Lung cancer screening: between a new program and new avenues

The French Ministry of Health is launching the "IMPULSION" program, a national pilot program for the early detection of lung cancer, targeting 20,000 at-risk current and former smokers. Faced with a disease responsible for nearly 31,000 deaths each year in France, this initiative relies on low-dose chest CT scans combined with smoking cessation support. In parallel, new international research conducted by the International Agency for Research on Cancer is paving the way for blood tests capable of refining the identification of individuals most at risk of lung cancer.

A still very deadly disease, mainly attributable to smoking, which would be detected early

The Ministry of Health has announced the launch of the "IMPULSION" research program (Implementation of Lung Cancer Screening by CT Scan in the Population), designed to test early lung cancer screening, when the chances of recovery are higher, among 20,000 smokers or ex-smokers aged 50 to 74.[1]. The program provides for low-dose chest CT scans and, if necessary, specific medical care in the event of cancer abnormalities being detected. The program is launching in five regions: Île-de-France, Hauts-de-France, Pays de la Loire, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, and Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes. Five to fifteen accredited radiology centers will gradually open in each of these regions.

According to the ministry, the program's objective is to define the modalities of a future national early detection program, which is to be implemented "by 2030," according to Health Minister Stéphanie Rist. According to the National Cancer Institute, screening by CT scan could reduce lung cancer mortality by 20 to 25% after 10 years of follow-up, given that in 73% of cases today, lung cancer is diagnosed at an advanced stage, with an overall 5-year survival rate of only 20%.

Lung cancer remains the deadliest malignant tumor in France, with approximately 53,000 new cases and 30,900 deaths each year. In nearly eight out of ten cases, it is linked to smoking. While the incidence rate tends to stabilize in men (-0.2 per 1,000,000 between 2003 and 2023), it is increasing alarmingly in women (+5 per 1,000,000 between 2003 and 2023). This increase is the result of rising tobacco consumption among women in the 1980s and 1990s, while men's consumption began to decline.[2].

Healthcare professionals in the affected regions (general practitioners, tobacco cessation specialists, or nurses) are asked to identify eligible individuals: current or former smokers aged 50 to 74 who have smoked at least 20 pack-years and have quit within the last 15 years. A pack-year corresponds to smoking 10 cigarettes per day for two years, one pack of 20 cigarettes per day for one year, or two packs per day for six months.

Volunteers can also contact the national call center directly at 34 33 or register via the program's official website. A questionnaire and consultation will then be used to verify their eligibility.

Medical monitoring covered by insurance, including treatment for tobacco addiction.

Participants will receive a low-dose chest CT scan, fully reimbursed by the French National Health Insurance (%). If no abnormalities are found, a second scan will be performed one year later, and then every two years thereafter.

If an abnormality is detected, further tests will be scheduled, with the timeframe varying depending on the results. In the event of a lung cancer diagnosis, patients will be referred to a specialized thoracic oncology team and will receive medical and psychological support.

In parallel, smoking cessation support is systematically offered. Combining screening and smoking cessation would reduce the risk of death from lung cancer by 38%.[3]. According to a study published in the scientific journal The Lancet, early detection could prevent approximately 13,000 deaths over five years.

An additional blood test could refine lung cancer screening

Furthermore, a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) suggests that a blood test could improve lung cancer screening.[4]. Today, screening relies primarily on a history of exposure to tobacco smoke. However, it appears that other factors, such as genetic modifications or environmental exposures, can also influence this risk. Consequently, current screening recommendations exclude many vulnerable individuals: up to 65% of people with lung cancer are not eligible for screening, and 10% to 20% of them have never smoked.

Researchers from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), an agency of the World Health Organization, and their partners in the Lung Cancer Cohort Consortium (LC3), developed the INTEGRAL-Risk model, which incorporates seven pre-defined case cohorts to estimate the absolute risk of lung cancer diagnosis based on age, smoking history, and 13 blood proteins. Following nearly 3,700 participants with a history of smoking, the researchers compared the INTEGRAL-Risk model to existing methods for determining eligibility for lung cancer screening by CT scan (such as questionnaires). The INTEGRAL-Risk device identified 85 first-time third-time cases (%) of lung cancer occurring within the following year, compared to 70 % cases with a reference model based on a questionnaire and 63 % cases using current screening criteria in the United States.

" Our goal is not to replace low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) as a screening test, but rather to refine the screening process by targeting it to those most likely to benefit from it. »" explained Dr. Hilary Robbins, a researcher at the IARC who co-led the study, adding that« These results provide strong evidence that blood biomarkers could play an important role in the next generation of lung cancer screening strategies. »[5]. The test is still in the research phase and will need to be evaluated in larger-scale studies before any potential clinical use.

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[1]Lung cancer screening: a free pilot program launched in five regions, Le Monde, published May 18, 2026, accessed May 19, 2026

[2]Lung cancer screening: the IMPULSION program is looking for 20,000 volunteers, Hospices Civils de Lyon, updated on May 19, 2026, accessed the same day

[3]Oihana Gabriel, Lung cancer: a new pilot screening program launched, here's how to participate, Our Time, published on May 19, 2026, accessed the same day

[4]Zahed H., Feng X., Alcala K., et al., Biomarker-Based Eligibility for Lung Cancer Screening: Validation of the Protein-Based INTEGRAL-Risk Model,JAMA, published May 18, 2026, accessed May 19, 2026

[5]New study finds that blood test could increase the impact of lung cancer screening with low-dose computed tomography, International Agency for Research on Cancer, World Health Organization, published May 18, 2026, accessed May 19, 2026

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