NIH-funded research Fellowship grant

Improving lung cancer treatment decisions and patient quality of life

Official title: Optimizing treatment decisions and quality-adjusted life years through improved lung cancer staging

Funded at Massachusetts General Hospital · NIH-10899827 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This study is looking at two different ways to take samples from lymph nodes in patients with early to mid-stage lung cancer to see which method helps doctors make better treatment decisions and improve patient outcomes.

More Lung Cancer research and trials

Quick facts

Grant typeFellowship grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionMassachusetts General Hospital
NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Boston, United States)
Project startJuly 1, 2024
Project endJune 30, 2026
Funding year2024
Award (this year)$81,256
NIH project number1F32CA290759-01
Project IDNIH-10899827 on NIH RePORTER

Who could benefit from this research

Could help

Ideal candidates for this research are patients diagnosed with stage I-III non-small cell lung cancer who require lymph node staging.

Less likely to help

Patients with advanced lung cancer beyond stage III or those who are not candidates for biopsy procedures may not benefit from this research.

What this research studies

This research investigates how two different biopsy procedures, endobronchial ultrasound guided transbronchial node aspiration (EBUS) and mediastinoscopy, can affect treatment decisions for patients with stage I-III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). By comparing these methods, the study aims to determine which procedure better detects the extent of cancer spread to lymph nodes and how this impacts patient outcomes. The research will utilize data from approximately 2,200 patients to analyze the effectiveness and risks associated with each procedure, ultimately aiming to enhance the quality-adjusted life years for patients. Patients will be monitored for changes in treatment decisions based on the biopsy results.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved treatment decisions and better quality of life for lung cancer patients.

How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in improving treatment outcomes through enhanced staging techniques, indicating that this approach may yield significant benefits.

Where this research is happening

  • Massachusetts General Hospital
    Boston, United States
    Active

Researchers

  • Principal investigator: Rudasill, Sarah Elizabeth — Massachusetts General Hospital
  • Study coordinator: Rudasill, Sarah Elizabeth

Related research

Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.