Blood test may replace painful lung biopsies for some cancer patients

NCT ID NCT02372448

Completed Diagnosis Sponsor: Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Nice Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 24, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This study tested whether a blood test can detect ALK gene rearrangements in lung cancer patients, which currently requires an invasive tumor biopsy. Researchers analyzed circulating tumor cells from blood samples of 206 patients with advanced lung cancer. The goal was to see if this 'liquid biopsy' is accurate enough to guide treatment decisions, potentially avoiding the risks and costs of traditional biopsies.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: ALK analysis on circulating tumor cells detected by ISET method
What this could lead to: If successful, this blood test could replace invasive lung biopsies for detecting ALK gene changes, helping more lung cancer patients get targeted therapy without risky procedures.
What could go wrong: This is a validation study, not a treatment trial. The test may not be sensitive enough to replace biopsies, and results may not apply to all lung cancer types or stages.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

lung neoplasm non-small cell lung carcinoma

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

LUNG NEOPLASMS

Contacts and locations

Locations

CHU de Nice

Nice, France
Centre Antoine Lacassagne

Nice, 06100, France
Centre François Baclesse

Caen, 14000, France
Grenoble university hospital

Grenoble, 38043, France
Hôpital Tenon

Paris, 75020, France
Institut Gustave Roussy

Villejuif, 94800, France
Institut arnault tzanck

Saint-Laurent-du-Var, 06700, France
Institut de Cancérologie de Lorraine

Vandœuvre-lès-Nancy, 54500, France
Marseille University Hospital

Marseille, 13915, France
Nancy university hospital

Nancy, 54511, France
Toulouse University Hospital

Toulouse, 31059, France

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