FANSS Study Demonstrates Promising Lung Cancer Detection Rates in Non-Smoking Asian Women
Key Insights
The FANSS study enrolled 1,000 non-smoking Asian American women and detected invasive lung adenocarcinoma in 13 participants, achieving a 1.3% detection rate that exceeds rates observed in heavy smokers from the National Lung Screening Trial.
Nine of the 13 detected lung cancers were Stage IA, indicating successful early-stage disease identification in a population currently lacking formal screening guidelines.
The study combines low-dose CT screening with cfDNA (search) fragmentomics blood testing, demonstrating the feasibility of incorporating plasma biomarker analysis for high-risk populations without established screening protocols.
Preliminary results from the Female Asian Nonsmoker Screening Study (FANSS) demonstrate promising detection rates for lung cancer in a population currently without formal screening guidelines. Researchers from NYU Langone Health, collaborating with DELFI Diagnostics (search), presented data at ESMO Asia 2025 showing a 1.3% lung cancer detection rate among 1,000 non-smoking Asian American women participants.
Study Design and Population
The FANSS study enrolled women aged 40-74 of Asian descent with no smoking history, defined as fewer than 100 cigarettes in a lifetime, and no history of lung cancer or cancer treatment within the past five years. The screening approach combined low-dose CT (LDCT) with cfDNA (search) fragmentomics blood testing to evaluate feasibility in this underserved population.
"We enrolled 1,000 participants who underwent baseline LDCT, and 13 were diagnosed with invasive lung adenocarcinoma, a 1.3% detection rate," said Elaine Shum, MD, an oncologist and assistant professor at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, and the study's lead investigator. "This rate is higher than what was observed in heavy smokers in the National Lung Screening Trial."
Early-Stage Detection Success
Of the 13 lung cancers detected, nine were Stage IA, indicating successful identification of early-stage disease. Follow-up continues for 14 additional participants with Lung-RADS 3 or 4 scores. The high proportion of early-stage cancers suggests the screening approach may be effective for detecting disease when treatment options are most favorable.
Addressing an Unmet Medical Need
Lung cancer in people who have never smoked represents an increasing global concern, yet no formal screening guidelines exist for this group. Asian women with no smoking history appear to be at elevated risk for reasons that remain unclear, making FANSS a landmark U.S.-based screening program addressing this gap.
Blood-Based Biomarker Development
The study incorporates genome-wide cfDNA (search) fragmentation analysis, with features from collected samples contributing to ongoing efforts aimed at developing classifiers for early detection of lung cancer in non-smoking populations.
"These results demonstrate the feasibility of incorporating plasma biomarker analysis into screening studies for high-risk populations who currently lack formal guidelines. We look forward to sharing additional findings as the analysis progresses," said Amoolya Singh, PhD, Chief Technology Officer for DELFI Diagnostics (search).
Study Funding and Collaboration
FANSS (ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT05164757) receives funding from private philanthropy, DELFI Diagnostics (search), and AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP, representing a collaborative approach to addressing screening gaps in underserved populations.