Groundbreaking Research Targets Underserved Group

A recent study, the Female Asian Nonsmoker Screening Study (FANSS), showcases the transformative potential of low-dose CT (LDCT) screening for lung cancer among Asian women with no smoking history—a demographic often overlooked in conventional healthcare.

Unveiling Alarming Statistics

Presented at the prestigious International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer's 2025 World Conference, FANSS is unprecedented as the first lung cancer screening initiative in the U.S. solely focusing on nonsmokers. This landmark study screened 1,000 Asian women aged 40 to 74, unveiling startling insights about lung cancer prevalence in this group.

A Higher Risk Than Previously Thought

Research has consistently shown that Asian American women who have never smoked are at double the risk of developing lung cancer compared to their white counterparts. Dr. Elaine Shum from NYU Perlmutter Cancer Center, leading the study, reported an alarming detection rate of 1.3%, which surpasses findings from the National Lung Screening Trial (NLST) focused on high-risk smokers.

Impressive Findings from the Study

The FANSS study reported Lung-RADS classifications revealing a distribution of 0 (2.2%), 1 (38.8%), 2 (52.1%), 3 (4.1%), and 4 (2.8%). Thirteen participants—1.3% of those screened—were diagnosed with invasive lung adenocarcinoma, with all undergoing surgical resection and no reported lung cancer fatalities as of now.

Calls for New Screening Guidelines

Dr. Shum emphasized that these findings underline the urgent need to reassess lung cancer screening guidelines, which currently focus primarily on individuals with a history of smoking, thereby neglecting high-risk nonsmokers. She believes that FANSS could pave the way for expanding evidence-based screening recommendations to include this often-forgotten population.

The Path Forward

As further evaluations are conducted on 14 additional patients flagged with Lung-RADS 3 or 4, Dr. Shum remains optimistic that continued follow-up and biomarker analysis will solidify the foundation for future screening policies that prioritize the health and safety of nonsmoking individuals.