CancerNCT00339495
Prostate Lung Colorectal and Ovarian (PLCO) Cancer Screening Trial
An observational study of Cancer and Death, run by National Cancer Institute (NCI) at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
The Division of Cancer Preventionl (DCP, formerly DCPC), under extramural contracts to 10 U.S. clinical centers, is evaluating the effectiveness of screening for prostate, lung, colorectal and ovarian cancer (The PLCO Trial). Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 55 to 74 years
- How many people
- 154,900 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 1 May 1998to 31 Dec 2026
- Phase
- Observational
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 55 to 74 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Study population: Community samples from ten US screening centers: Birmingham AL, Denver CO, Detroit MI, Honolulu HI, Marshfield WI, Minneapolis MN, Pittsburgh PA, Salt Lake City UT, St Louis MO, and Washington DC
Who may be able to join
- Men and women aged 55-74 years who do not have a prior history of PLCO tumors and have not undergone routine screening.
Who cannot join
None listed.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
The Division of Cancer Preventionl (DCP, formerly DCPC), under extramural contracts to 10 U.S. clinical centers, is evaluating the effectiveness of screening for prostate, lung, colorectal and ovarian cancer (The PLCO Trial). In 1996 the NCI Executive Committee approved the expansion of the PLCO Trial to collect additional materials and to conduct additional studies. About, 74,000 men and 74,000 women, aged 55-74 years, have been randomized on a 50/50 basis into screening or usual care arms. Additional blood is collected from screened subjects and saliva for buccal cells from control subjects. Pathologic tissues are obtained for selected cases that develop cancer or selected related diseases (e.g. colon polyps, benign prostatic hyperplasia). Additional questionnaire-based risk and disease-related information is also collected, withconfirmation of disease status from medical records. Genetic, biochemical and questionnairebasedrisk information will be related to the development of cancer and other diseases in this population. Volunteers who provide samples for these studies will not routinely receive their individual results from the Additional Investigation. Subjects requesting such information, however, will be provided their test results. In 2009 the NCI Executive Committee approved the Extended Follow-up of subjects beyond the original 13-year follow-up period. Participants will be reconsented for the release of records to a single NCI-Designated Central Data Collection Center (CDCC), which will administer the annual mailings containing the annual study update questionnaire and a brief (1-2 page) risk factor questionnaire. Individuals who do not consent to release their identifiers to the CDCC will be followed up passively through linkage to state cancer registries and the National Death Index.
This protocol Review Application is for (1) the collaboration of intramural scientists in the Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics (DCEG) in the Additional Studies and (2) the coordination, in collaboration with DCP, of the Extended Follow-up.
Read the detailed description
The Division of Cancer Preventionl (DCP, formerly DCPC), under extramural contracts to 10 U.S. clinical centers, is evaluating the effectiveness of screening for prostate, lung, colorectal and ovarian cancer (The PLCO Trial). In 1996 the NCI Executive Committee approved the expansion of the PLCO Trial to collect additional materials and to conduct additional studies. About, 74,000 men and 74,000 women, aged 55-74 years, have been randomized on a 50/50 basis into screening or usual care arms. Additional blood is collected from screened subjects and saliva for buccal cells from control subjects. Pathologic tissues are obtained for selected cases that develop cancer or selected related diseases (e.g. colon polyps, benign prostatic hyperplasia). Additional questionnaire-based risk and disease-related information is also collected, with confirmation of disease status from medical records. Genetic, biochemical and questionnaire-based risk information will be related to the development of cancer and other diseases in this population. Volunteers who provide samples for these studies will not routinely receive their individual results from the Additional Investigation. Subjects requesting such information, however, will be provided their test results. In 2009 the NCI Executive Committee approved the Extended Follow-up of subjects beyond the original 13-year follow-up period. Participants will be reconsented for the release of records to a single NCI-Designated Central Data Collection Center (CDCC), which will administer the annual mailings containing the annual study update questionnaire and a brief (1-2 page) risk factor questionnaire. Individuals who do not consent to release their identifiers to the CDCC will be followed up passively through linkage to state cancer registries and the National Death Index.
This protocol Review Application is for (1) the collaboration of intramural scientists in the Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics (DCEG) in the Additional Studies and (2) the coordination, in collaboration with DCP, of the Extended Follow-up.
