Lumbar Punctures for the Detection of ctDNA in the Cerebrospinal Fluid of Patients With Stage III and IV Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
This phase I trial assesses the use of lumbar punctures to detect whether there is circulating tumor deoxyribonucleic acid (ctDNA) in the fluid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord (cerebrospinal fluid) in patients with stage III and IV non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Patients with stage III and IV NSCLC are at risk of having their cancer spread from where it first started to the brain (metastatic). Because of this, more effective prognostic tools are necessary to determine which stage III and IV NSCLC patients are more likely to develop brain metastases. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) could be a reliable source of ctDNA to confirm and predict the presence of brain metastases in these patients. Assessing cell free DNA shed from tumor cells could be a sensitive and minimally invasive way to detect or characterize metastatic tumors in the central nervous system (CNS). Lumbar puncture is procedure in which a thin needle called a spinal needle is put into the lower part of the spinal column to collect CSF. Lumbar punctures for the collection of CSF may help doctors detect or measure changes in cell types, genes, and proteins of circulating tumor cells related to lung cancer that will help determine the presence of brain metastases which could become a standard of care screening tool utilized in the follow-up of patients diagnosed with stage II or IV NSCLC.
Ask AI to explain this studyKey things to know
This describes the study’s primary purpose.
Plus 1 other study approaches.
These are broad labels—not an eligibility decision.
Checked against the public recordLast updated Apr 8, 2026 · Source: ClinicalTrials.gov
The study is not accepting participants yet.
Interventional
Locations may change over time.
Study sponsor
What this study is about
- Purpose
- Screening
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Not applicable
- Sponsor
- Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center
- Interventions being studied
- Procedure: Biospecimen Collection; Procedure: Lumbar Puncture; Device: Magnetic Resonance Imaging
How this study is categorized
These labels come from structured fields and exact terms in the public record.
Who may be able to participate
The sponsor separates these requirements into two groups. You do not need to interpret them alone—use them to guide a conversation with the study team.
- New histological diagnosis of stage III or IV NSCLC
- For stage III/IV NSCLC patients without brain metastases, a documented mutation on lung cancer mutation panel (PULMOL) is required
- Patient treated with radiation therapy and/or systemic therapy at Ohio State University
- Estimated survival \>= 1 year
- No medical contraindication to lumbar puncture
- Patient has Alzheimer's, dementia, or mental disability
- Patient is not able to receive MRI
- Patient has allergy to xylocaine or any numbing medication for lumbar puncture
- Previous cancer history prior to diagnosis of NSCLC
- Pregnant or lactating women, or women of childbearing potential and men who are sexually active and not willing/able to use medically acceptable forms of contraception; this exclusion is necessary because the medication and radiation required for standard of care treatment has unknown effects on the unborn fetus
Important: This is the sponsor’s public criteria, not a determination of eligibility. The study team must review your individual situation.
U.S. locations
- Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer CenterColumbus, Ohio
Source and freshness
Processed from ClinicalTrials.gov. Last public update: Apr 8, 2026. Always confirm current availability with the study team.