Albert Rizzo, MD, is the chief medical officer of the American Lung Association.

Albert Rizzo, MD

Lung Cancer Biomarkers: A New Frontier in Early Detection with Lindsey Cotton, DO, DHSc, MS

Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related death in the United States, responsible for more than 127,000 deaths annually. Despite advancements in treatment, survival outcomes remain closely tied to the stage at diagnosis—making early detection a critical focus in public health. While current U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommendations endorse screening for only a handful of cancers—lung, breast, cervical, and colorectal—these organ-specific guidelines leave the majority of lethal cancers without structured early detection strategies.

Recent innovations in biomarker development have aimed to address this gap, using noninvasive methods such as blood, urine, saliva, or stool to detect cancer at early stages. Two major categories of these tools are emerging: organ-specific early detection tests and multi-cancer early detection tests (MCEDs), the latter offering the potential to identify multiple malignancies from a single blood sample. For lung cancer, both types of biomarkers are under active investigation, with ongoing efforts focused on improving accuracy, defining appropriate use populations, and addressing challenges related to cost, downstream testing, and insurance coverage.

Joining our host Albert Rizzo, MD, in this episode of Lungcast is clinician-scientist and expert in liquid biopsy development Lindsey Cotton, D.O.Med, DHSc, MS, chief medical officer of Cotton Medical Consultants. Cotton explores the evolving science of lung cancer biomarkers and their role in early detection and details the benefits and challenges of both organ-specific and multi-cancer tests.

“We need to move beyond this one size fits all screening recommendations. We need to take a more personalized approach looking at comprehensive risk assessment. I've been really fortunate to have a swarm of academic colleagues and peers as thought partners that are making so many incredible, groundbreaking movements in this area,” Cotton said. “I would also say it doesn't matter how great a test is. I want to emphasize the importance of implementation science in this field. Even the best test won't save lives if it isn't used, we don't have access, or it's not covered.”

Lungcast is a monthly respiratory news podcast series hosted by Albert Rizzo, MD, chief medical officer of the ALA, and produced by 

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This episode of Lungcast features a discussion on emerging research in lung cancer biomarkers and early detection.

RX Review: Evolving RSV Strategies Call for Multispecialty Collaboration

In this special report from HCP Live and Contemporary Pediatrics RX Review, Albert Rizzo, MD, moderates a discussion with Tina Tan, MD, and Joanne Nazif, MD, for an expert discussion on recent developments and persistent gaps in managing respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). 

In this clip, Tan reflects on the evolution of RSV prevention strategies since palivizumab’s approval in the 1990s.

 She notes the adoption of nirsevimab in neonatal care led to supply challenges for term infants and emphasizes the need for more data on the durability of immunity provided by the newly approved monoclonal antibody, which targets a narrower RSV epitope.

Tan and Rizzo also advocate for stronger collaboration between pediatricians, pulmonologists, and infectious disease specialists to ensure comprehensive vaccination strategies across age groups. She highlights the importance of protecting not only infants and pregnant women but also older adults who frequently live in multigenerational households and are vulnerable to severe RSV outcomes.

The panel encourages the development of multidisciplinary teams, similar to those in oncology and pulmonary care, to facilitate infectious disease management and preventive care planning. Tan also stresses that RSV is not limited to pediatrics—hospitalization and mortality burdens are highest among older adults—underscoring the urgent need for adult providers to adopt and promote RSV vaccination.

Editor's note: The FDA approved Merck's clesrovimab under the name Enflonsia last month as the latest immunization strategy for infants entering their first RSV season.

RX Review: RSV Prevention Strategies and the Changing Epidemiologic Landscape

RX Review: Clesrovimab, RSV Education, and Immunization Uptake

is chief medical officer of the American Lung Association. Board certified in internal medicine, pulmonary, critical care and sleep medicine, Rizzo serves as the moderator for this panel discussion.

is a professor of pediatrics at the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University and an infectious disease physician. She is also medical director of the International Patient and Destination Services Program, president of the Lurie medical dental staff at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, and president of the Infectious Disease Society of America.

is an attending physician in the division of Hospital Medicine at Children's Hospital at Montefiore. She also serves as an associate professor of pediatrics at Albert Einstein College of Medicine.

