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Massive cancer screening trial tests chest X-Rays for lung cancer

NCT ID NCT01696968

Knowledge-focused Sponsor: National Cancer Institute (NCI) Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

What the study statuses mean

This study's is highlighted.

Recruitment status, easiest to join first

Recruiting now
This trial is taking on new participants right now.
Not yet recruiting
Registered, but not yet taking participants.
By invitation only
Not open to general applications. Only people the study team invites can take part.
Paused
Paused for now. It may or may not start again.
Ongoing This study
Running, but no longer taking on new participants.
Completed
The trial has finished. Results may not be published yet.
Stopped early
Stopped early, before it reached the end. That can be for many reasons, including safety.
Cancelled
Cancelled before anyone took part.

Expanded access (not trials)

Expanded access
Not a trial. This treatment can be requested outside a study, case by case, for people who qualify.
Expanded access (paused)
Not a trial. The treatment can normally be requested outside a study, but is unavailable right now.
Expanded access (ended)
Not a trial. The treatment could once be requested outside a study, but no longer can.
Approved
The treatment has been approved, so it is available normally rather than through this programme.

When the status isn't known

Details not published
The full record has not been published yet, so there is little to show here.
Status unknown
This status has not been confirmed recently, so it may be out of date.

First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jul 24, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This large study looks at whether regular chest X-rays and health questionnaires can help find lung cancer early and reduce deaths. Over 154,000 people aged 55-74 took part. Researchers compare lung cancer deaths between those who got screened and those who received usual care.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.

What this could lead to
If successful, this could show that regular chest X-rays help find lung cancer early and save lives.
What could go wrong
This is an observational screening study, not a treatment trial. It may not prove that screening reduces deaths, and results may not apply to newer screening methods like CT scans.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

Study facts

What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.

Phase

Not a phased trial

Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.

Participants

154,901 people

The number who actually took part.

Started

Nov 1993

Expected to finish

Jun 2027

An estimate. End dates often move.

Lead sponsor

A government research agency

The lead sponsor is the US National Institutes of Health.

Who can take part

This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.

Ages

55 to 74 years

Sex

Anyone

Healthy volunteers

Not accepted

This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.

Show the full entry requirements

Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.

Exclusion Criteria: * Men and women who at the time of randomization are less than 55 or greater than or equal to 75 years of age * Individuals undergoing treatment for cancer at this time, excluding basal-cell and squamous-cell skin cancer * Individuals with known prior cancer of the colon, rectum, lung, prostate (men only) or ovary (women only) * This includes primary or metastatic PLCO cancers * Individuals with previous surgical removal of the entire colon, one lung, or the entire prostate (men only) * Until October 1996, women with previous surgical removal of both ovaries were excluded from the trial. In order to increase the enrollment of women into the trial, beginning in October 1996, these women were no longer excluded for this reason. * Individuals who are participating in another cancer screening or cancer primary prevention trial * Males who have taken Proscar/Propecia/finasteride in the past 6 months * NOTE: Individuals who are already enrolled in the trial when their physician prescribes finasteride are not prevented from taking this medication. As a result, these participants will continue to be screened and followed just as those participants who are not on finasteride. * NOTE: Men who are taking Tamoxifen are not excluded from any part of the PLCO Screening Trial. * Prior to April 1, 1999 women were excluded from the trial if they were currently taking or had taken Tamoxifen or Evista\\Raloxifene in the past 6 months. As of April 1999 based on a decision from the PLCO Ovary Subcommittee, women who have or are currently taking Tamoxifen or Evista\\Raloxifene are not excluded from participation. * Individuals who are unwilling or unable to sign the informed consent form * Males who have had more than one PSA blood test in the past three years * Individuals who have had a colonoscopy, sigmoidoscopy, or barium enema in the past three years

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

lung carcinoma lung neoplasm

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

Lung carcinoma

Contacts and locations

Locations

  • National Institutes of Health Clinical Center

    Bethesda, Maryland, 20892, United States

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