- Keywords
- Prostate, Screening Trial, Ovarian, Lung, Colorectal
- Medical subject headings
- Neoplasms, Death
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Non-Screening | Participants received their usual care | |
| Screening | Participants received trial-provided screening examinations for prostate, lung, colorectal, and ovarian cancer |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Death
Death
Measured: Extended beyond T13
Cancer incidence
Cancer Incidence
Measured: Extended beyond T13
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted21 Jun 2006 (estimated)
- Study start1 May 1998
- Primary completion31 Dec 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion31 Dec 2026 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (9)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for CancerStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by National Cancer Institute (NCI)The sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Observational
- Observational model
- Cohort
- Time perspective
- Prospective
- Enrolment
- 154,900 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- National Cancer Institute (NCI)
- Sponsor type
- US National Institutes of Health
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Steven C Moore, Ph.D., Principal investigator, National Cancer Institute (NCI)
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT00339495
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 999997041
- Other IDs
- OH97-C-N041
- Status last verified
- 3 Nov 2026
- First submitted
- 19 Jun 2006
- Last updated
- 5 Nov 2026
- Results posted
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
Publications
Zhang T, Moore SC, Fu S, Albanes D, Liao LM, Loftfield E, Playdon MC, Weinstein SJ, Yu K, Stolzenberg-Solomon RZ. Metabolomic profiling of genotype-derived ABO blood group, secretor status, and Lewis antigens and association with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma risk. Am J Epidemiol. 2026 Jun 3;195(6):1572-1584. doi: 10.1093/aje/kwag055.
PubMed 41804787Malcomson FC, Shams-White MM, Reedy J, Huang WY, Moore SC, Loftfield E. Adherence to the 2018 World Cancer Research Fund/American Institute for Cancer Research Cancer Prevention Recommendations and risk of lifestyle-related cancers in the prostate, lung, colorectal, and ovarian cancer screening trial. BJC Rep. 2025 Nov 19;3(1):81. doi: 10.1038/s44276-025-00195-6.
PubMed 41261199Wei W, Wang S, Yuan Z, Ren Y, Wu J, Gao X, Wang R, Li J. Plant-based diets and the risk of lung cancer: a large prospective cohort study. Eur J Nutr. 2025 Feb 1;64(2):73. doi: 10.1007/s00394-024-03570-0.
PubMed 39891747Jiang Y, Xie Q, Chen R. Breast Cancer Incidence and Mortality in Relation to Hormone Replacement Therapy Use Among Postmenopausal Women: Results From a Prospective Cohort Study. Clin Breast Cancer. 2022 Feb;22(2):e206-e213. doi: 10.1016/j.clbc.2021.06.010. Epub 2021 Jun 26.
PubMed 34548240Wang K, Wu Q, Li Z, Reger MK, Xiong Y, Zhong G, Li Q, Zhang X, Li H, Foukakis T, Xiang T, Zhang J, Ren G. Vitamin K intake and breast cancer incidence and death: results from a prospective cohort study. Clin Nutr. 2021 May;40(5):3370-3378. doi: 10.1016/j.clnu.2020.11.009. Epub 2020 Nov 16.
PubMed 33277073Makkar R, Butt J, Huang WY, McGlynn KA, Koshiol J, Pawlita M, Waterboer T, Freedman ND, Murphy G. Seropositivity for Helicobacter pylori and hepatobiliary cancers in the PLCO study. Br J Cancer. 2020 Sep;123(6):909-911. doi: 10.1038/s41416-020-0961-0. Epub 2020 Jun 29.
PubMed 32595210Kunzmann AT, Coleman HG, Huang WY, Berndt SI. The association of lifetime alcohol use with mortality and cancer risk in older adults: A cohort study. PLoS Med. 2018 Jun 19;15(6):e1002585. doi: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1002585. eCollection 2018 Jun.
PubMed 29920516Playdon MC, Ziegler RG, Sampson JN, Stolzenberg-Solomon R, Thompson HJ, Irwin ML, Mayne ST, Hoover RN, Moore SC. Nutritional metabolomics and breast cancer risk in a prospective study. Am J Clin Nutr. 2017 Aug;106(2):637-649. doi: 10.3945/ajcn.116.150912. Epub 2017 Jun 28.
