Downstaging and RATS After Neo-Chemo-IO: Impact on Surgical Outcomes in NSCLC
DRAGON-NSCLC
The Impact of Downstaging on Robotic Surgical Outcomes After Neoadjuvant Chemo-Immunotherapy in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
1 other identifier
observational
200
3 countries
10
Brief Summary
The goal of this observational study is to learn whether tumor and nodal downstaging after neoadjuvant chemo-immunotherapy is associated with better surgical outcomes in patients with clinical stage IIB-III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) undergoing robotic-assisted thoracic surgery. The main question it aims to answer is: Is downstaging after neoadjuvant chemo-immunotherapy associated with better surgical outcomes in patients with stage IIB-III NSCLC undergoing robotic-assisted surgery? Participants with resectable or potentially resectable stage IIB-III NSCLC who receive neoadjuvant chemo-immunotherapy as part of their routine clinical care and then undergo curative-intent robotic-assisted surgery will be prospectively enrolled from international centers. Clinical, operative, pathological, and postoperative outcome data will be collected, including R0 resection, the extent of resection, conversion to open surgery, postoperative complications, length of stay, readmission, and mortality.
Trial Health
Trial Health Score
Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach
participants targeted
Target at P75+ for all trials
Started Mar 2026
10 active sites
Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.
Trial Relationships
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Study Timeline
Key milestones and dates
Study Start
First participant enrolled
March 2, 2026
CompletedFirst Submitted
Initial submission to the registry
April 7, 2026
CompletedFirst Posted
Study publicly available on registry
April 14, 2026
CompletedPrimary Completion
Last participant's last visit for primary outcome
March 30, 2027
ExpectedStudy Completion
Last participant's last visit for all outcomes
March 30, 2027
April 14, 2026
February 1, 2026
1.1 years
April 7, 2026
April 7, 2026
Conditions
Keywords
Outcome Measures
Primary Outcomes (1)
Complete resection (R0 resection)
R0 resection (complete resection) was defined according to the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) criteria as: (1) microscopically negative resection margins; (2) systematic nodal dissection including at least 6 lymph node stations (3 N1 and 3 N2, including station 7); (3) no extracapsular nodal extension; and (4) the highest mediastinal lymph node removed being negative.
From enrollment to the end of surgical treatment at 4 weeks
Secondary Outcomes (6)
Length of stay (LOS)
From enrollment to the end of the whole treatment in the index hospitalization
Major postoperative complications
From enrollment to the end of the whole treatment at 3 months
Conversion to open
From enrollment to the end of surgical treatment
Extended procedures
From enrollment to the end of surgical treatment
30- and 90-day readmission rates
From enrollment to the end of treatment at 3 months
- +1 more secondary outcomes
Other Outcomes (3)
Days alive and out of hospital (DAOH)
From enrollment to the end of treatment at 3 months
Reoperation
From enrollment to the end of treatment at 3 months
ICU admission
From enrollment to the end of treatment at 3 months
Study Arms (1)
ⅡB-Ⅲ NSCLC following Neo-Chemo-IO & RATS
Patients who are undergoing robotic-assisted thoracoscopic surgery for clinical stage ⅡB-Ⅲ non-small cell lung cancer following neoadjuvant chemoimmunotherapy
Interventions
Robotic pulmonary surgery for patients with neoadjuvant chemo-immunotherapy for stage IIB-III non-small cell lung cancer
Eligibility Criteria
This study will enroll patients aged ≥18 years with clinical stage ⅡB-Ⅲ non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). All enrolled patients will receive neoadjuvant chemoimmunotherapy (additional neoadjuvant RT is allowed) and then undergo robotic-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (RATS).
You may qualify if:
- Age ≥18 years
- Histologically confirmed NSCLC
- AJCC 9th clinical stage IIB-III, M0, deemed resectable or potentially resectable by the multidisciplinary tumour discussion (MDT)
- Planned neoadjuvant chemo-immunotherapy (PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor + platinum doublet; additional neoadjuvant RT is allowed) with curative-intent surgery
- Received ≥1 cycle of chemo-IO (capture the intended 2-4 cycles)
- Baseline chest CT±PET-CT within 6 weeks before starting neoadjuvant therapy
- Restaging 2-6 weeks after last neoadjuvant dose with chest CT±PET-CT
- Curative-intent resection planned; surgery performed 2-10 weeks after last dose
- Performing systematic nodal dissection
- ECOG performance status 0-2.
