In 2024, an estimated 234,580 people will be diagnosed with lung cancer in the United States making it the leading cause of cancer death for both men and women.

Most people associate lung cancer with smoking, but about 10-20% of those who develop lung cancer in the United States are people who never smoked or smoked fewer than 100 cigarettes in their lifetime.

Late diagnosis of lung cancer is common because symptoms don’t usually occur in the early stages. By the time symptoms such as weight loss, coughs, shoulder pain, or shortness of breath cause the patient to seek medical help, the disease has already progressed.

The best way to cure lung cancer is when we identify it early, which is why UConn Health offers new cutting-edge ways to find lung cancer before it is detectible including routine cancer screening and artificial intelligence (AI) software for those who may not be looking for lung cancer.

New AI Software – revolutionizing lung cancer detection for those who don’t realize they are at risk

For the past six months, UConn Health has been utilizing a new software technology, Virtual Nodule Clinic (VNC) from vendor Optellum that uses a unique Patient Discover AI module automatically analyzing CT scans taken at UConn Health regardless of the medical reason for the scan.  Using natural language processing, the software will find patients who have reported lung nodules, the first sign of lung cancer, and add them to a nodule management dashboard.

“It’s an exciting time for medicine, and at UConn Health, we are committed to leading the way by embracing innovative technologies that can enhance care and improve outcomes for our community,” says Omar Ibrahim, associate professor of Medicine and director of Interventional Pulmonary at UConn Health and the Carole and Ray Neag Comprehensive Cancer Center.

This software offers an easier way to identify and diagnose lung cancer early. CT scans are used where lung nodules have been reported in scans acquired for an unrelated reason. These ‘incidental findings’ account for 90% of all diagnosed lung nodules. Most of these incidental findings are benign, but some are malignant and require urgent action.

“The vast majority of nodules don’t require immediate intervention; we simply monitor them to ensure they remain stable or resolve,” explains Ibrahim. “However, if a nodule exhibits high-risk features, our software provides a risk score that helps us assess its severity. Combined with factors like the patient’s medical history, tobacco use, and family history of lung cancer, this information guides our decision on whether further testing is necessary.”

Early data from the implementation of this technology at UConn Health shows an uptick in lung cancer diagnoses, particularly at earlier stages. Over the past six months, we have identified an increasing number of patients with stage one lung cancer—cases that are now being successfully treated and cured often through resection. This underscores the transformative impact of our multidisciplinary approach and advanced technology in improving early detection and outcomes for our patients.

Routine lung cancer screening for smokers

Screening programs are also available to help detect lung cancer early but unfortunately, these still face challenges in recruitment: less than 5% of all eligible individuals have undergone screening.

“There continues to be a stigma with early detection and screening, most people associate lung cancer with smoking which is much less in vogue than it used to be,” says Ibrahim “Over time people aren’t forthcoming with how much they smoked, or they feel somehow it is their fault that they developed this unfortunate disease which is not the case. Society has changed and we need to shake that stigma because we can help people and potentially cure them if we catch it early enough.”

Routine lung cancer screening is proactively looking for cancer in patients who are at high risk for developing cancer and meet the criteria for lung cancer screening which includes those aged 50-80 who have smoked the equivalent of a pack a day for 20 years and have not quit smoking in 15 years.

In the early stages of lung cancer, it is curable in many cases by removal through a surgical resection with no need for chemotherapy or radiation and only follow-up of surveillance CT scans. A CT scan uses computer-controlled X-rays to create cross-sectional images of the body. The low-dose CT scan of the lungs is quick, painless, and involves a minimal amount of radiation exposure.

Ibrahim says, “Diagnosing the cancer earlier allows for improved surgical management of the disease and increases the chance of survival. When the cancer is detected early, before it has had a chance to spread beyond the lungs, the five-year survival rate jumps from 5 to 90 percent.”

As technology has improved, our treatment options have improved, and lung cancer treatment has become very personalized. Biopsies are sent to determine the DNA of a tumor so we can see if there is a targeted mutation of the tumor that can be targeted, thus treating that patient’s tumor rather than taking a blanket approach to treat lung cancer.

“I am optimistic that a streamlined process allowing us to catch everyone early enough is the future of medicine and it is going to be very personalized allowing us to treat you as patient instead of treating cohorts (a large number of people based on risk),” says Ibrahim.

“At UConn Health, we recognize that the true power of technology lies not just in its capabilities but in how we, as a team, utilize it to its fullest potential. Ibrahim emphasizes the importance of collaboration and shared commitment, highlighting the integral roles played by every member of our multidisciplinary team—from navigators, nurses, and medical assistants to oncologists and thoracic surgeons. Together, we work seamlessly to provide exceptional care, ensuring that every patient benefits from the combined expertise and dedication of our team. This unity sets UConn Health apart and allows us to advance the standard of care.”

“Receiving a diagnosis of lung cancer is undoubtedly difficult, and it’s natural for patients to feel a sense of fear and uncertainty. However, it’s important to know that lung cancer, no matter the stage, is treatable. Treatment options have advanced significantly in recent years, and many people, though understandably concerned, can find hope in the progress we’ve made,” says Ibrahim. “I want to assure anyone facing lung cancer that this is our specialty at UConn Health. Our doctors are highly skilled, and we are committed to guiding and supporting you every step of the way throughout your treatment journey.”

The Carole and Ray Neag Cancer Center is located on the Farmington campus of UConn Health, the only research hospital in the area where medical staff and scientists collaborate to create new and better treatments for our patients. For an appointment call 800-579-7822.