Maximizing lymph node removal from lung surgery specimens

Maximizing Lymph Node Dissection on Fresh and Fixed Lung Cancer Resection Specimens

NA · Brigham and Women's Hospital · NCT06252129

This project will try a standardized dissection method to remove more lymph nodes from lung cancer surgery specimens so staging is more accurate for people having lobectomy without prior treatment.

Quick facts

PhaseNA
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment160 (estimated)
Ages18 Years and up
SexAll
SponsorBrigham and Women's Hospital (other)
Drugs / interventionschemotherapy
Locations1 site (Boston, Massachusetts)
Trial IDNCT06252129 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

Patients with early-stage non-small cell lung cancer scheduled for upfront lobectomy will have their resected lung specimens processed using a standardized dissection technique on fresh and fixed tissue. Pathologists will compare the number and stations of lymph nodes retrieved using the standardized method versus usual specimen processing. The study will track changes in pathological stage, especially identification of N1 stations, and the potential impact on adjuvant therapy recommendations. Outcomes include lymph node yield, nodal staging shifts, and feasibility of adopting the technique in routine pathology workflow.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Adults (18+) with a peripheral lung nodule who are eligible for upfront lobectomy, have no metastases, and have not received preoperative chemotherapy or radiotherapy.

Not a fit: Patients with central tumors, those who received preoperative chemo or radiotherapy, or those with known metastatic disease are unlikely to benefit from this specimen-focused dissection technique.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, the technique could find more hidden lymph node metastases and help more patients get appropriate adjuvant treatment.

How similar studies have performed: Prior reports suggest systematic specimen dissection can increase lymph node counts, but standardized approaches are not widely validated and clear outcome benefits are still limited.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

1. Subjects with a lung nodule or mass who are eligible to undergo a lobectomy.
2. Subject without any metastasis present.
3. Subjects who have peripheral lung nodule location
4. Subjects must be 18 years of age or older.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Subjects who received preoperative chemotherapy or radiotherapy.
2. Subjects who have a lung nodule located in a central location. Central tumors are defined by those infiltrating the lobar airway.

Where this trial is running

Boston, Massachusetts

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.

View on ClinicalTrials.gov →

Conditions: Lung Cancer, Lymph Node Metastasis, Pathologic Processes, NSCLC, Lymph node dissection, Lung cancer staging

Last reviewed 2026-05-15 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.