Abstract
Background: AICS (lung) was developed based on “AminoIndex Technology“, which involves multivariate analysis of the plasma free amino acid (PFAA) concentration between lung cancer patients and healthy subjects, and has recently been put into use as a screening test for lung cancer. In this study, the sensitivity of AICS (lung) for lung cancer was compared with that of chest X-ray examination.
Methods: Plasma free amino acid concentrations were measured by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry in lung cancer patients (n = 234) and AICS (lung) values were calculated and determined as rank A, B or C. Also, the detectability of mass shadows in these patients by chest X-ray was evaluated. The sensitivity of AICS (lung) was compared with that of chest X-ray examination.
Results: The sensitivity of AICS (lung) was significantly higher than that of chest X-ray examination in lung cancer patients with tumors of 1.0 cm or less (p < 0.05) and in adenocarcinoma patients with tumors of 1.5cm or less (p < 0.05). Also, in lung cancer patients with tumors of 2.0 cm or less, or in patients at stage IA, the sensitivity of AICS (lung) was equivalent to that of chest X-ray examination and higher sensitivity was observed when both screening methods were combined.
Conclusion: These results suggested that AICS (lung) would be a useful screening test for lung cancer, especially for small tumors undetectable by chest X-ray examination.
