A study to develop and test a computer programme to help to improve the diagnosis of lung cancer (DART)
Cancer type:
Status:
Phase:
This study is developing and testing a computer programme to help diagnose lung cancer earlier.
It is for people who have had a 
as part of the NHS Lung Health Checks.
Please note - you can’t volunteer to have a lung health check. You get a letter from a GP inviting you to take part.
More about this trial
The NHS Lung Health Check is a service that is running in some parts of England. It aims to help diagnose lung cancer at an earlier stage when treatment may be more successful.
People are invited for a lung health check if they:
- are aged between 55 and 75
- are registered with a GP
- have ever smoked
- live in an area where the checks are being done
Those at a higher risk of lung cancer have a CT scan. You have more tests if the scan shows any abnormal areas (nodules). These tests may include scans, tissue samples ( or surgery. This is to check if the area is cancer or not. In most cases it isn’t but in a small number of people it is. The tests can take time to do and worry people while they wait for the results.
Researchers want to further improve the Lung Health Checks and help the NHS to make them available to more people. To do this they are using a computer programme to look at lung nodules on CT scans.
The main aim of this study is to develop and test the computer programme. Researchers hope it can:
- identify nodules that are not cancer and are harmless
- speed up the time to diagnose early lung cancer
- reduce the need for other tests such as tissue samples
- allow the NHS to reach many more people for Lung Health Checks
Who can enter
You may be able to join this study if you have had a CT scan as part of the NHS Health Lung Check.
You can’t join this study if you have decided the NHS can’t use your information for research or planning. Your doctor can tell you about this.
Trial design
The researchers need to collect information from about 300,000 people who have had a CT scan as part of the NHS Health Lung Check.
They will gather and analyse data from these scans. They will also look at:
- your medical notes
- any other scans you have had and the results
- any tissue samples taken and the results
- any surgery for lung cancer
All the information they collect is kept and will be transferred securely to Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
You have a study number so no one will be able to link the results directly back to you.
Hospital visits
There aren’t any hospital visits if you take part in this study.
Side effects
There aren’t any side effects if you take part in this study.
Location
Recruitment start:
Recruitment end:
How to join a clinical trial
Please note: In order to join a trial you will need to discuss it with your doctor, unless otherwise specified.
Chief Investigator
Professor Fergus Gleeson
Supported by
Cancer Research UK
GEHC
Innovate UK
Optellum
Roche Diagnostics
Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
If you have questions about the trial please contact our cancer information nurses
Freephone 0808 800 4040
