Methylated Biomarkers of Smoking as a Selection Tool in Participants for Lung Cancer Screening

Brief summary (registry, in English)

The MET-SELS study aims to revolutionize how we identify individuals for lung cancer screening by moving beyond the limitations of self-reported smoking history. Currently, eligibility for low-dose CT (LDCT) scans relies on "pack-years"-a metric often compromised by recall bias, under-reporting, and an inability to account for the biological nuances of smoke inhalation or environmental exposure. Consequently, current criteria miss nearly half of incidental lung cancers. To bridge this gap, the study investigates DNA methylation as a stable, objective "biological footprint" of smoking. Unlike short-term biomarkers like nicotine or CO levels, specific epigenetic changes in genes such as AHRR and F2RL3 persist long after cessation and correlate accurately with cumulative tobacco exposure. Led by Professor Dr. Annemiek Snoeckx and a multidisciplinary team at UZA and the Centre for Medical Genetics, the research will analyze saliva samples from two groups: roughly 900 participants from the ZORALCS screening trial and 150 volunteers. By comparing saliva-derived genomic signatures against both self-reported data and professional interviews, the team aims to validate a panel of methylation markers that can pinpoint high-risk individuals with far greater precision. The ultimate vision for MET-SELS is to implement a population-based "saliva-first" triage system, similar to the FIT test used for colorectal cancer. In this model, high-risk candidates would provide a saliva sample at home; only those with a confirmed epigenetic risk profile would be invited for a LDCT scan, significantly increasing the yield of early-stage lung cancer detection while streamlining healthcare resources.

What you commit to

• Study type: Interventional
• Planned participants: 1000
• From 4 Oct 2025 to the primary completion date, 1 Jan 2027
• 1 site in 1 country
• Visits and tests: ask the trial team, the registry does not list them

Built from the registry fields of ClinicalTrials.gov. It describes the study, not your situation.

Who cannot take part

Copied verbatim from ClinicalTrials.gov and grouped by topic. Only the trial team decides who can take part.

Who the study is looking for

Age in the registry: 50 years to - · Sex: All · Accepts healthy volunteers

Full criteria on ClinicalTrials.gov

Sites (1)

Sites in registry order. Pick your city on the disease page to sort them by distance.