ASCO 2025 Session Focuses on Expanding Access and Innovation in Lung Cancer Screening

Cheryl Czerlanis, MD, a professor of medicine and thoracic oncologist at the University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center, joined Lung Cancers Today to discuss the 2025 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting session titled “Broadening the Net: Overcoming Challenges and Embracing Novel Technologies in Lung Cancer Screening on a Global Scale.”

Dr. Czerlanis, who chaired the session and gave a presentation on the role of family history and germline mutations in lung cancer risk, explained the inspiration behind the session.

“The spirit of the session is to explore multiple aspects of how to improve this effective screening tool. We will explore challenges in implementing lung cancer screening in low- and middle-income countries, how to engage one’s own community to increase screening efforts, how we can broaden the criteria for screening, and how to use novel technologies like artificial intelligence,” she said. “While the topics may seem to be loosely related, they all explore the human and technological aspects of bringing lung cancer screening to more eligible patients.”

The presentations in the session included:

• “Thinking Globally: Challenges to Implementation of Screening for Lung Cancer in Resource-Limited Settings,” by Navneet Singh, MD, DM, FRCP, FASCO, of the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research.
•  “End Lung Cancer Now: How to Engage Your Community to Promote Cancer Screening,” by Nasser H. Hanna, MD, FASCO, of the Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center.
• “Needle in the Haystack: Precision Screening for Lung Cancer and Role of Artificial Intelligence,” by Florian J. Fintelmann, MD, of Massachusetts General Hospital.
•  “Widen the Net: Screening for Individuals with Family History and Germline Genetic Alterations,” by Dr. Czerlanis.

With the session exploring lung cancer screening from multiple angles and perspectives, Dr. Czerlanis said she hopes that it will “spark an interest in exploring ways that we as a medical community can bring this tool to more eligible patients.”

She also shared her hopes for the future of lung cancer screening and what she sees on the horizon.

“Uptake of lung cancer screening is still lower than we would like, but it is improving. In the next 5 to 10 years, I see lung cancer screening continuing to grow with a hope that we can increase equitable access for lung cancer screening around the world and that novel technologies such as artificial intelligence may play an increased role in enhancing lung cancer screening,” Dr. Czerlanis said.