Current status and challenges of research on lung cancer screening and early diagnosis

Lung cancer is the most common malignancy and the leading cause of cancer death in China. Effective screening and early diagnosis can significantly improve the prognosis and reduce the risk of death in patients with lung cancer. Currently, low-dose computed tomography is the main screening method. Simultaneously, lung cancer-associated autoantibodies, artificial intelligence, and others have been gradually used in clinical practice. The development of respiratory interventional techniques such as endobronchial ultrasonography and virtual bronchoscopic navigation provide powerful tools for the accurate diagnosis of lung cancer at the early stage. In addition, new technologies such as liquid biopsy and exhaled breath analysis are expected to provide important tools for lung cancer screening and early diagnosis. However, each technique has its limitations, and optimization and combination may be the best choice. This paper reviews the status and challenges in the screening and early diagnosis of lung cancer to provide a reference for clinical doctors and researchers.