Leveraging artificial intelligence to detect lung cancer earlier in more people

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in Canada. An estimated 1 in 15 people in Canada are expected to be diagnosed with lung cancer in their lifetime. Detecting cancer early, when treatment is more likely to be successful, can increase the chances of survival. But existing guidelines recommend screening exclusively for current or former smokers who have smoked heavily, a criterion that excludes a significant number of those diagnosed with the disease in Canada. Additionally, CT scans are often part of routine investigations for a variety of health conditions, and they can detect lung nodules called incidental pulmonary nodules (IPNs). People with IPNs have been found to have an increased risk of developing lung cancer, but they are often not followed up appropriately, representing a missed opportunity for early diagnosis.  

With support from the Canadian Cancer Society and the Lotte & John Hecht Memorial Foundation, this research team is developing a multi-pronged approach to ultimately improve the detection and diagnosis of lung cancer for more people. Utilizing the power of AI, the team of multi-disciplinary experts will develop tests that identify chemical signatures in breath and biomarkers in blood that indicate the presence of lung cancer before clinical diagnosis. At the same time, they will create an AI method to determine if IPNs detected by CT scan are cancerous or non-cancerous. 

This project leverages and builds on existing resources and expertise to address significant gaps in lung cancer detection in Canada. If successful, it could help to establish new methods and programs for early detection, saving lives. 

Total Amount Awarded over 5 years: $ 5,472,575