Rizzo, Tan, and Nazif report no relevant disclosures. 

Resch B. Product review on the monoclonal antibody palivizumab for prevention of respiratory syncytial virus infection. Hum Vaccin Immunother. 2017;13(9):2138-2149. doi:10.1080/21645515.2017.1337614

FDA Approves New Drug to Prevent RSV in Babies and Toddlers. News release. FDA. July 17, 2023. Accessed July 16, 2025. https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-approves-new-drug-prevent-rsv-babies-and-toddlers

U.S. FDA Approves Merck’s ENFLONSIA™ (clesrovimab-cfor) for Prevention of Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Lower Respiratory Tract Disease in Infants Born During or Entering Their First RSV Season. News release. Merck. June 9, 2025. https://www.merck.com/news/u-s-fda-approves-mercks-enflonsia-clesrovimab-cfor-for-prevention-of-respiratory-syncytial-virus-rsv-lower-respiratory-tract-disease-in-infants-born-during-or-entering-their-fir/

In this video, the last in a 3-part series, panelists discuss future directions in the field and the importance of multispecialty collaboration.

RX Review: Clesrovimab and RSV Education and Immunization Uptake

In this special report from HCP Live and Contemporary Pediatrics RX Review, Albert Rizzo, MD, moderates a discussion with Tina Tan, MD, and Joanne Nazif, MD, to address critical unmet needs and recent FDA approvals that are shaping pediatric respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) management. 

In this clip, Tan highlights initial shortages of nirsevimab, a monoclonal antibody, as a key barrier to broad immunoprophylaxis. Although supply has since improved, she underscores ongoing challenges in ensuring widespread, timely access, especially amid shifting RSV seasonality post-pandemic.

Nazif discusses the recent FDA approval of clesrovimab, a new RSV monoclonal antibody for infants, which joins maternal vaccination and nirsevimab as prevention options. She notes its fixed-dose delivery simplifies administration and offers supply resilience and potential protection against viral mutations by targeting RSV differently. Clesrovimab (Merck) was approved by the FDA last month under the name Enflonsia.

Both experts emphasize gaps in clinician education. Tan stresses the importance of understanding appropriate use of maternal and infant-targeted RSV prevention tools. Nazif addresses the importance of parental communication amid vaccine hesitancy, urging providers to differentiate monoclonal antibodies from traditional vaccines and to reinforce the rigorous safety evaluations these products undergo.

In this video, part 2 in a 3-part series, panelists discuss clesrovimab's recent approval and gaps in clinician education.

In this clip, Tan emphasizes the major impact of RSV prevention tools in the last couple of years, including maternal immunization and monoclonal antibodies like nirsevimab, on reducing disease severity and hospitalizations, particularly in infants. Nirsevimab, sponsored by Sanofi and AstraZeneca, was FDA-approved under the name Beyfortus in July 2023.

 Tan also notes that underutilization of RSV vaccines among older adults continues to contribute to severe illness and admissions in that population.

Nazif adds that treatment for hospitalized pediatric RSV cases remains largely supportive, given the limited efficacy of pharmacologic interventions, and so prevention has become the most effective strategy. She highlights the high disease burden, citing up to 80,000 infant hospitalizations annually due to RSV-induced bronchiolitis.

The panel also addresses epidemiologic shifts post-COVID, including an initial drop in RSV hospitalizations followed by a return to baseline levels. Encouragingly, early data from the 2024–2025 season show significantly reduced hospitalization rates among infants under seven months, particularly in the youngest age group, following widespread use of maternal vaccines and nirsevimab. These trends support a promising outlook for broader prevention efforts.

FDA Approves New Drug to Prevent RSV in Babies and Toddlers. News release. FDA. July 17, 2023. Access July 16, 2025. https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-approves-new-drug-prevent-rsv-babies-and-toddlers

In this video, the first in a 3-part series, panelists discuss recent advancements in RSV management.

Albert Rizzo, MD

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