Using liquid biopsies and breath samples to detect lung cancer mutations

A Prospective, Single Center Study to Test the Validity and Feasibility of Circulating Tumor DNA in Blood, Sputum and Alveolar Fluid, as Well as Exhaled Volatile Organic Compounds as Biomarkers in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Observational St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton · NCT06707519

This study is testing if using samples from blood, sputum, and breath can help find lung cancer mutations in patients with non-small cell lung cancer before and after surgery.

Quick facts

Study typeObservational
Enrollment210 (estimated)
Ages18 Years and up
SexAll
SponsorSt. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton Academic / other
Locations1 site (Hamilton, Ontario)
Trial IDNCT06707519 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This observational study aims to assess the feasibility of recruiting participants and utilizing various biological samples, including sputum, bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL), and exhaled volatile organic compounds (VOC), alongside blood, to detect mutations in cell-free DNA in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The study will follow patients undergoing surgical resection for NSCLC-adenocarcinoma, collecting samples at multiple time points before and after surgery, as well as during follow-up visits over a 24-month period. The goal is to evaluate the potential of these samples as novel biomarkers for monitoring disease recurrence and treatment response.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults over 18 years old who are undergoing surgical resection with curative intent for NSCLC-adenocarcinoma.

Not a fit: Patients with non-curative surgical resections, metastatic disease, or other malignancies may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this study could improve early detection of lung cancer recurrence and enhance monitoring of treatment responses.

How similar studies have performed: While the use of ctDNA in blood for cancer detection has shown promise, the validation of sputum and BAL samples for this purpose is novel and has not been extensively tested.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* Patient must be at least 18 years of age
* Patient must be able to provide consent
* Patients undergoing surgical resection with curative intent for non-small cell lung cancer at St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton and Firestone Institute for Respiratory Health.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Resection done with non-curative intent or metastatic disease
* other malignancies
* Patients with previously treated malignancy less than 5 years prior to current resection (not including skin cancer).

Where this trial is running

Hamilton, Ontario

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.
Conditions Lung CancerCirculating Tumor DNA
Last reviewed 2026-06-15 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.