June 23, 2010

St. John's-- The Terry Fox Research

Institute (TFRI) today announced the expansion to Newfoundland & Labrador of

a nationwide lung cancer detection study involving current and former

smokers.  Seven sites across Canada currently participate in the study and

since its launch in September 2008, a total of 37 cancers have been found. To

date, 2,021 participants are enrolled in the national study, which is aimed at

detecting and treating lung cancer earlier and through readily accessible and

low-cost detection techniques.

Organizers of the Newfoundland

& Labrador study, to be based in St. John's, aim to recruit 200 participants

over the next year.  The study will be conducted in collaboration with

health care and research partners at Memorial University of Newfoundland and

Eastern Health, based at the Health Sciences Centre.

"We are pleased to be a part of

this national lung cancer detection study and know that many current and former

smokers in the province will be interested in it as well. Lung cancer is the

leading cause of cancer death in Canada and around the world. This study is

focused on early detection and treatment of lung cancer and has the potential to

significantly reduce lung cancer mortality through relatively simple breath and

blood tests. We're grateful to TFRI for expanding the study to Newfoundland and

Labrador, and we believe it is of vital importance to improving survival rates

from lung cancer both here and elsewhere in Canada," said Eastern Health

radiologist Dr. Rick Bhatia, clinical associate professor of radiology at MUN,

who will lead the site project and work with his colleagues in respiratory

medicine.

TFRI is providing $472,907 for the

St. John's study, bringing the total invested in the Early Lung Cancer Detection

Study to $7.16 million. The lung study is co-funded by the Canadian Partnership

Against Cancer.

"We recently celebrated the launch

of the Atlantic Node of the Terry Fox Research Institute in St. John's,

Newfoundland in April 2010. Our investment in this study site signifies our

commitment to help improve cancer outcomes for patients who live here. This is

the first of what we hope will be many partnership initiatives with regional

cancer research and health care communities here.  This study is an

international first and participants are helping to make history in cancer

research," said Dr. Victor Ling, TFRI president and scientific director.

"The study recognizes the need to

create a lung cancer detection program and infrastructure that is both timely

and affordable within the Canadian health care system," says Dr. Heather Bryant,

vice-president of cancer control at the Canadian Partnership Against

Cancer.  "The study will give us important information on how to proceed

with any eventual nationwide approach to the early detection and treatment of

lung cancer."

 "We wish to express our

sincere thanks to TFRI and the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer for their

investment in this important study that will help to increase the effectiveness

and reach of lung cancer detection. Further, Memorial University of Newfoundland

is pleased to participate in this pan-Canadian study," says Dr. Ray Gosine,

vice-president (research) pro tempore, Memorial University of Newfoundland

The made-in-Canada program has

sites in Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, Hamilton, Ottawa, Quebec City and Halifax.

It uses a unique combination of a questionnaire and tests of blood and breath to

determine the effectiveness of these readily accessible and low-cost detection

techniques for lung cancer as a first step in early detection, streaming those

identified as being at higher risk to the costlier but more sensitive spiral CT

and bronchoscopy.

Lung cancer is the leading cause of

cancer death in Canada and around the world, killing 20,000 in Canada* and 1.2

million worldwide. That is more than colorectal, breast and prostate cancers

combined. By 2020, it is projected that lung cancer will be the fifth highest

killer among all diseases.**

Current and former smokers between

the age of 50 and 75 who are interested in participating are urged to call

709-777-7097 in St. John's.  To contact other participating centres, please

call 1-888-505-TFRI (8374).

Media contacts:

Kelly

Curwin                                                

Chief Communications Officer
Terry Fox Research Institute
Vancouver,

BC
604-675-8223
Mobile: 778-237-8158

Lisa Marchitto
Canadian

Partnership Against Cancer
Toronto, Ontario
416-619-5782
Mobile:

647-618-0436

Sharon Gray
Communications

Coordinator, Health Sciences
Memorial University of Newfoundland
St.

John's
709-777-8397

Deborah  Collins
Manager of

Media Relations
Eastern Health
St. John's
709-777-1339