Robot-Assisted heat treatment for lung tumors tested – but study stopped early
NCT ID NCT05299606
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study tested a new way to treat lung tumors that have spread from other cancers. Doctors used a robotic bronchoscope to guide a microwave probe directly into the tumor and heat it to destroy the cancer cells. The study planned to enroll more people but was stopped early after only 12 participants. The main goal was to see if the ablation completely covered the tumor, checked by CT scan 30 days later.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- microwave ablation device (NEUWAVE FLEX) guided by robotic bronchoscopy (Auris MONARCH Platform)
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this approach could offer a less invasive way to destroy lung tumors that have spread from other cancers, potentially reducing the need for surgery or radiation.
- What could go wrong
- The study was terminated early with only 12 participants, so results are very limited. It is unclear if the technique is safe or effective in the long term, and it may not work for all tumor types or locations.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
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12 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Oct 2022
- Finished
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Oct 2024
- Lead sponsor
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A company
The lead sponsor is a pharmaceutical, biotech, or medical-device company.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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22 years and older
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
INCLUSION CRITERIA: * Signed informed consent. * Subjects greater or equal to 22 years old. * Performance status 0-2 (Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group classification (ECOG). * Willing to fulfill all follow-up visit requirements. * Subjects with at least one oligometastatic lung tumor where the primary tumor is controlled (in the opinion of the investigator or treating oncologist). * Oligometastatic lung tumor(s) planned to be ablated in the outer two-thirds of the lung and not closer than 1cm to the pleura. EXCLUSION CRITERIA: * Pregnant or breastfeeding. * Subjects with thoracic implantable devices, including pacemakers or other electronic implants. * Chronic, continuous ventilator support, which uses bi-level positive airway pressure (PAP) to improve lung function for severe conditions. (However, intermittent PAP, for non-pulmonary conditions, such as sleep apnea, is permitted). * Prior pneumonectomy. * Severe bronchiectasis (with FEV1 \<30%) or disease deemed to be too severe in the opinion of the investigator. * Platelet count ≤ 50,000/mm3. * Subjects with uncorrectable coagulopathy at time of screening. * Subjects medically unable to stop anti-platelet agents (e.g., aspirin, clopidogrel, prasugrel, ticagrelor) at least 5 days prior to the procedure through 48-72 hours after the procedure. * Subjects medically unable to stop warfarin at least 3-5 days prior to the ablation procedure, or until INR \< 1.5, through 48-72 hours after the procedure. On the day of the procedure, subjects with an INR \> 1.5 cannot have the procedure completed that day but may be rescheduled or postponed. * Subjects medically unable to stop anticoagulants (e.g., rivaroxaban, apixaban, dabigatran, endoxaban) at least 3 days prior to the ablation procedure through 48-72 hours after the procedure. * Expected survival less than 6 months in the opinion of the investigator and/or treating oncologist. * Subjects with known or suspected brain metastases. * Subject has had any radiation (i.e., SBRT or EBRT) to the intended ablation zone. * Endobronchial tumors proximal to and including the segmental airways. * Lung ablation, surgical resection therapy, radiotherapy, or any other treating procedure within 30 days prior to the planned study ablation procedure or those who plan to receive a lung ablation, surgical resection, or radiation therapy on the ablated lung side before completing the primary endpoint assessment (30 days post-ablation). * Systemic therapy (e.g., chemotherapy, targeted drug therapy, or immunotherapy) within 14 days prior to the planned study ablation procedure or those who plan to receive systemic therapy before completing the primary endpoint assessment (30 days post-ablation).
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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
Locations
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Centre Hospitalier de l'Universite de Montreal
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
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Cleveland Clinic
Cleveland, Ohio, 44195, United States
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FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital
Pinehurst, North Carolina, 28374, United States
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MD Anderson
Houston, Texas, 77030, United States
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Minnesota Lung Center
Minneapolis, Minnesota, 55407, United States
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Prince of Wales Hospital
Shatin, Hong Kong
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Stanford University School of Medicine
Stanford, California, 94305, United States
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UCONN Health
Farmington, Connecticut, 06030, United States
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University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19104, United States
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University of Toronto
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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