Massive cancer screening trial aims to cut deaths
NCT ID NCT01696981
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jul 24, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study tested whether routine screening for four cancers (prostate, lung, colorectal, and ovarian) can lower the number of people who die from these diseases. Over 154,000 adults aged 55–74 joined the trial. Researchers compared cancer deaths between those who got screened and those who received usual care.
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Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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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
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154,900 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Nov 1993
- Expected to finish
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Jun 2027
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
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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
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55 to 74 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
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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 * 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.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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National Institutes of Health Clinical Center
Bethesda, Maryland, 20892, United States
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Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
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