Blood test may guide lung cancer therapy, avoiding unnecessary chemo
NCT ID NCT04166487
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study is testing whether a blood test that looks for cancer DNA can tell if immunotherapy alone is working for people with advanced non-small cell lung cancer. If the test shows the cancer is not responding, patients would switch to immunotherapy plus chemotherapy. The goal is to personalize treatment and improve outcomes. The study involves 40 participants and uses the drug pembrolizumab (Keytruda) with or without standard chemotherapy.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
Active substance
Pembrolizumab (Keytruda) with or without platinum doublet chemotherapy (carboplatin plus pemetrexed or paclitaxel)
What this could lead to
If successful, this approach could allow doctors to personalize treatment for advanced lung cancer, potentially improving outcomes by switching therapy early when needed.
What could go wrong
This is a small pilot study with only 40 participants, so results may not apply to all patients. The blood test may not reliably predict response, and adding chemotherapy increases side effects.
Disclaimer
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This is a summary of
the original study
.
Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
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Locations
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Boston Medical Center
Boston, Massachusetts, 02118, United States
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Brigham and Women's Hospital
Boston, Massachusetts, 02115, United States
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Dana Farber Cancer Institute
Boston, Massachusetts, 02115, United States
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Dana-Farber at Steward St. Elizabeth's Medical Center
Brighton, Massachusetts, 02135, United States
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Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women's Cancer Center (DF/BWCC) in clinical affiliation with South Shore Hospital
South Weymouth, Massachusetts, 02190, United States