Everest: Biomarkers of Early-Stage Lung Cancer in Cigarette Smokers
About
This is a prospectively enrolling, multicenter, case controlled, observational, blood specimen collection study. This study aims to validate blood-based biomarkers for identifying heavy cigarette smokers at the highest risk of having asymptomatic early-stage lung cancer, warranting screening by low-dose CT. To achieve this, the study will collect blood samples via a multi-cohort strategy.
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria
- Participant understands the study procedures and is able to provide written informed consent to participate in the study.
- Participant is willing and able to provide a blood sample
- Age 30-80 years
- Current or former smoker (quit <15 years ago)
- ≥10 pack-years (pack years = number of packs per day X number of years smoked)
Exclusion Criteria
- Any other cancer diagnosis within last 5 years (non-melanoma skin cancers are acceptable)
- Participants must not have received any systemic therapy, definitive therapy, radiation, or surgical resection for cancer within one year prior to enrollment, with the exception of organ biopsies or surgery for non-melanoma skin cancer.
- Any history of hematologic malignancies or myelodysplasia
- Known infection with a blood borne pathogen (HIV, HCV, HBV)
- Active pregnancy
Primary Investigator
Dr. Edmundo Rubio is a board-certified physician in sleep medicine, critical care medicine, and pulmonary disease with over 30 years of experience. After completing his medical school training at the University of Chile, he pursued his internal medicine residency at New Hanover Regional Medical Center, an Area Health Education Center of the University of North Carolina. He then expanded his expertise through fellowships in Pulmonary and Critical Care, as well as Sleep Medicine at Tulane School of Medicine in New Orleans. While training in pulmonary medicine, Dr. Rubio also received advanced training in Interventional Pulmonology under the guidance of Dr. Kevin Kovitz. Since joining Carilion in 2008, he has taken on several leadership roles, including Section Chief of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Environmental Sleep Medicine, Director of Interventional Pulmonology, Co-Medical Director of Radford University Carilion's Respiratory Care Program, and Associate Program Director for the Pulmonary & Critical Care Fellowship at Carilion Clinic.
Contact Information
Leigh Anne Phan
Clinical Research Coordinator
