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We Are Recruiting Participants
The School of Public Health and the Department of Medicine, School of Clinical Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, are recruiting heavy smokers to participate in a study on lung cancer screening using low-dose computed tomography (LDCT). This project aims to evaluate the effectiveness of LDCT in screening for early-stage, treatable lung cancer in high-risk individuals.
▶ Are you eligible to participate?
Current smokers / former smokers (quit smoking within the past 10 years)
Between 50 – 79
20 pack-years* or more
*Average number of cigarettes smoked per day (packs) x Number of years of smoking
Lung Cancer Statistics in Hong Kong
Lung cancer is the most common cancer in Hong Kong and places a heavy burden on the local healthcare system[1]. It has the highest mortality rate among all cancers, claiming numerous lives among individuals with significant smoking histories.
Its asymptomatic nature in early stages often leads to late-stage diagnoses, exacerbating the health burden. Approximately 70% of lung cancer cases are detected at stages III or IV[2], where treatment efficacy is limited, resulting in 5-year survival rates of 24.6% and 7.8%, respectively[3]. In contrast, early detection at stage I offers a significantly higher 5-year survival rate of 72.4%, highlighting the critical need for effective screening[3].
Treatment options for lung cancer depend on the disease stage. Patients with early-stage disease should be considered for surgical resection, while those with advanced, non-resectable lung cancer may benefit from systemic chemotherapy or molecular-targeted therapy. Early detection increases the likelihood of complete resection and cure, emphasizing that earlier disease staging correlates with better overall prognosis.
Programme Purposes
"Service cum Research" Approach
LDCT screening has proven effectiveness in early lung cancer detection internationally[4][5][6]. Participants will be invited to undergo a free LDCT lung cancer screening, addressing their immediate health needs while also contributing valuable data to inform public health policy.
Filling the Knowledge Gap of Insufficiency of Clinical Data
The Cancer Expert Working Group (CEWG), Centre for Health Protection Hong Kong notes a lack of local evidence on its clinical and cost-effectiveness, particularly in the context of Hong Kong's unique epidemiology[7]. This programme aims to address these gaps by implementing LDCT screening for high-risk ever-smokers and generating local data on the clinical effectiveness, cost-effectiveness, and feasibility of LDCT screening.
Providing Evidence for Lung Cancer Screening Policies Development
The findings will provide evidence-based recommendations for integrating lung cancer screening into Hong Kong's healthcare system.
Filling the Local Lung Cancer Screening Data Gap,
Collaborating to Advance Hong Kong's Healthcare Development
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References
- Hong Kong Cancer Registry, Hospital Authority. Leading Cancer Sites in Hong Kong in 2023. 2025. Available at: https://www3.ha.org.hk/cancereg/pdf/top10/rank_2023.pdf. Accessed on 02 February 2026.
- Hong Kong Cancer Registry, Hospital Authority. Lung Cancer in 2023. 2025. Available at: https://www3.ha.org.hk/cancereg/pdf/factsheet/2023/lung_2023.pdf. Accessed on 02 February 2026.
- Hong Kong Cancer Registry, Hospital Authority. Report of Stage-specific Survival of Lung Cancer in Hong Kong. 2023. Available at: https://www3.ha.org.hk/cancereg/pdf/survival/Stage-specific%20Survival%20of%20LC%20in%20HK.pdf. Accessed on 02 February 2026.
- de Koning HJ, van der Aalst CM, de Jong PA, Scholten ET, Nackaerts K, Heuvelmans MA, et al. Reduced Lung-Cancer Mortality with Volume CT Screening in a Randomized Trial. N Engl J Med 2020; 382(6):503-513.
- National Lung Screening Trial Research Team, Aberle DR, Adams AM, Berg CD, Black WC, Clapp JD, et al. Reduced lung-cancer mortality with low-dose computed tomographic screening. N Engl J Med 2011; 365(5):395-409.
- Bonney A, Malouf R, Marchal C, Manners D, Fong KM, Marshall HM, et al. Impact of low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) screening on lung cancer-related mortality. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2022; 8(8):CD013829.
- Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health. Cancer Expert Working Group on Cancer Prevention and Screening (CEWG), Recommendations on Prevention and Screening for Lung Cancer For Health Professionals. 2023. Available at: https://www.chp.gov.hk/files/pdf/lung_cancer_professional_hp.pdf. Accessed on 02 February 2026.
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