Prospective study of lung cancer screening by low-dose CT scan in France

In randomized controlled trials, lung cancer screening using low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) has been show to reduce lung cancer mortality and overall mortality. The prospective DEP KP80 study in France investigated feasibility and efficacy of annual LDCT lung cancer screening in real life. Participants aged between 55 and 74 years, smokers or former smok of ≥ 30 pack-years were recruited by their general practioner or pulmonologist. Among the 1254 enrolled participants, 945 (75.4%) underwent baseline LDCT (T0), 376 (42.8%) completed the first round (T1), and 270 (31%) completed the second round. A total of 42 lung cancer were diagnosed, of which 71.4% were stage I or II, and 80.9% could be treated surgically. The overall positive predictive value for a positive screening was 48% (95% CI 37-59) and the negative predictive value was 100% (100-100). The authors conclude that DEP KP80 demonstrated the feasibility and efficacy of LDCT lung cancer screening in a real-life context, with most lung cancer diagnosed at an early stage and surgically removed.