This project aims to address the urgent need for the early detection of lung cancer (LC). Nearly 50% of Canadian LC cases are diagnosed at Stage IV, leading to very low survival rates. This project focuses on two key objectives: 1) developing and validating a blood plasma-based, laboratory-developed test (LDT) for early-stage LC detection and 2) designing an affordable, painless, at-home plasma collection kit to enable mail-in LC screening. The LC test, which will measure 10 metabolites, is designed to be fast (5 minutes/sample) and cost-effective, with a projected price of <$35 per test. By ensuring the stability of mailed-in plasma samples, this system will provide reliable results for both lab-collected and mailed samples.

Upon completion of this project, we will have: 1) a mass-spectrometry (MS)-based LDT for early LC detection; 2) an at-home plasma collection and plasma stabilization system (i.e., a kit) for mail-in LC-screening; 3) MS data that demonstrates the LC biomarkers are identical when collected at home (mailed in) or from venous blood plasma (fresh, from the clinic); 4) a completed pilot study of 260 at-home LC screening kits; 5) first steps towards Health Canada approval of an at-home, plasma-based LC screening test. The long-term goal is to integrate this LC test into Alberta Health Services’ diagnostic framework, making LC screening more accessible for high-risk populations, including Indigenous, rural, and remote communities. The shift from low-dose CT (LDCT) scans for LC screening to this MS-based test could lead to significant cost savings (>$1.5 billion/yr) for the Canadian healthcare system while saving the lives of >15,000 Canadians/yr (an economic impact of $105 billion/yr). This initiative aligns with the Healthy Outcomes Program’s goals by offering an omics-based, patient-centered, accessible, and affordable solution to a critical healthcare need, significantly improving early detection and treatment outcomes for LC patients in Canada.