PhD defence by Maria Del Pilar Fernandez Montejo

Optimising Lung Cancer Screening: A Sex-Specific Approach - Systemic Inflammatory Biomarkers and Risk Stratification in a Population-Based Study in Denmark

Assessment Committee:
Associate professor Markus Fally, Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen (Chairperson)
Associate professor Michael Stenger, University of Southern Denmark (SDU)
Professor Haseem Ashraf, University of Oslo

Supervisors:
Clinical Associate Professor Zaigham Saghir
Clinical Professor Uffe Christian Heitmann Bødtger
PhD, MSc, Oncology nurse, RN, Project Manager Randi  Jepsen

Department:
Department of Clinical Medicine

Graduate Programme:
Clinical Cancer Research

Place:
The defence is conducted as a hybrid defence.

To attend the defence in persion:
SUH, Nykøbing F., entrance 66, Room: Auditorium, Strandboulevarden 66, 4800 Nykøbing F.

To attend the defence online
Please follow the link to attend the defence online: https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/354354666311028?p=T6hdrQrpxEo42sOZKE  
Meeting ID, if relevant: 354 354 666 311 028
Password, if relevant: gp2xk6be

Email address to gain access to the thesis: mariadoctordenmark@gmail.com 
You will either receive a copy of the thesis or be informed where you can read a physical copy.

Short description of the thesis:
Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer death worldwide, largely because many cases are diagnosed too late for curative treatment. Low-dose CT screening can reduce mortality in high-risk individuals, but current screening criteria may not identify risk equally in women and men. This PhD thesis investigates how different lung cancer screening strategies perform in a Danish population, with a particular focus on sex-related differences. Using population-based cohorts and national health registries, the studies assess traditional screening criteria, risk prediction model approach, and systemic inflammatory biomarkers. The findings support the potential value of more individualised and equitable approaches to future lung cancer screening and risk assessment.