Scientists have discovered a set of 14 proteins in the blood that can predict lung cancer more than five years before diagnosis, along with early evidence that an existing anti-inflammatory drug could significantly reduce lung cancer risk in high-risk patients.
The research, published in Cell, offers a promising path toward preventing lung cancer before it develops — a major shift from treating advanced disease to stopping it before it begins. Lung cancer kills more people worldwide than any other cancer, making this breakthrough potentially transformative for public health.
The 14-Protein Blood Test
A team of more than 80 researchers identified 14 inflammatory proteins that appear in the bloodstream years before clinical symptoms emerge. These proteins serve as an early warning system, identifying people at high risk before cancer develops.
“The protein signature offers a way to identify people at high risk before cancer develops,” said the study’s lead researcher. “This is unlike anything we’ve seen before in cancer prevention research.”
The Drug: Canakinumab Cuts Risk by Nearly Half
Researchers analyzed data from 4,650 patients in a trial of canakinumab, an anti-inflammatory drug originally developed to reduce heart attack risk. The drug targets the same inflammatory pathway associated with the 14-protein signature.
While the trial showed only modest benefit for heart attacks, it revealed that patients taking canakinumab had nearly half the risk of developing lung cancer among 2,300 patients with higher-than-average expression of the 14 proteins.
“This suggests that inflammation plays a critical role in lung cancer development, and blocking inflammation can prevent cancer in high-risk individuals,” researchers say.
The Science: Inflammation and Cancer
Chronic inflammation in the lungs — caused by smoking, air pollution, or occupational exposures — creates an environment where cancer cells develop. Canakinumab blocks a specific inflammatory pathway, reducing cellular damage that leads to cancer.
Next Steps: Clinical Trials Needed
More research is needed before this test could be ready for patients. Scientists must validate the protein signature and run a dedicated clinical trial testing canakinumab for lung cancer prevention. Such a trial would require thousands of participants and several years of follow-up.
The World’s First Prevention Vaccine
In related research, Cancer Research UK has funded £2.06 million for a clinical trial of LungVax, the world’s first lung cancer prevention vaccine. Lab tests show it can prime the immune system to recognize and kill abnormal lung cells before they become cancerous. The trial is expected to begin in summer 2026.
What Patients Should Know
While promising, patients should not expect immediate access to these treatments. Clinical trials typically take years. For now, the best prevention remains quitting smoking, avoiding secondhand smoke, limiting exposure to pollution, and getting regular screening if at high risk.
Preventative approaches won’t replace stopping smoking as the best risk reduction method, but they could offer viable routes for people who’ve quit but remain at high risk.
-Rashmi Kumari
