
"I was delighted to take part in a clinical trial as it has the potential to really help others in the future.”
Please note - this trial is no longer recruiting patients. We hope to add results when they are available.
This trial is looking at treating areas of abnormal cells in the lungs with an electric current (electrocautery) to prevent lung cancer.
Cancer Research UK supports this trial.
Symptoms of lung cancer can include:
Your doctor will arrange for you to have some tests if needed to find out if it is cancer or not. These can include testing your sputum or taking a small tissue sample ().
These tests might show that you have abnormal areas of cells that aren’t cancer but could develop into cancer. As part of your management, your doctor might arrange for you to have a bronchoscopy every few months so they can check if these abnormal cells develop into cancer over time.
In this trial researchers want to see if treating these abnormal cells with electrocautery might stop them developing into cancer. Electrocautery is performed during bronchoscopy.
To treat the areas of abnormal cells, an electric current passes through the bronchoscope. The electric current then burns the area of abnormal cells.
To find out how well it might work, some people in the trial will have electrocautery and some people won’t.
Everyone will have regular bronchoscopies during the trial.
The team will compare the results of the 2 groups to find out how well electrocautery might work to stop abnormal cells in the lung developing into cancer.
The following bullet points list the entry conditions for this trial. Talk to your doctor or the trial team if you are unsure about any of these. They will be able to advise you.
Who can take part
You may be able to join this trial if all the following apply. You:
Who can’t take part
You cannot join this trial if any of these apply. You:
This is a phase 2/3 trial. The team need 111 people to join the trial.
It is a randomised trial. You go into 1 of 2 groups. Neither you nor your doctor can choose which group you are in. The groups are:
You have twice as much of a chance going into the AFB and EC group than the AFB group.
AFB
Autofluorescence bronchoscopy is the same as a bronchoscopy except that it uses a blue light instead of a white light. The blue light highlights the areas of abnormal cells better than the white light.
You have a for this. It takes about 45 minutes. You have AFB as an outpatient.
EC
For electrocautery you have an AFB as usual. Electrocautery uses an electric current to destroy the areas of abnormal cells. The electric current goes out from a probe that is passed through the bronchoscope. The electric current burns the area of abnormal cells.
You might need to have more than 1 treatment. Your doctor will tell you about this.
You have a general anaesthetic for this. It takes about 45 minutes. You have EC as an outpatient but you might need to stay overnight in the hospital.
During the trial everyone has regular AFB to keep a watch on the areas of abnormal cells.
Patient diary and Quality of life
You have a diary to record any symptoms you might have and medications you take. You bring this diary with you to every clinic appointment for the doctor to see.
You fill in a short questionnaire when you join the trial, during the trial and at the end of the trial. The questions ask about how you are feeling. This is a quality of life questionnaire.
Research samples
You give a blood sample. During your regular AFB the researchers take samples of tissue.
For patients of UCLH you also give cell samples from your:
Patients at some other hospitals might also need to give these samples.
Researchers will use these samples to try and find out why the abnormal cells in some people becomes cancer.
You see the doctor to have tests before taking part. These tests include:
You have your 1st electrocautery treatment a month after . You then have an autofluorescence bronchoscopy a month later. This is to check whether you might need another EC treatment.
You have an AFB at:
You have a CT scan and breathing test at:
The trial team monitor you during treatment and afterwards. Contact your doctor or nurse if any side effects are bad or not getting better.
After autofluorescence bronchoscopy you might cough up blood stained spit (sputum) for a couple of days. If it continues after this or you cough up a large amount of blood contact your healthcare team straight away.
People who have a breathing problem such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) might find that electrocautery can make it worse. Tell your doctor or nurse if this happens.
The most common side effects of having bronchoscopy are:
Your doctor or a member of the trial team will talk to you about the possible side effects before you agree to join the trial.
Please note: In order to join a trial you will need to discuss it with your doctor, unless otherwise specified.
Cancer Research UK
University College London (UCL)
Professor Sam Janes
This is Cancer Research UK trial number is CRUK/15/077.
Freephone 0808 800 4040
"I was delighted to take part in a clinical trial as it has the potential to really help others in the future.”