Silver-coated chest tube shows promise for cancer fluid relief

NCT ID NCT02649894

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

Summary

This study tested a new type of chest tube coated with silver nitrate against a standard tube for people with recurrent fluid buildup in the chest due to cancer. The goal was to see if the coated tube could seal the space and prevent fluid from coming back more effectively. 119 adults with symptomatic malignant pleural effusion took part. The main measure was how many people achieved pleurodesis (lung sealing) without recurrence.

What this could mean

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

Active substance

silver nitrate-coated indwelling pleural catheter

What this could lead to

If it works, this could offer a more effective way to control fluid buildup in the chest for people with cancer, reducing the need for repeat procedures.

What could go wrong

This is a small, completed study (119 people) comparing a coated catheter to an approved one. The coating may not provide significant benefit, and there is a risk of infection or other complications from the device.

Disclaimer Read more

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.

Pleural Effusion, Malignant

As listed by the trial registrant

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

Contacts and locations

Locations

  • Beth Israel Deconess Medical Center West

    Boston, Massachusetts, 02215, United States

  • Duke University

    Durham, North Carolina, 27710, United States

  • Great Western Hospital

    Swindon, United Kingdom

  • Heart Center Research

    Huntsville, Alabama, 35801, United States

  • Huntsman Cancer Institute

    Salt Lake City, Utah, 84112, United States

  • Johns Hopkins Hospital

    Baltimore, Maryland, 21287, United States

  • Massachusetts General Hospital

    Boston, Massachusetts, 02114, United States

  • Moffitt Cancer Center

    Tampa, Florida, 33612, United States

  • Northwestern Unversity

    Chicago, Illinois, 60611, United States

  • Oxford Center for Respiratory Medicine, Churchill Hospital

    Oxford, United Kingdom

  • SUNY Upstate Hospital

    Syracuse, New York, 13210, United States

  • Southmead Hospital

    Bristol, United Kingdom

  • St. Vincent Medical Group

    Indianapolis, Indiana, 46260, United States

  • Stanford University School of Medicine/ Stanford Cancer Institute

    Stanford, California, 94305, United States

  • UNC Hospital

    Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 27599, United States

  • University of Nebraska Medical Center

    Omaha, Nebraska, 68198, United States

  • University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center

    Houston, Texas, 77030, United States

  • Vanderbuilt University

    Nashville, Tennessee, 37232, United States

  • Washington Universtiy School of Medicine, Barnes Jewish Hospital

    St Louis, Missouri, 63110, United States