Clinical trial Recruiting at 1 site Observational Ages 18 and up Women only

AI analysis of electrosurgical smoke to detect cancer during breast-conserving surgery

Official title: Intraoperative Detection of Breast Cancer by Electrosurgical Gas Analysis and Artificial Intelligence

Run by Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile · NCT07131735 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This project will test whether an AI-connected device can read gases from cauterized tissue to help surgeons find cancerous margins in women having breast-conserving surgery.

More Breast Cancer trials

Quick facts

Study typeObservational
Ages18 Years and up
SexWomen only
Enrollment30 (estimated)
SponsorPontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile
Academic / other
Locations2 sites (Santiago, Santiago Centro and 1 other locations)
StatusRecruiting
StartedDecember 18, 2023
Main results expectedSeptember 18, 2025
Study endsSeptember 18, 2025
Registry record updatedAugust 20, 2025
Trial IDNCT07131735 on ClinicalTrials.gov

Is this trial a fit for you?

Likely a good fit

Women aged 18 or older with histologically confirmed breast cancer who are scheduled for breast-conserving surgery at the participating centers and can give informed consent.

Probably not a fit

Pregnant or lactating women, patients allergic to device components, or those not undergoing breast-conserving surgery are unlikely to benefit from this device.

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

The device is first trained in the lab to recognize gases released from cancerous versus normal breast tissue, then connected during surgery to sample electrosurgical smoke via a sterile hose to a smoke extractor. The AI will classify tissue in real time and its calls will be compared with rapid intraoperative biopsies and final histology to measure sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy. The trial will include multiple breast cancer subtypes to capture biological variability and the surgeries will be recorded for margin mapping. The device will undergo monthly calibration with known gases to maintain performance within a 5% variability threshold.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, the device could help surgeons identify cancer at surgical margins in real time, potentially reducing reoperation rates and improving margin clearance.

How similar studies have gone: Early research using volatile compound or electrosurgical smoke analysis with machine learning has shown promising preliminary results but remains experimental and not yet standard practice.

Who can join: the full rules

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* Histologically confirmed diagnosis of malignant breast cancer
* Scheduled for BCS at the Hospital UC
* Able and willing to provide informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

* Pregnant or lactating women
* Patients with known hypersensitivity or allergy to any component of the BCGC device
* Participation in another interventional clinical trial within 30 days prior to enrolment

Where it's running

  • Hospital Clínico UC CHRISTUS
    Santiago, Santiago Centro, Chile
    Recruiting
  • Facultad de medicina UC
    Santiago, Santiago Metropolitan, Chile
    Active not recruiting

Study contacts

Similar studies

Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.

How to take part

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
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.