Diagnostic tools and innovative therapies improve patient...( SAN FRANCISCO August 2 2009 The wor...),Health

SAN FRANCISCO, August 2, 2009 The world's top lung cancer specialists, medical professionals and researchers are convening this week in San Francisco, CA for the 13th World Conference on Lung Cancer (WCLC), organized by the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC). Prevention and early detection of cancers translates to better prognoses, but lung cancer remains one of the hardest cancers to detect in its early stages. According to research highlighted today at WCLC, innovative diagnostics and treatments using naturally occurring and synthetic human compounds can help detect early stage lung cancer and treat at-risk patients to prevent cancer cell progression.

"Identifying and treating at-risk patients smokers, ex-smokers and non-smokers exposed to environmental triggers before cancer cell presentation will reduce incidence of one of the leading causes of death worldwide," said David Gandara, M.D., WCLC program chair. "While our main focus continues to be prevention, new diagnostics to detect early stage lung cancer are paramount to improving patient survival rates."

To dial in to press conference:
U.S. Toll-free Dial-In Number: (800) 230-1074
International Dial-In Number: (612) 234-9959
Verbal Passcode: "lung cancer press conference"
To view press conference slides:
http://www.2009worldlungcancer.org
Click on Press and Media link

Recent studies have shown that specific volatile organic compounds (VOCs), gasses emitted from certain solids or liquids such as paint, are present in the breath of lung cancer patients and analysis of these compounds could lead to new diagnostic tools for patients.

The origins of these VOCs are still up for debate. It is unknown if they emerge from the tumor itself, its micro-environment or if they are produ
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