Korean National Cancer Center (KNCC) Screenee Cohort

Lead Contact

• Jeongseon Kim
  Department of Cancer Biomedical Science Graduate School of Cancer Science and Policy
  National Cancer Center, Republic of Korea

Alternate Contacts

• Madhawa Gunathilake
  Department of Cancer Biomedical Science Graduate School of Cancer Science and Policy
  National Cancer Center, Republic of Korea
• Jeonghee Lee
  Department of Cancer Biomedical Science Graduate School of Cancer Science and Policy
  National Cancer Center, Republic of Korea

Funded Since: 2002
Funding Source: National Cancer Center Intramural Grant
Year(s) of Enrollment: Ongoing since 2002

The Cancer Screenee Cohort Study was established in 2002 by the Center for Cancer Prevention and Detection at the National Cancer Center (NCC) in South Korea. The primary objective of this study is to investigate potential risk factors for cancer and to expand the biobank of biological specimens to support the development of effective methodologies for cancer detection, diagnosis, and prevention in the Korean population.

Cancer incidence within the cohort is ascertained by linking participants' resident registration numbers with the Korea National Cancer Incidence Database maintained by the Korea Central Cancer Registry.

The major incident cancer types identified in this cohort include stomach, colorectal, liver, lung, breast, prostate, and thyroid cancers. A total of 1,713 deaths had occurred in the cohort as of 2023.

From August 2002 to December 2025, 55,712 participants aged 20 to 85 years were enrolled in the study. As of December 2025, plasma samples had been collected from 46,596 participants (218,050 vials); buffy coat samples from 46,582 participants (91,637 vials); red blood cell samples from 46,582 participants (93,446 vials); serum samples from 46,049 participants (171,980 vials); and whole blood samples from 14,607 participants (49,856 vials). In addition, DNA had been extracted from 19,224 participants (19,224 vials), and spot urine samples had been collected from 17,198 participants (17,198 vials).