SUMMIT Study

The SUMMIT study is the largest lung cancer screening study of its kind in Europe. Recruitment of participants from north central and east London, between the ages of 55-77 who are significant current or former smokers, began in April 2019 and there are now over 12,000 people involved in the study.

The aims of SUMMIT are:

• to detect lung cancer early among at-risk Londoners
• to support the development of a new blood test for the early detection of multiple cancer types, including lung cancer.

The study will also provide evidence to inform a potential national lung cancer screening programme. Currently, in England, screening is offered for breast, bowel and cervical cancer, but not lung cancer.

SUMMIT is a collaboration between UCLH, UCL, the National Institute for Health Research UCLH Biomedical Research Centre and GRAIL (a US healthcare company focused on the early detection of cancer). The North Central London Cancer Alliance supports the study with project management, primary care engagement and liaison, and communications.

Potential participants have been invited via their GP practice to attend a lung health check at one of four locations: University College Hospital, Mile End Hospital, Finchley Memorial Hospital or King George Hospital. If eligible, they are asked if they would like to join the SUMMIT study and are offered a blood test and a low-dose CT scan of their lungs. Two further annual appointments take place and worrying signs are follow up directly through the study or at local hospitals, depending on their urgency.