questions about improving early detection and outcomes for lung cancer. As Alberta considers funding for a provincial lung cancer screening program, there may be an opportunity to collect data from those being screened for lung cancer. This includes patients diagnosed with lung cancer through screening. It will also includes those with non-smoking risk factors, like high radon exposure or genetic risk who would not traditionally be eligible for lung cancer screening.