Surgical Technique and Circulating Tumor DNA in Lung Cancer

This study is looking at how different surgical approaches affect the amount of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) in patients with early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Specifically, it compares the "pulmonary vein-first" technique to the "pulmonary artery-first" technique during lung surgery. Both are standard ways to divide blood vessels during lung removal. Researchers want to see if one technique reduces the shedding of tumor cells during surgery, which might improve long-term outcomes. You may be able to join if you are 18 or older, have confirmed or suspected early-stage NSCLC, and are scheduled for lung surgery. The study aims to see if one surgical technique leads to lower ctDNA levels after surgery. The current recruitment status is unclear.

Study design
This is an interventional study planning to enroll 100 participants. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two surgical technique groups.
What's involved
You would undergo either the pulmonary vein-first or pulmonary artery-first surgical procedure. Blood samples will be collected to measure ctDNA levels after surgery.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
After surgery, participants will be followed up at specific times: day 1, day 7, days 7-28, 4 months, every 6 months for 2 years, and then every 6 months for up to 5 years.

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NCT05502523

The Impact of Surgical Technique on Circulating Tumor DNA in Stage I-III Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Recruiting
NAAges 18+InterventionalTreatment
Thomas Jefferson University
~100 participants
Updated 2026-01-23 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:Pulmonary Artery-First Surgical TechniqueBiospecimen Collection

At a glance

Recruiting sites
4 of 4 listed sites are recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
Circulating tumor deoxyribonucleic acid (ctDNA) status
Measured over At postoperative day 2
+1 more outcome measured
Lung Non-Small Cell Carcinoma
Stage I Lung Cancer AJCC v8
Stage II Lung Cancer AJCC v8
Stage III Lung Cancer AJCC v8
4 sites across 1 states
Pennsylvania4
  • Tyler Grenda, MD · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · TJU

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Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

Any patients 18 years of age or older with confirmed or suspected early-stage (stage I-III) NSCLC
Eligible and scheduled for surgical anatomic lung resection (e.g. lobectomy or segmentectomy) as routine clinical care for their disease

Exclusion

Previous cancer diagnosis within 5 years (except ductal carcinoma in situ \[DCIS\] of the breast, superficial bladder cancer, non-melanoma skin primary, other malignancy that does not require treatment).
Preoperative chemotherapy, immunotherapy, or radiation therapy
Receipt of perioperative blood transfusion
  • Circulating tumor deoxyribonucleic acid (ctDNA) statusAt postoperative day 2

    Stratified by surgical vascular division technique. A peripheral blood sample will be taken at the time of surgery to determine baseline ctDNA status. Following surgical resection a blood sample will be taken at specified time points (postoperative day 2; postoperative day 14) to determine ctDNA levels compared to baseline. The difference in the proportion of patients who have positive ctDNA status between those undergoing division/ligation in a "pulmonary-vein first" technique compared to a "pulmonary-artery first" technique will be estimated. The risk difference will be estimated along with a 95% confidence interval.

  • Circulating tumor deoxyribonucleic acid (ctDNA) statusAt postoperative day 14

    Stratified by surgical vascular division technique. A peripheral blood sample will be taken at the time of surgery to determine baseline ctDNA status. Following surgical resection a blood sample will be taken at specified time points (postoperative day 2; postoperative day 14) to determine ctDNA levels compared to baseline. The difference in the proportion of patients who have positive ctDNA status between those undergoing division/ligation in a "pulmonary-vein first" technique compared to a "pulmonary-artery first" technique will be estimated. The risk difference will be estimated along with a 95% confidence interval.