Firefighters are at increased risk for cancer due to exposure to carcinogenic substances. Current lung cancer screening guidelines are predominantly based on smoking history and do not take into account high risk occupational exposures such as firefighting. This study aims to provide chest computed tomography (CT) scans to firefighters to determine the prevalence of lung cancer, other cancers detectable on CT chest, and lung diseases associated with increased cancer risk.
This is a single-group prospective interventional study and a community-based participatory project led by University of California, San Francisco and in close collaboration with the firefighter community in California. PRIMARY OBJECTIVE: I. Determine the prevalence of lung cancer, other cancers and cancer risk factors detectable on chest Computerized Tomography (CT) (Aim 1). II. Identify imaging and non-imaging predictors of lung cancer and other cancers detectable on chest CT. SECONDARY OBJECTIVE: I. Determine the prevalence of incidental findings on chest CT (Aim 1). II. Determine the risk factors for cancer development in firefighters (Aim 2). EXPLORATORY OBJECTIVES: I. Long term follow-up to determine the incidence of lung cancer and other cancers among firefighters. II. Develop a firefighter cancer imaging registry. OUTLINE: Participants will be administered a single, low dose chest CT to included participants and collect comprehensive demographic, clinical, and occupational data. Participants will be followed up at 1-2 months, for at least 1 year and up to 10 years to collect any follow-up imaging and biopsy results, if applicable.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NON_RANDOMIZED
Purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
1,200
Undergo CT for lung cancer screening
Participants will complete questionnaires on or before the day of the scan.
Medical history will be obtained in person and via medical record review
University of California, San Francisco
San Francisco, California, United States
Proportion of participants with detected lung cancers (Aim 1)
The proportion of participants with detected lung cancers will be determined by the frequency of image findings that indicate lung cancer, and an ultimate clinical diagnosis associated with the imaging finding.
Time frame: Up to 10 years
Proportion of participants with detected other cancers (Aim 1)
The proportion of participants with detected cancers, other than lung, will be determined by the frequency of image findings that indicate other cancer, and an ultimate clinical diagnosis associated with the imaging finding.
Time frame: Up to 10 years
Proportion of participants with occupational lung disease (Aim 1)
Occupational or work-related lung diseases are lung conditions that have been caused or made worse by long-term exposure to certain irritants in the workplace. The proportion of participants with occupational lung disease will be determined by the frequency of image findings that indicate occupationally associated lung disease, and an ultimate clinical diagnosis associated with the imaging finding.
Time frame: Up to 10 years
Proportion of participants with diagnosed interstitial lung disease (Aim 1)
Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD) is a group of diseases that irritate, inflame, or scar the lungs and supporting air sacs. The proportion of participants with diagnosed interstitial lung disease will be determined by the frequency of image findings that indicate ILD, and an ultimate clinical diagnosis associated with the imaging finding.
Time frame: Up to 10 years
Number of participants within of each Lung-RADS risk group
The Lung CT Screening Reporting and Data System (Lung-RADS) is a measure developed by the American College of Radiologists to standardize the reporting and management of screen-detected pulmonary nodules. Nodules are categorized as 0=Incomplete, 1=Negative, 2=Benign Appearance or Behavior, 3=Probably Benign, or 4A /4B /4X = Suspicious with an additional modifier of S=Other or C=Prior Lung Cancer to be added to the 4 category codes as needed. The frequency of participants within each Lung-RADS risk group as determined by imaging procedures will be reported.
Time frame: Up to 10 years
Percentage of participants with incidental clinical findings
The percentage of participants with incidental findings be determined by the frequency of image findings that indicate presence of possible coronary calcium, aortic aneurysm, thyroid nodules, liver pathology and osseous pathology and an ultimate clinical diagnosis associated with the imaging finding.
Time frame: Up to 10 years
Number of risk factors identified as associated with cancer development
The number of not-yet identified risk factors that are determined to be significantly associated with the development of thoracic cancers will be determined using logistic regression methods.
Time frame: Up to 10 years
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