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Needle-Based Confocal Laser Endomicroscopy for Diagnosis of Lung Cancer in Patients With Peripheral Pulmonary Nodules

nCLE Guided Randomized Controlled Trial for Lung Cancer Diagnosis

Status
Terminated
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT05556525
Enrollment
3
Registered
2022-09-27
Start date
2023-05-12
Completion date
2024-10-25
Last updated
2025-09-17

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Lung Carcinoma

Brief summary

This clinical trial compares the addition of needle-based confocal laser endomicroscopy (nCLE) and fluorescein to endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS TBNA) with EBUS TBNA alone for the diagnosis of lung cancer in patients with peripheral pulmonary nodules. EBUS TBNA is a diagnostic procedure that can be used to sample lung tissue. nCLE is a novel high-resolution imaging technique that uses a laser light to create real-time microscopic images of tissues. It can be integrated into needles allowing real-time cancer detection during endoscopy. Fluorescein is an imaging agent that can be used to visualize tissue. Using nCLE and fluorescein in combination with EBUS TBNA may be more effective in diagnosing lung cancer than using EBUS TBNA alone.

Detailed description

PRIMARY OBJECTIVE: I. To compare the first-pass diagnostic yield of the sequential needle passes (rapid on-site evaluation \[ROSE\]) between the robotic-nCLE-TBNA arm and the robotic-guided arm in peripheral pulmonary nodule (PPNs). SECONDARY OBJECTIVES: I. To compare the per-patient diagnostic yield (cumulative pass diagnostic yield: cumulative number of passes until five cumulated passes) of robotic-nCLE-guided TBNA to that of robotic-guided TBNA in PPNs. II. To compare the proportion of patients with lung cancer treatment in the robotic-nCLE-guided TBNA arm to that of the robotic-guided TBNA arm in PPNs. III. To compare the proportion of patients with follow-up (video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery \[VATS\]) or transthoracic needle aspiration (TTNA) or TBNA procedures in the robotic-nCLE-guided TBNA arm to that of the robotic-guided TBNA arm in PPNs. IV. To compare the number of passes needed to obtain a final diagnosis of robotic-nCLE-guided TBNA to that of robotic-guided TBNA in PPNs. V. To assess the diagnostic performance (sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value \[PPV\], negative predictive value \[NPV\], accuracy) of the sequential cumulative nCLE passes and the sequential cumulative ROSE passes using the final diagnosis as a reference. VI. To assess the feasibility by obtaining adequate confocal laser endomicroscopy (CLE) video footage in \> 80% of the PPN punctures. VII. To assess the safety of nCLE imaging, as defined by: VIIa. The number and frequency of all adverse events (AE)/serious adverse events (SAE) from the start of the procedure until end of 12-month follow-up; VIIb. The number and frequency of nCLE procedure-related AE/SAE from the start of the procedure until end of 12-month follow-up. VIII. To assess the reproducibility of nCLE criteria to the reference standard. Three nCLE characteristics for the detection of malignancy were identified during Wijmans et al. study: VIIIa. Dark enlarged pleomorphic cells; VIIIb. Dark cell clusters consist of overlapping cell structures ('dark clumps') and; VIIIc. Continuous movement of the cells in one direction ('directional streaming'). IX. To create an nCLE image atlas for malignant characteristics in PPNs. OUTLINE: Patients are randomized to 1 of 2 arms. ARM I: Patients undergo robotic EBUS TBNA on study. ARM II: Patients undergo EBUS TBNA, nCLE, and receive fluorescein intravenously (IV) on study.

Interventions

Given IV

DEVICEImage-Guided Needle Confocal Laser Endomicroscopy

Undergo nCLE

Sponsors

Mayo Clinic
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
DIAGNOSTIC
Masking
SINGLE (Outcomes Assessor)

Masking description

Raters will be blinded to patient history and cytologic/pathologic diagnosis.

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
21 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* \>= 21 years of age * Suspected PPN * Nodule size in computed tomography (CT) between 8 mm and 30 mm (largest dimension) * Ability to understand and willingness to sign a written informed consent and Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) consent document

Exclusion criteria

* Inability or non-willingness to provide informed consent * Failure to comply with the study protocol * Patients with known allergy for fluorescein or risk factors for an allergic reaction * Use of beta-blocker within 24 hours before the start of the bronchoscopic procedure * Possibly pregnant, pregnant or breastfeeding women * Patients with hemodynamic instability * Patients with refractory hypoxemia * Patients with a therapeutic anticoagulant that cannot be held for an appropriate interval before the procedure * Patients who are unable to tolerate general anesthesia according to the anesthesiologist * Patient undergoing chemotherapy * INTRA-OPERATIVE EXCLUSION/STOPPING CRITERIA: * The lesions are unable to be localized/confirmed by bronchoscopy * The procedure will be terminated if the patient develops a significant procedural complication as determined by the treating physician * The procedure will be terminated if the patient develops hemodynamic instability as determined by the treating physician

