WCLC 2025 - Posters & ePosters-EP.04.36 Evaluation of the Utility of msignal® for Lung Cancer Screening in a Rural Region of Northern Japan (Hokkaido Region)

EP.04.36 Evaluation of the Utility of msignal® for Lung Cancer Screening in a Rural Region of Northern Japan (Hokkaido Region)

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This study evaluates the utility of miSignal, a novel urine-based cancer screening test, for lung cancer detection in Iwanai Town, a rural area in Hokkaido, northern Japan known for the highest lung cancer mortality rates in the country. Iwanai was chosen due to its low lung cancer screening participation and restricted healthcare access, aggravated by high smoking prevalence.<br /><br />miSignal analyzes urinary microRNA (miRNA) profiles to predict cancer risk, including lung cancer, through an at-home test kit. Developed using samples from 278 lung cancer patients and 125 controls, the predictive model leveraging 40 miRNAs achieved an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.951, indicating strong accuracy for early detection.<br /><br />The project provided 100 free miSignal kits by lottery to residents aged 60 or older with no recent cancer history and no lung screening in the past five years. Out of 100 participants (46 men, 54 women; mean age 67), five were identified at high risk for lung cancer. Three underwent further diagnostic evaluation, with one confirmed case undergoing surgery revealing early-stage adenocarcinoma in situ and atypical adenomatous hyperplasia.<br /><br />The study highlights challenges of conventional low-dose CT (LDCT) lung screening, including false positives, radiation exposure, and notably low uptake rates (e.g., only 16% of eligible individuals screened in the US). In Japan, even with ongoing LDCT trials and limited municipal screening programs, awareness and access remain insufficient, particularly in rural settings.<br /><br />miSignal’s non-invasive, home-based urine test offers a promising alternative, especially useful in remote areas with limited healthcare infrastructure. The authors conclude that further technological improvements in urinary miRNA screening could improve early lung cancer detection and reduce mortality in underserved populations like those in Hokkaido’s rural regions.

Asset Subtitle

Masato Aragaki

Meta Tag

Speaker Masato Aragaki

Topic Screening and Early Detection

Keywords

miSignal

urine-based cancer screening

lung cancer detection

Iwanai Town

Hokkaido

microRNA (miRNA)

early cancer detection

low-dose CT (LDCT) screening

rural healthcare access

non-invasive diagnostic test