Rising lung cancer rates among non-smokers highlight the need for early detection
On World Cancer Day, an article in The Guardian highlights the increasing incidence of lung cancer among people who have never smoked, with a particularly notable rise among women.
Lung cancer remains the most common cancer globally and the leading cause of cancer-related mortality. While smoking-related lung cancer has declined as smoking rates have decreased in countries such as the US and the UK, a concerning trend is emerging: the number of lung cancer cases among never-smokers is rising, particularly among women.
This development underscores the urgent need for early detection methods, especially for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) adenocarcinoma, which accounts for up to 70% of lung cancer cases in never-smokers and often originates in the small airways of the lungs.
A promising advancement in this field is PExA’s non-invasive breath sampling technology. This method allows researchers to collect microscopic particles from the small airways and analyze them to gain valuable insights into lung health. This has the potential to enable earlier and more precise NSCLC detection. Uniquely, PExA’s technology samples from the exact lung region where NSCLC adenocarcinoma originates, opening new possibilities for improved diagnostics and treatment.
Tomas Gustafsson, CEO of PExA, comments:
- On World Cancer Day, it is important to acknowledge the changing landscape of lung cancer. NSCLC adenocarcinoma develops more slowly than other types of lung cancer, creating a unique opportunity to detect the disease before it becomes incurable. However, achieving this requires better and more sensitive screening methods. This is where advanced diagnostic tools like PExA may play a crucial role in the future.
PExA’s technology is already being used in multiple lung cancer studies, potentially contributing to advancements in early detection, treatment, and follow-up of lung cancer.
Related information
- Learn more about PExA’s technology and mission
- The Guardian: Lung cancer diagnoses on the rise among never-smokers worldwide
- World Cancer Day
For further information, please contact:
Tomas Gustafsson, E-post: info@pexa.se
About PExA AB:
PExA AB (556956-9246) has developed the PExA 2.1, a patented research instrument that helps researchers intelligently collect biological samples from the smallest airways through a simple exhalation maneuver. PExA’s technology is currently used by prominent research groups in several different countries and research with the instrument has resulted in approximately 50 scientific publications, which serve as reference material for PExA’s method. The company’s long-term goal is to market and sell diagnostic instruments for popular diseases (e.g. lung cancer and COPD) to be used globally for diagnosis or general screening at facilities where care is offered. The company intends at the time it is relevant to sell to clinics to have developed more patient-friendly, flexible and commercial products, which means that PExA addresses a significantly wider market, which today includes several million patients globally.
PExA’s B share is listed on the Spotlight Stock Market.