- Complete 90-day postoperative follow-up
- Ability to provide informed consent
You may not qualify if:
- Metastatic disease (M1) at baseline or on restaging
- No immunotherapy component in the neoadjuvant regimen (unless enrolled in a prespecified comparator cohort; otherwise exclude from primary analysis)
- Prior systemic therapy or thoracic radiotherapy for the current lung cancer before starting neoadjuvant chemo-IO
- Planned neoadjuvant chemoradiation (exclude unless including immunotherapy)
- Definitive decision against surgery before starting neoadjuvant therapy
- Active autoimmune disease requiring systemic immunosuppression within 2 years, prior organ transplant, or history of grade ≥2 pneumonitis/ILD
- Uncontrolled infection, pregnancy/lactation, or any condition precluding curative-intent resection per MDT
Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.
Sponsors & Collaborators
- Shanghai Chest Hospitallead
- The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao Universitycollaborator
- Fujian Medical University Union Hospitalcollaborator
- Guangdong Provincial People's Hospitalcollaborator
- Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospitalcollaborator
- Jiangsu Cancer Institute & Hospitalcollaborator
- Shenzhen People's Hospitalcollaborator
- Hopital Saint Joseph Marseillecollaborator
- University Hospital, Rouencollaborator
- Azienda Ospedaliera Cosenzacollaborator
Study Sites (10)
Fujian Medical University Union Hospital
Fuzhou, Fujian, 350001, China
Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital
Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510080, China
Shenzhen People's Hospital
Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518020, China
Jiangsu Cancer Institute & Hospital
Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210009, China
The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University
Qingdao, Shandong, 266000, China
Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute & Hospital
Tianjing, Tianjing, 300060, China
Shanghai Chest Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Medicine of School
Shanghai, 200030, China
Hôpital Saint Joseph Marseille
Marseille, 13001, France
University Hospital, Rouen
Rouen, 76000, France
Azienda Ospedaliera di Cosenza
Cosenza, 87100, Italy
Related Publications (13)
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PMID: 35190177BACKGROUNDLi X, Li Q, Zhao E, Yang F, Gao E, Lin L, Li Y, Hu X, Zhu Y, Zhao D, Fan J, Song X, Duan L. Perioperative Outcomes of Robotic- vs Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer After Neoadjuvant Therapy. Ann Thorac Surg. 2025 Dec 26:S0003-4975(25)01261-5. doi: 10.1016/j.athoracsur.2025.12.003. Online ahead of print.
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PMID: 40716726BACKGROUNDHawkins A, Martin LW. Operative Challenges After Induction Immunotherapy for Lung Cancer. Thorac Surg Clin. 2025 Aug;35(3):285-298. doi: 10.1016/j.thorsurg.2025.04.002. Epub 2025 Jun 6.
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PMID: 35403841BACKGROUNDSiegel RL, Kratzer TB, Giaquinto AN, Sung H, Jemal A. Cancer statistics, 2025. CA Cancer J Clin. 2025 Jan-Feb;75(1):10-45. doi: 10.3322/caac.21871. Epub 2025 Jan 16.
PMID: 39817679BACKGROUND
MeSH Terms
Interventions
Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)
Central Study Contacts
Study Design
- Study Type
- observational
- Observational Model
- COHORT
- Time Perspective
- PROSPECTIVE
- Sponsor Type
- OTHER
- Responsible Party
- PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
- PI Title
- Professor, MD, PhD
Study Record Dates
First Submitted
April 7, 2026
First Posted
April 14, 2026
Study Start
March 2, 2026
Primary Completion (Estimated)
March 30, 2027
Study Completion (Estimated)
March 30, 2027
Last Updated
April 14, 2026
Record last verified: 2026-02