Heat therapy for lung cancer: early trial ends early
NCT ID NCT04889989
First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study looked at using a microwave ablation device to destroy lung tumors in people who could not have surgery or chose not to. It included 13 adults with non-small cell lung cancer or tumors that had spread to the lung. The treatment was given through a needle inserted into the chest. The study was stopped early, so the results are not conclusive.
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 (a device that uses heat to destroy tumors)
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this approach could offer a less invasive option for people with lung cancer who cannot undergo surgery.
- What could go wrong
- The study was terminated early and enrolled only 13 people, so results are very limited. Microwave ablation may not fully destroy all tumor cells, and risks include bleeding or damage to nearby tissue.
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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13 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Dec 2021
- Finished
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Sep 2023
- 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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18 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: 1. Signed the informed consent form and willing to fulfill the study-related assessments and procedure schedule. 2. Lung tumor patients ≥ 18 years of age who are ineligible for/decline surgery and who plan to receive microwave ablation therapy. 3. ECOG performance status score of 0-2. 4. Patients with stages IA1-IA2 NSCLC with documented results from a biopsy or patients with clinically diagnosed oligometastatic lung tumor. 5. Tumor(s) to be ablated in a single surgery should be a maximum of one NSCLC tumor or a maximum of three ipsilateral oligometastatic lung tumors. 6. Tumor(s) to be ablated in a single surgery should be ≤ 2cm, locate in the outer two-thirds of a lung, not closer than 1 cm from the hilum of lung, great vessels, principal bronchus, trachea or esophagus, and not contiguous with the pleura. Exclusion Criteria: 1. Pregnant or breast-feeding. 2. Patients with implantable pacemakers or other electronic implants. 3. Oligometastatic tumors patients whose primary lesion cannot be controlled or have widely metastases, in the opinion of the investigator and/or treating oncologist. 4. Any planned concurrent procedure at the time of ablation. 5. Planned treatment for other tumors in the same side lung during the study period. 6. With a skin infection or ulceration at the site to be punctured by probe(s). 7. Clinical or imaging findings consistent with an active pulmonary infection. 8. Patients with severe pulmonary fibrosis in the area intended to ablate, especially drug-induced pulmonary fibrosis. 9. Patients with prior radiotherapy in the area intended to ablate. 10. Patients with uncontrolled malignant pleural effusion at the lung side with tumor to ablate. 11. Tumors where the anticipated zone of ablation would encompass significant (in the opinion of the treating physician) emphysematous or bullous disease. 12. The investigator anticipates that the ablation zone of the multiple tumor(s) to be ablated may have overlapping ablation zones. 13. Patients who have received lung ablation or surgical resection therapy within 30 days prior to the ablation procedure under study and those who plan to receive lung tumor ablation or surgical resection therapy or radiation therapy on the ablated lung side before completing the primary efficacy endpoint assessment approximately 30 days after the ablation procedure. 14. Patients who received systemic therapy such as chemotherapy, targeted drug therapy, or immunotherapy within 7 days prior to the ablation procedure under study, and patients who had a systemic treatment plan such as chemotherapy, targeted drug therapy, immunotherapy, etc. before completing the primary efficacy endpoint assessment approximately 30 days after the ablation procedure. 15. Patients with uncorrectable coagulopathy based on investigator judgment. 16. Patients with a platelet count ≤ 50 × 109/L. 17. Patients who cannot discontinue antiplatelet medication (e.g., aspirin, clopidogrel, prasugrel, ticagrelor) at least 5 days before the ablation procedure through 24 hours post-procedure. 18. Patients who cannot discontinue anticoagulant medication (e.g., rivaroxaban, apixaban, dabigatran, edoxaban) at least 3 days before the ablation procedure through 24 hours post-procedure. 19. Patients who cannot discontinue warfarin before at least 5 days before the ablation procedure of the study or have an INR \> 1.5. 20. As judged by the investigator, the patient has hypertension that cannot be effectively controlled by pharmacological treatments. 21. Severe hepatic, renal, cardiac, pulmonary or cerebral insufficiency, severe anemia, dehydration, and severe nutrition and metabolism disorders, which cannot be corrected or improved within a short term; or serious systemic infection; or severe neuromuscular diseases. 22. Expected survival less than 6 months. 23. Participation in any other interventional clinical study within 30 days before screening. 24. Physical or psychological condition which would impair study participation. 25. Patient is judged unsuitable for study participation by the investigator for any other reason. Intra-Ablation Exclusion Criteria: 26. Before ablation probe puncture on the skin, patient is judged unsuitable for study participation due to intolerance to anesthesia. 27. Before ablation probe puncture on the skin, patient is judged unsuitable for study participation due to presenting any other condition.
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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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Beijing Hospital
Beijing, China
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Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Hospital
Shanghai, China
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Henan Cancer Hospital
Henan, China
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Hunan Cancer Hospital
Hunan, China
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Pecking University Shenzhen Hospital
Beijing, China
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Qilu Hospital of Shandong University
Shandong, China
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The First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University
Fujian, China
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The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University
Harbin, China
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