PubMed 28659298Piper MR, Freedman DM, Robien K, Kopp W, Rager H, Horst RL, Stolzenberg-Solomon RZ. Vitamin D-binding protein and pancreatic cancer: a nested case-control study. Am J Clin Nutr. 2015 Jun;101(6):1206-15. doi: 10.3945/ajcn.114.096016. Epub 2015 Apr 22.
PubMed 25904602
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 5 Nov 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Prostate Lung Colorectal and Ovarian (PLCO) Cancer Screening Trial
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT00339495
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 999997041
- Keywords
- Prostate, Screening Trial, Ovarian, Lung, Colorectal
- Study type
- Observational
- Recruitment status
- Active, not recruiting
- Enrolment
- 154,900 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- National Cancer Institute (NCI)US National Institutes of Health
- Study start
- 1 May 1998 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 31 Dec 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 31 Dec 2026 (estimated)
- First posted
- 21 Jun 2006 (estimated)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The Division of Cancer Preventionl (DCP, formerly DCPC), under extramural contracts to 10 U.S. clinical centers, is evaluating the effectiveness of screening for prostate, lung, colorectal and ovarian cancer (The PLCO Trial). In 1996 the NCI Executive Committee approved the expansion of the PLCO Trial to collect additional materials and to conduct additional studies. About, 74,000 men and 74,000 women, aged 55-74 years, have been randomized on a 50/50 basis into screening or usual care arms. Additional blood is collected from screened subjects and saliva for buccal cells from control subjects. Pathologic tissues are obtained for selected cases that develop cancer or selected related diseases (e.g. colon polyps, benign prostatic hyperplasia). Additional questionnaire-based risk and disease-related information is also collected, withconfirmation of disease status from medical records. Genetic, biochemical and questionnairebasedrisk information will be related to the development of cancer and other diseases in this population. Volunteers who provide samples for these studies will not routinely receive their individual results from the Additional Investigation. Subjects requesting such information, however, will be provided their test results. In 2009 the NCI Executive Committee approved the Extended Follow-up of subjects beyond the original 13-year follow-up period. Participants will be reconsented for the release of records to a single NCI-Designated Central Data Collection Center (CDCC), which will administer the annual mailings containing the annual study update questionnaire and a brief (1-2 page) risk factor questionnaire. Individuals who do not consent to release their identifiers to the CDCC will be followed up passively through linkage to state cancer registries and the National Death Index.
This protocol Review Application is for (1) the collaboration of intramural scientists in the Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics (DCEG) in the Additional Studies and (2) the coordination, in collaboration with DCP, of the Extended Follow-up.
Detailed description
The Division of Cancer Preventionl (DCP, formerly DCPC), under extramural contracts to 10 U.S. clinical centers, is evaluating the effectiveness of screening for prostate, lung, colorectal and ovarian cancer (The PLCO Trial). In 1996 the NCI Executive Committee approved the expansion of the PLCO Trial to collect additional materials and to conduct additional studies. About, 74,000 men and 74,000 women, aged 55-74 years, have been randomized on a 50/50 basis into screening or usual care arms. Additional blood is collected from screened subjects and saliva for buccal cells from control subjects. Pathologic tissues are obtained for selected cases that develop cancer or selected related diseases (e.g. colon polyps, benign prostatic hyperplasia). Additional questionnaire-based risk and disease-related information is also collected, with confirmation of disease status from medical records. Genetic, biochemical and questionnaire-based risk information will be related to the development of cancer and other diseases in this population. Volunteers who provide samples for these studies will not routinely receive their individual results from the Additional Investigation. Subjects requesting such information, however, will be provided their test results. In 2009 the NCI Executive Committee approved the Extended Follow-up of subjects beyond the original 13-year follow-up period. Participants will be reconsented for the release of records to a single NCI-Designated Central Data Collection Center (CDCC), which will administer the annual mailings containing the annual study update questionnaire and a brief (1-2 page) risk factor questionnaire. Individuals who do not consent to release their identifiers to the CDCC will be followed up passively through linkage to state cancer registries and the National Death Index.
This protocol Review Application is for (1) the collaboration of intramural scientists in the Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics (DCEG) in the Additional Studies and (2) the coordination, in collaboration with DCP, of the Extended Follow-up.
