Early Diagnosis of Lung Cancer and Mesothelioma in Prior Asbestos Workers

Official Title: “Early Diagnosis of Mesothelioma and Lung Cancer Following Asbestos Exposure Using Low-dose Computed Tomography”

Occupational exposure to asbestos is known increase the risk of developing cancer of the lungs (bronchogenic carcinoma) or of the pleura (mesothelioma). Symptoms are subtle and non-specific, diagnosis is often late and the prognosis consequently is dismal. Currently there is no accepted non-invasive tool for the early diagnosis of mesothelioma or lung cancer in asbestos-exposed subjects. In the last decade, low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) has been successfully developed and validated for the early diagnosis of lung cancer in high-risk smokers. Malignant mesothelioma might, in an early stage, resemble a benign pleural plaque, which is a common finding after asbestos exposure. We target to develop low-dose CT as a tool to serially image the pleural plaques, quantify their individual and overall volume, compute the growth rate with time, and, as such, identify the presence of mesothelioma early, before symptoms occur.

Arms, Groups and Cohorts in this Clinical Trial

• : 1
  • prior exposure to asbestos

Inclusion Criteria:

• prior asbestos exposure at least 20 years ago and/or documented pleural plaques (chest x-ray evidence)
• Resident of Ontario, Canada

Exclusion Criteria:

• prior cancer (except non-melanotic skin cancer)

Gender Eligibility for this Clinical Trial: Both

Minimum Age for this Clinical Trial: 30 Years

Maximum Age for this Clinical Trial: 85 Years

Are Healthy Volunteers Accepted for this Clinical Trial?: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Lead Investigator: University Health Network, Toronto Other

Overall Clinical Trial Officials and Contacts

Demetris Patsios, MD Principal Investigator University Health Network, Toronto  

Overall Contact: Demetris Patsios, MD Tel: (416) 603-5800 demetris.patsios@uhn.on.ca

Information obtained from ClinicalTrials.gov on February 12, 2012

Link to the current ClinicalTrials.gov record. http://clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT00188890

Study ID Number: Asbestos Screening Study

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00188890

Health Authority: Canada: Health Canada