NCT02651506

Brief Summary

The use of computed tomography (CT) screening has allowed for early detection of lung cancers as small as 5mm in diameter. Early stage cancers are highly curable with a reported survival of greater than 90% over 5 years after surgical resection. Before a patient can have surgery, a biopsy must be performed. One common method is a transthoracic needle biopsy (TTNB). In this procedure, a CT-image is used to locate the area for biopsy. Once identified, the radiologist applies a local anesthetic and inserts an aspiration needle through the ribs, and into the lung tissue. The sampled lung tissue is then sent to pathology. Although this procedure has a diagnostic yield ranging between 70% and 85%, it is associated with serious complications such as pneumothorax, hemoptysis, infection, hemothorax, air embolism and there is about a 20% (range 9%-54%) incidence of pneumothorax, or air leak from the lung, requiring chest tube drainage. Additionally, about 5-15% of cases experience hemoptysis, or coughing blood, although significant life-threatening hemoptysis is only present in less than 1% of patients. When these complications occur, hospitalization as inpatients is required, with an average length of stay of 1-3 days. A new form of technology to localize and biopsy peripheral lung lesions is believed to significantly reduce the amount of complications that can occur during a biopsy. This technology is known as Electromagnetic Navigation Bronchoscopy (ENB). ENB uses electromagnetic tracking and CT-generated virtual bronchoscopy to create a three-dimensional "GPS map" of the lung, guiding the surgeon directly to the tumor. The surgeon is then able to perform bronchoscopy and biopsy the tumor from inside the bronchus. A recent systematic review and meta-analysis of 15 trials reports a pneumothorax rate of 3.1%, with only 1.6% of patients requiring chest tube drainage. Initial studies demonstrate a slightly lower diagnostic yield for ENB as compared to TTNB; however, a systematic exploration of study heterogeneity reveal that lung nodules included in TTNB studies are larger than those included in the meta-analysis of ENB yield. The review further identified six variables associated with increased diagnostic yields for ENB, including "combined use of an ultrasonic radial probe and catheter suctioning as a sampling technique". The superDimension® InReach™ System was granted Health Canada approval on July 23, 2009. There have been no studies directly comparing ENB to TTNB, either retrospectively or prospectively. Initial systematic reviews demonstrate that ENB may have a slightly lower diagnostic yield relative to TTNB. Selection bias and low study quality may have resulted in an underestimation of the true diagnostic yield associated with ENB. The literature also confirms that ENB has a significantly better safety profile as compared to TTNB. As such, a prospective comparison between the two techniques is mandated. This Phase II pilot feasibility trial will utilize randomized methodology to gather the preliminary data that is required for the successful completion of a Phase III randomized controlled trial to compare lung biopsy with ENB verses TTNB. This study will also be the first time ENB lung biopsy is documented in Canada.

Trial Health

Trial Relationships

Click on a node to explore related trials.

Study Timeline

Key milestones and dates

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

January 7, 2016

Completed
4 days until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

January 11, 2016

Completed
4 months until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

May 1, 2016

Completed
Last Updated

May 12, 2016

Status Verified

May 1, 2016

First QC Date

January 7, 2016

Last Update Submit

May 10, 2016

Conditions

Keywords

Lung cancer biopsyElectromagnetic Navigation BronchoscopyTransthoracic Needle Biopsy

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

  • Feasibility to conduct a subsequent, large-scale Phase III randomized controlled trial.

    Through study completion, an average of 2 years

Secondary Outcomes (6)

  • Diagnostic yield rate

    Through study completion, an average of 2 years

  • Complication rates

    Through study completion, an average of 2 years

  • Difference in wait times between Electromagnetic Navigation Bronchoscopy and Transthoracic Needle Biopsy

    Through study completion, an average of 2 years

  • Difference in cost between the Electromagnetic Navigation Bronchoscopy and Transthoracic Needle Biopsy as measured by the costs associated with each type of biopsy procedure

    Through study completion, an average of 2 years

  • Quality of life

    Through study completion, an average of 2 years

  • +1 more secondary outcomes

Study Arms (2)

Electromagnetic Navigation Bronchoscopy

EXPERIMENTAL
Procedure: Electromagnetic Navigation Bronchoscopy

Transthoracic Needle Biopsy

ACTIVE COMPARATOR
Procedure: Transthoracic Needle Biopsy

Interventions

• Participants randomized to the intervention arm will undergo biopsy using the superDimension®InReach™ System. Participants will undergo ENB guided biopsy under general anesthesia or local anesthesia. The procedure will be performed by a thoracic surgeon in the operating room or endoscopy suite. Following electromagnetic mapping, bronchoscopy and biopsy will be performed. Fiducial markings will be placed when necessary.

Electromagnetic Navigation Bronchoscopy

• Patients randomized to the control arm (TTNB) will undergo lung biopsy using standard transthoracic needle biopsy technique. The procedure will be performed under local anesthesia with computed tomography guidance by an interventional radiologist. In this procedure, a CT-image is used to locate the area for biopsy. Once identified, the radiologist applies a local anesthetic and inserts an aspiration needle between the ribs, through normal lung tissue, leading into the biopsy area. The sampled lung tissue is then sent for pathological analysis.

Transthoracic Needle Biopsy

Eligibility Criteria

Age18 Years+
Sexall
Healthy VolunteersNo
Age GroupsAdult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

  • Age \> 18 years
  • Lung lesion requiring biopsy and amenable to Electromagnetic Navigation Bronchoscopy as determined by a "bronchus sign" on computed tomography

You may not qualify if:

  • None

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Carcinoma, BronchogenicBronchial NeoplasmsLung NeoplasmsRespiratory Tract NeoplasmsThoracic NeoplasmsNeoplasms by SiteNeoplasmsLung DiseasesRespiratory Tract Diseases

Study Officials

  • Waël c Hanna, MDCM, MBA, FRCSC

    St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton / McMaster University

    PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
0

Study Design

Study Type
interventional
Phase
phase 2
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Masking
NONE
Purpose
DIAGNOSTIC
Intervention Model
PARALLEL
Sponsor Type
OTHER
Responsible Party
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
PI Title
Director, Research Program, Boris Family Centre for Robotic Surgery

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

January 7, 2016

First Posted

January 11, 2016

Primary Completion

May 1, 2016

Last Updated

May 12, 2016

Record last verified: 2016-05

Data Sharing

IPD Sharing
Will not share