Scientists hunt for cancer clues in blood, urine, and bone marrow
NCT ID NCT03551951
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study collects samples from 320 people, including those with solid cancers (like lung, colon, or pancreatic cancer) and those undergoing lung cancer screening, to look for cancer cells and DNA in blood, urine, and bone marrow. The goal is to learn how cancer spreads and find better ways to detect it early. Participants provide samples before and after surgery, and researchers track outcomes over time.
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Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Participants
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About 320 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Started
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Jul 2016
- Expected to finish
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Dec 2027
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
Who is studied
Subjects with the diagnosis of a solid cancer of all stages will be included (lung, esophageal, stomach, bile duct/pancreas, colorectal, melanoma, sarcoma). Lung cancer screening subjects will also be included (as defined above) Total recruitment: 320
- Ages
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18 years and older
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Accepted
You do not need to have the condition being studied to take part.
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: * Subjects older than 18 years. * Subjects of all genders and ethnicities. * Subjects with the diagnosis of a solid cancer (n=100) of all stages will be included (lung, esophageal, stomach, bile duct/pancreas, colorectal, melanoma, sarcoma). * Ten patients with no present suspicion and no previous history of any cancer (except basal cell cancer of the skin) that undergo surgeries for other benign indications will serve as controls (n=10). * In patients undergoing surgery for cancer the histopathology should preferably be pathologically proven by a previous or novel biopsy. Yet, patients with a high cancer suspicion by radiology and clinical picture that undergo cancer surgery will not be excluded. No additional biopsies, testing or interventions will be performed for the purpose of this study if the medical treatment will not require it. * Subjects must be capable of giving informed consent. * Lung cancer screening eligibility criteria (n=100): 55-80 years old, \>30 pack years smoking history, and current smoker or have quit within the last 15 years) Exclusion Criteria: * Pregnant women. * Subjects with the concurrent diagnosis of an active secondary (synchronous) malignancy besides basal cell carcinoma of the skin will be excluded, if there is evidence of disease burden or if the patient is currently being treated with chemotherapy. * Subjects with a hemoglobin of \<8g/dl in the morning of the procedure will be excluded. * In subjects who require intraoperative transfusions of \>4 units of red packed blood cells (RPBCs), no further blood will be drawn for CTC/DTC/cfDNA analysis during surgery or on postoperative day 1. * In patients with coagulation disorders that could lead to significant bleeding (such as hemophilia, significant thrombocytopenia) requiring prophylactic administration of coagulative products, no bone marrow aspiration will be performed.
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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.
How to take part
Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.
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The places running it
1 site. The list below names each one and where it is.
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The official record
ClinicalTrials.gov lists the study team's own contact details, including names and phone numbers. We don't republish those.
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A doctor treating you
A doctor who knows your case can contact a study site on your behalf, and can tell you whether this study is worth pursuing at all.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Harry S Truman Veterans Memorial Hospital
RECRUITINGColumbia, Missouri, 65212, United States
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