In an effort to improve early detection and diagnosis of cancer, SPOREs created a multifaceted partnership with investigators of the EDRN.
The Lung Cancer Biomarkers Working Group, created by SPORE and EDRN investigators with the support of NCI staff, established a collection of well-characterized plasma and serum reference sets from patients with early lesions. These sets are available nationwide to scientists for independent qualification of assays. An expert panel consisting of extramural investigators and NCI staff reviewed eleven applications, and, based on the scores, specimens were distributed to applicants from academic centers, industry, and two foreign groups. Data from all sites are collected and analyzed in the EDRN Data Management and Coordinating Center.