Blood test may help cancer patients stop treatment early

NCT ID NCT06146920

Ongoing Knowledge-focused Sponsor: Massachusetts General Hospital Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 26, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This study is testing whether a blood test that looks for tumor DNA can help doctors decide when to safely stop immunotherapy in people with advanced melanoma or non-small cell lung cancer. About 39 patients who have been on immunotherapy for at least a year and show no signs of tumor DNA in their blood will stop treatment and be monitored. The goal is to see if these patients stay cancer-free for at least 12 months without needing more therapy.

What this could mean

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

Active substance: circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) blood test
What this could lead to: If successful, this could provide a way to know when it's safe to stop immunotherapy, reducing unnecessary treatment and side effects for some patients.
What could go wrong: This is a small pilot study with only 39 people, so results may not apply to everyone. The blood test might miss some tumors or give false reassurance.

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.

melanoma metastatic melanoma non-small cell lung carcinoma

As listed by the trial registrant

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

MELANOMA NON-SMALL CELL LUNG CANCER

Contacts and locations

Locations

Massachusetts General Hospital

Boston, Massachusetts, 02114, United States

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