On Oct.25, the 21st International Conference for Early Lung Cancer screening concluded in Zhuhai. The conference was sponsored by the International Early Lung Cancer Action Program (I-ELCAP) and hosted by the Fifth Affiliated Hospital of SYSU. During the two-day conference, more than 60 foreign experts and over 50 domestic representatives convened to exchange and discuss on the latest development of early diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer. Deng Qunfang, deputy Mayor of Zhuhai city and Li Mengfeng vice President of SYSU attended the conference.

The conference aimed to promote the development of low-dose CT screening for lung cancer and to transmit the research achievements through diversified cooperative network so as to provide early diagnosis, treatment and even eventual cure for lung cancer. It is reported that lung cancer takes the first place among sarcomata in terms of morbidity. China is nearly swamped by lung cancer with 0.6 to 1 million people dying from lung cancer every year. And lung cancer normalization rate of Zhuhai city has reached 30.3 per 100,000 people, which has become the primary causation of sarcomata deaths. Experts on the conference said that CT screening for lung cancer in China was launched a little bit late and the experience is greatly diversified. This conference is anticipated to be of help in that it will facilitate the further development in the screening work for lung cancer as well as the enhancement of treatment levels.

The Early Lung Cancer Action Program (ELCA) is the precursor of The International Early Lung Cancer Action Program (I-ELCAP) founded by professor Claudia Henscke in 1992. It has currently evolved into a multi-discipline and multi-center cooperative international researching organization consisting of experts in CT screening for lung cancer and other related subjects. Its members come from 58 hospitals from 8 countries in North America, Europe and Asia, including 3 in China. The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of SYSU is one of the earliest members.