Blood test may spot hidden infections in lung cancer patients
NCT ID NCT02821949
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study looked at whether measuring procalcitonin (PCT) levels in the blood could help detect infections earlier in people with stage IV non-small cell lung cancer starting chemotherapy. Researchers enrolled 45 patients and took a PCT blood sample before their first chemo session, without telling their doctors the results. They then followed patients for 30 days to see if any developed infections. The goal was to see if PCT could be a more reliable infection marker than the standard CRP test in these patients.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- procalcitonin (PCT) blood test
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could provide a simple blood test to help doctors spot infections earlier in advanced lung cancer patients on chemotherapy.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, early observational study with only 45 participants. It does not test any treatment, so it cannot directly improve patient outcomes.
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.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
CHU Amiens
Amiens, 80054, France