Toward Lung Cancer Screening in France

Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related mortality in France, with 30,900 deaths recorded in 2022. Tobacco use is responsible for nearly 80% of diagnosed cases.

In 2022, the Haute Autorité de Santé recommended the launch of a pilot program using low-dose spiral CT scans, with the objective of gathering the necessary data to inform the implementation of a national organized lung cancer screening program.

The Institut national du cancer developed the operational framework for the screening program and launched a call for proposals in July 2024 to select the pilot project. Following evaluation by an international panel of experts, the IMPULSION project was selected and awarded €6 million in funding.

Set to begin late 2025, this pilot program will combine low-dose spiral CT screening with smoking cessation support for current smokers. A particular emphasis will be placed on reaching socially and geographically isolated populations. The program brings together national and regional partners and aims to identify and assess the optimal conditions for a scalable, organized lung cancer screening program adapted to local contexts.