A sharper eye on lung cancer: could PET scans and blood tests outsmart relapse?

NCT ID NCT03740126

NEW Completed Knowledge-focused Sponsor: Rigshospitalet, Denmark Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Aug 17, 2026 · Last updated Aug 17, 2026

Summary

This trial is testing whether using whole-body PET/CT scans and liquid biopsies (blood tests that detect cancer DNA) can improve the follow-up care of people who have completed treatment for early-stage non-small cell lung cancer. The goal is to see if these advanced tools can find any returning cancer sooner and more often when it is still treatable, compared to standard CT scans alone. Participants will be randomly assigned to either the experimental surveillance schedule or the standard one, and their outcomes will be compared.

What this could mean

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

Active substance: Whole-body FDG-PET/CT imaging and liquid biopsy blood tests
What this could lead to: If successful, this could lead to a more effective surveillance strategy that detects lung cancer recurrences earlier, potentially improving survival and quality of life.
What could go wrong: The trial is exploratory and may not show a clear benefit. PET/CT scans can produce false positives, leading to unnecessary procedures, and liquid biopsies are still being validated for routine use.

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.

non-small cell lung carcinoma

As listed by the trial registrant

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

CARCINOMA, NON-SMALL CELL-LUNG

Contacts and locations

Locations

Gentofte Hospital

Gentofte Municipality, 2900, Denmark
Herlev Hospital

Herlev, 2730, Denmark
Rigshospitalet

Copenhagen, 2100, Denmark

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