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
First-pass Diagnostic YieldBaselineCalculated as the proportion of patients for which first-pass transbronchial needle aspiration during bronchoscopic procedure yielded a definitive diagnosis out of the total number of patients that have received a diagnostic procedure.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Per-patient Diagnostic YieldBaseline to 12 months following procedureCalculated as the proportion of patients in whom the bronchoscopic procedure yielded a definitive diagnosis out of the total number of patients that have received a diagnostic procedure. Per patient diagnostic yield of each bronchoscopic procedure will be calculated, and the accuracy of each technique using the final/definitive diagnosis as the reference. The diagnostic yield and accuracy for each method will be compared.

Other

MeasureTime frameDescription
Clinical Impact of Needle-based Confocal Laser Endomicroscopy (nCLE)Up to 12 months following procedureAssessed by determining the proportion of patients with a correct change in definitive diagnosis and the associated change in management plan with nCLE.

Countries

United States

Participant flow

Participants by arm

ArmCount
Arm I (EBUS TBNA)
Patients undergo robotic EBUS TBNA on study. Ultrasound-Guided Transbronchial Needle Aspiration: Undergo EBUS TBNA
2
Arm II (EBUS TBNA, nCLE, Fluorescein)
Patients undergo EBUS TBNA, nCLE, and receive fluorescein IV on study. Fluorescein: Given IV Image-Guided Needle Confocal Laser Endomicroscopy: Undergo nCLE Ultrasound-Guided Transbronchial Needle Aspiration: Undergo EBUS TBNA
1
Total3

Baseline characteristics

CharacteristicArm I (EBUS TBNA)Arm II (EBUS TBNA, nCLE, Fluorescein)Total
Age, Categorical
<=18 years
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Age, Categorical
>=65 years
2 Participants1 Participants3 Participants
Age, Categorical
Between 18 and 65 years
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Hispanic or Latino
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Not Hispanic or Latino
2 Participants1 Participants3 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
American Indian or Alaska Native
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Asian
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Black or African American
1 Participants0 Participants1 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
More than one race
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
White
1 Participants1 Participants2 Participants
Region of Enrollment
United States
2 participants1 participants3 participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
0 Participants1 Participants1 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
2 Participants0 Participants2 Participants

Adverse events

Event typeEG000
affected / at risk
EG001
affected / at risk
deaths
Total, all-cause mortality
1 / 20 / 1
other
Total, other adverse events
1 / 20 / 1
serious
Total, serious adverse events
0 / 20 / 1

Outcome results

Primary

First-pass Diagnostic Yield

Calculated as the proportion of patients for which first-pass transbronchial needle aspiration during bronchoscopic procedure yielded a definitive diagnosis out of the total number of patients that have received a diagnostic procedure.

Time frame: Baseline

Population: The first-pass diagnostic yield could not be determined. Samples obtained at first pass were not separated from remaining samples collected during the procedure, and samples were sent to pathology together, not as per-pass yields. Per-patient (overall) diagnostic yield is reported in outcome 2.

Secondary

Per-patient Diagnostic Yield

Calculated as the proportion of patients in whom the bronchoscopic procedure yielded a definitive diagnosis out of the total number of patients that have received a diagnostic procedure. Per patient diagnostic yield of each bronchoscopic procedure will be calculated, and the accuracy of each technique using the final/definitive diagnosis as the reference. The diagnostic yield and accuracy for each method will be compared.

Time frame: Baseline to 12 months following procedure

Population: For all patients, diagnostic yield was confirmed true during follow-up. The patient who tested negative for malignancy had scar tissue. For the patients who tested positive, one was stable (no change in nodule) during follow-up. The other was diagnosed with adenocarcinoma with enteric origin and metastasis was confirmed; noticed of death was received 10/25/2024 (post follow-up).

ArmMeasureCategoryValue (COUNT_OF_PARTICIPANTS)
Arm I (EBUS TBNA)Per-patient Diagnostic YieldNegative for carcinoid or malignancy0 Participants
Arm I (EBUS TBNA)Per-patient Diagnostic YieldPositive for carcinoid or malignancy2 Participants
Arm II (EBUS TBNA, nCLE, Fluorescein)Per-patient Diagnostic YieldNegative for carcinoid or malignancy1 Participants
Arm II (EBUS TBNA, nCLE, Fluorescein)Per-patient Diagnostic YieldPositive for carcinoid or malignancy0 Participants
Other Pre-specified

Clinical Impact of Needle-based Confocal Laser Endomicroscopy (nCLE)

Assessed by determining the proportion of patients with a correct change in definitive diagnosis and the associated change in management plan with nCLE.

Time frame: Up to 12 months following procedure

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026