More trouble for the I-ELCAP study

I was speaking this week with a legislator who asked me about screening for lung cancer — a very focused question for a non-cancer professional. But, lung cancer screening is once again in the news. Specifically, more trouble has arisen from the I-ELCAP (International Early Lung Cancer Action Program) study and for Dr. Claudia Henschke, with the New York Times reporting that over 90% of the informed consent documents could not be located. This is after the New York Times previously reported that this study was funded with tobacco money. Big trouble in credibility, that is certain.

The I-ELCAP study is a study of CT screening for smokers meant to detect lung cancers earlier, when they are presumably more curable. This most recent gap (calling it a huge hole, rather than a gap, may be more accurate) was detected after independent researchers were brought in to audit the study after the announcement of suspect funding for the study. This lack of informed consent documents may result in the study needing to be permanently withdrawn from journals. No matter how miraculous her findings, they are completely in doubt given this information about the funding and conduct of her study. And that is a shame for the patients who participated in this study and staff who worked hard to comply with this study's protocol to further the science of screening for lung cancer.