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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2025 Jun 11:64:769-774.
doi: 10.2340/1651-226X.2025.43093.

Lung cancer screening in Finland: a prospective randomized trial

Viktor Wichmann  1 , Sanna Iivanainen  1 , Lauri Mattila  2 , Veli-Pekka Kokkonen  2 , Airi Jartti  2 , Antti Kurtti  3 , Riitta Kaarteenaho  4 , Heidi Andersen  5 , Antti Jekunen  5 , Tuula Vasankari  6 , Jussi Koivunen  7
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Lung cancer screening in Finland: a prospective randomized trial

Viktor Wichmann et al. Acta Oncol. .

Abstract

Background: Early detection of lung cancer with low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) screening can shift diagnoses to early-stage disease and improve survival. However, LDCT has several challenges such as high false positive rate and indefinite cost-effectiveness. We report here secondary and exploratory endpoints of the Low-dose CT screening for lung cancer combined with different smoking cessation approach in Finland (LDCT-SC-FI) study including recruitment channels, LDCT performance, and long-term smoking cessation.

Methods: In this study, we randomized 200 current smokers with a significant smoking history in 1:1 fashion to receive a smartphone application or standard of care written materials, both for smoking cessation. All underwent LDCT screening at baseline and at 1-year. Participants were recruited through multiple channels, including newspapers, internet advertisements, and healthcare referrals.

Results: Newspaper advertisements were the most effective recruitment method, accounting for 74.5% of participants while minority came through referrals (2.5%). LDCT screening demonstrated uptake of 96.7% for both rounds combined. Six lung cancers were detected with a positive predictive value of 75%. Of the detected lung cancers, five were at stage I and all of these underwent curative intent treatment. Smoking cessation rates at 1-year were higher in the application (18.3%) than in the control arm (12.8%), though the difference was not statistically significant (odds ratio [OR]: 1.53, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.69-3.41).

Interpretation: This study suggests that LDCT screening for lung cancer is feasible in Finland. The screening examination uptake was high with both screening rounds, while the positive predictive value for lung cancer detection remained at good level.

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Conflict of interest statement

VW, HA, AnJe, VPK and AK declare no conflict of interest. SI reports institutional grants from AstraZeneca and Roche for the conduct of this study. SI reports personal fees from MSD, Roche, BMS, AstraZeneca, Novartis, Takeda, Eisai, and lecture fees from Siemens Healthineers, all outside the submitted work. LM reports lecturing fees from Boehringer Ingelheim outside of the submitted work. AiJa reports lecturing fees from Boehringer Ingelheim and GlaxoSmithKline outside of the submitted work. RK reports consulting, lecture, and advisory board fees from Boehringer Ingelheim, a virtual congress cost from Novartis, an advisory board fee from MSD, outside the submitted work. TV reports advisory board fees from NordicInfu Care, MSD and AstraZeneca outside the submitted work. JPK reports institutional grants from AstraZeneca and Roche for the conduct of this study. JPK reports a personal grant for conduct of the study from Cancer Foundation Finland. JPK reports personal fees from Roche, AstraZeneca, Janssen, BMS, Merck, Amgen, Novartis, Merck KgA, Sanofi, and Pfizer, lecturing fees from Siemens Healthineers, all outside of the submitted work. JPK is a former part-time employee of Faron Pharmaceuticals.

References

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