Study design
- Observational model
- Cohort
- Time perspective
- Prospective
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Non-Screening | – | –Participants received their usual care |
| Screening | – | –Participants received trial-provided screening examinations for prostate, lung, colorectal, and ovarian cancer |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 55 to 74 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
- Study population
- Community samples from ten US screening centers: Birmingham AL, Denver CO, Detroit MI, Honolulu HI, Marshfield WI, Minneapolis MN, Pittsburgh PA, Salt Lake City UT, St Louis MO, and Washington DC
Key inclusion criteria (1 listed)
- Men and women aged 55-74 years who do not have a prior history of PLCO tumors and have not undergone routine screening.
Key exclusion criteria (0 listed)
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Primary outcome
Death
Time frame: Extended beyond T13
Death
Cancer incidence
Time frame: Extended beyond T13
Cancer Incidence
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 5 Nov 2026.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 41804787Zhang T, Moore SC, Fu S, Albanes D, Liao LM, Loftfield E, Playdon MC, Weinstein SJ, Yu K, Stolzenberg-Solomon RZ. Metabolomic profiling of genotype-derived ABO blood group, secretor status, and Lewis antigens and association with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma risk. Am J Epidemiol. 2026 Jun 3;195(6):1572-1584. doi: 10.1093/aje/kwag055.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 41261199Malcomson FC, Shams-White MM, Reedy J, Huang WY, Moore SC, Loftfield E. Adherence to the 2018 World Cancer Research Fund/American Institute for Cancer Research Cancer Prevention Recommendations and risk of lifestyle-related cancers in the prostate, lung, colorectal, and ovarian cancer screening trial. BJC Rep. 2025 Nov 19;3(1):81. doi: 10.1038/s44276-025-00195-6.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 39891747Wei W, Wang S, Yuan Z, Ren Y, Wu J, Gao X, Wang R, Li J. Plant-based diets and the risk of lung cancer: a large prospective cohort study. Eur J Nutr. 2025 Feb 1;64(2):73. doi: 10.1007/s00394-024-03570-0.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 34548240Jiang Y, Xie Q, Chen R. Breast Cancer Incidence and Mortality in Relation to Hormone Replacement Therapy Use Among Postmenopausal Women: Results From a Prospective Cohort Study. Clin Breast Cancer. 2022 Feb;22(2):e206-e213. doi: 10.1016/j.clbc.2021.06.010. Epub 2021 Jun 26.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 33277073Wang K, Wu Q, Li Z, Reger MK, Xiong Y, Zhong G, Li Q, Zhang X, Li H, Foukakis T, Xiang T, Zhang J, Ren G. Vitamin K intake and breast cancer incidence and death: results from a prospective cohort study. Clin Nutr. 2021 May;40(5):3370-3378. doi: 10.1016/j.clnu.2020.11.009. Epub 2020 Nov 16.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 32595210Makkar R, Butt J, Huang WY, McGlynn KA, Koshiol J, Pawlita M, Waterboer T, Freedman ND, Murphy G. Seropositivity for Helicobacter pylori and hepatobiliary cancers in the PLCO study. Br J Cancer. 2020 Sep;123(6):909-911. doi: 10.1038/s41416-020-0961-0. Epub 2020 Jun 29.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 29920516Kunzmann AT, Coleman HG, Huang WY, Berndt SI. The association of lifetime alcohol use with mortality and cancer risk in older adults: A cohort study. PLoS Med. 2018 Jun 19;15(6):e1002585. doi: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1002585. eCollection 2018 Jun.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 28659298Playdon MC, Ziegler RG, Sampson JN, Stolzenberg-Solomon R, Thompson HJ, Irwin ML, Mayne ST, Hoover RN, Moore SC. Nutritional metabolomics and breast cancer risk in a prospective study. Am J Clin Nutr. 2017 Aug;106(2):637-649. doi: 10.3945/ajcn.116.150912. Epub 2017 Jun 28.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 25904602Piper MR, Freedman DM, Robien K, Kopp W, Rager H, Horst RL, Stolzenberg-Solomon RZ. Vitamin D-binding protein and pancreatic cancer: a nested case-control study. Am J Clin Nutr. 2015 Jun;101(6):1206-15. doi: 10.3945/ajcn.114.096016. Epub 2015 Apr 22.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Steven C Moore, Ph.D. principal investigator
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
An observational study of Cancer and Death, run by National Cancer Institute (NCI) at 1 site in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 1 inclusion and 0 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: under way, not looking for participants, as of the sponsor's last update on 5 Nov 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Death (time frame: Extended beyond T13). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT00339495, which also lists 9 linked publications.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 5 Nov 2026.