2026 IASLC CT Screening and Early Detection Symposium-WS02.06 - Talk 2: Emerging Evidence for Screening Benefits in Low-Risk Populations/Those with No History of Smoking?

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The document is a symposium presentation by Pan-Chyr Yang on whether lung cancer screening benefits low-risk populations, especially never-smokers. It argues that lung cancer survival remains poor largely because many cases are diagnosed late, and that stage 1A is the only truly “early” stage with strong survival advantages. Advances in surgery and minimally invasive techniques have improved treatment for early-stage disease, but screening and early intervention are still insufficient.<br /><br />A major focus is lung cancer in never-smokers (LCINS), described as a growing global health threat. The presentation highlights that 25–30% of lung cancer patients worldwide are non-smokers, with especially high proportions among women in Asia. Current U.S. screening criteria miss a large burden of disease, excluding many women and never-smokers.<br /><br />Evidence from Asia suggests that risk-based screening can identify early disease in never-smokers. Risk factors include family history, passive smoking, chronic lung disease, cooking exposure without ventilation, and other environmental factors. The TALENT study and Taiwan’s national lung cancer early detection program showed high early-stage detection rates, with most cancers found at stage 0–1. Similar screening efforts in other countries and trials are also focusing on never-smokers and women.<br /><br />The presentation also addresses cost-effectiveness, noting that targeted screening in never-smokers may be cost-saving or cost-effective in Asia, though not necessarily in the U.S. It emphasizes the importance of precision screening based on cumulative risk rather than smoking history alone.<br /><br />The conclusion is that lung cancer risk should be viewed as a continuum, not a binary smoker/non-smoker category. Personalized screening using family history, environmental exposures, biomarkers, and AI may offer a more equitable and effective strategy for reducing lung cancer mortality.

Asset Subtitle

Pan-Chyr Yang

Meta Tag

Concept Chest Screening

Concept Smoking History

Concept Never-Smoker

Concept Risk Factor

Concept Lung Cancer Screening CT

Concept Personalized Screening

Speaker Pan-Chyr Yang

Keywords

lung cancer screening

never-smokers

low-risk populations

early detection

stage 1A

risk-based screening

Asia

cost-effectiveness

family history

precision screening

Chest Screening

Smoking History

Never-Smoker

Risk Factor

Lung Cancer Screening CT

Personalized Screening

Pan-Chyr Yang