How does OncuraKit compare to low-dose CT (LDCT) for lung cancer screening?

Low-dose CT (LDCT) is recommended by USPSTF for annual lung cancer screening in adults 50–80 who have a 20 pack-year smoking history and currently smoke or quit within the past 15 years. LDCT has 94% sensitivity for lung cancer but produces a high false-positive rate — approximately 96% of positive findings are benign nodules that require follow-up imaging, causing significant patient anxiety and sometimes unnecessary invasive procedures. OncuraKit screens for lung cancer using miR-21, miR-375, and miR-141 overexpression — a different modality that measures molecular biology rather than anatomy. OncuraKit has no false-positive imaging artifacts and requires no radiation exposure. It is not a replacement for LDCT in high-risk smokers but may serve as a complementary tool for intermediate-risk individuals or non-smokers with other lung cancer risk factors.