Confocal Laser Endomicroscopy VERification

Not Applicable

Recruiting

• Conditions: Lung Neoplasm Malignant; Neoplasm of Lung; Lung Cancer; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung
• Interventions: Device: Neelde Based Confocal Laser Endomicroscopy; Procedure: Conventional diagnostic bronchoscopy

• Registration Number: NCT06079970
• Lead Sponsor: Amsterdam University Medical Centers (UMC), Location Academic Medical Center (AMC)

Brief Summary

The goal of this multi-center randomized clinical trial is to evaluate the added value of needle based confocal laser endomicroscopy (nCLE)-imaging to regular diagnostic bronchoscopic peripheral lung lesion analysis on the diagnostic yield in patients with peripheral pulmonary nodules suspect for malignancy.

The main question\[s\] it aims to answer are:

To determine if the addition of nCLE-imaging to conventional diagnostic bronchoscopic peripheral lung lesion analysis results in an improved diagnostic yield (defined as the proportion of patients in whom the bronchoscopic procedure results in a definitive diagnosis out of the total number of patients that have received the diagnostic bronchoscopic procedure).

Participants will undergo diagnostic bronchoscopy either with or without the addition of nCLE imaging before each TBNA. Based on the feedback of the CLE images on (in)correct placement of the needle, the needle might be repositioned before sampling. Comparison between the diagnostic yield of these groups will be done including subgroup analysis.

Detailed Description

Rationale: Lung cancer screening and the increasing use of chest-computed tomography (CT) has led to an increase in the number of (incidental) found suspected malignant lung lesions. Since tissue acquisition for pathological analysis is prerequisite for diagnosis and optimal treatment, a drastic increase in the number of patients that need to undergo bronchoscopy is expected.

Over 70% of the suspected lesions develop in the periphery of the lung and are therefore not visible during conventional bronchoscopy. Although several bronchoscopic navigational techniques demonstrated an improved navigation towards the target lesion, the diagnostic yield remains suboptimal due to a substantial near-miss rate. As a result, the need for complementary bronchoscopic guidance that provides real-time feedback on the correct positioning of the biopsy instruments is urgent.

Needle-based Confocal laser endomicroscopy (nCLE) is a novel high-resolution imaging technique that uses an excitation laser light to create 'real-time' microscopic images of tissues. nCLE can be integrated into the biopsy needle, allowing real-time cancer detection at the tip of the biopsy needle during bronchoscopy. The confocal microscope captures autofluorescence of tissues or, combined with intravenously (IV) infused fluorophores (such as fluorescein) allows imaging of individual tumor cells. Recent studies on nCLE-imaging in lung tumors and metastatic lymph nodes have identified and validated nCLE criteria for malignancy (enlarged pleomorphic cells, dark clumps and directional streaming) and airway/lung parenchyma (alveoli, elastin fibres of the conducting airway, bronchial epithelium and still image) and granulomas. A recent study demonstrated that these nCLE-criteria can be used in real-time to fine-tune the needle positioning during ongoing bronchoscopy and thereby potentially improve the diagnostic yield.

This randomized controlled trials aims to evaluate the added value of nCLE-imaging (smart needle) to the conventional used bronchoscopic approach for peripheral lung lesion analysis.

Objective: This multicenter, randomized controlled trial, aims to investigate if nCLE-imaging integrated with conventional bronchoscopy results in a higher diagnostic yield compared to conventional bronchoscopy without nCLE in the diagnosis of peripheral lung nodules.

Study design: Investigator-initiated, international, multi-center randomized controlled trial including university and general hospitals.

Study population: Patients (\>18 years old) with suspected malignant peripheral lung lesions with an indication for bronchoscopic analysis.

Procedure: Bronchoscopy will be performed according to institutional practice, including radial endobronchial ultrasound (r-EBUS) and optionally fluoroscopy, electromagnetic navigation, virtual bronchoscopy and/or ultrathin bronchoscopy. This is followed by transbronchial needle aspiration (TBNA) and (cryo-)biopsies (control arm). In the study arm, nCLE-imaging will be added prior to TBNA tissue acquisition to fine-tune the sampling area. Cytology staining for rapid onsite evaluation (ROSE) and cellblock will be performed according to local practice.

Primary objective:

To determine if the addition of nCLE-imaging to conventional bronchoscopic peripheral lung lesion analysis results in an improved diagnostic yield. (defined as the proportion of patients in whom the bronchoscopic procedure results in a definitive diagnosis out of the total number of patients that have received the diagnostic bronchoscopic procedure).

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2023-10-02
• Study First Submitted QC: 2023-10-06
• Study First Posted: 2023-10-12
• Study Start: 2023-10-18
• Status Verified: 2025-04
• Last Update Submitted: 2025-04-02
• Last Update Posted: 2025-04-04
• Primary Completion: 2025-10-18
• Study Completion: 2025-10-18

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: RECRUITING
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 208

Inclusion Criteria

1. ≥18 years of age
2. Suspected malignant peripheral lung lesion with an indication for a bronchoscopic diagnostic work-up as determined by the attending physician or tumor board. Peripheral pulmonary lesions are defined as lesions located beyond the visible segmental bronchi, not detectable by regular flexible bronchoscopy
3. Bronchus sign on pre-procedural CT or estimated confidence for successful navigation to the nodule resulting in a r-EBUS signal
4. Solid part of the lesion must be ≧10 mm
5. Largest dimension of lesion size on CT ≦30 mm (long-axis)
6. Ability to understand and willingness to sign a written informed consent

Exclusion Criteria

1. Inability or non-willingness to provide informed consent
2. Endobronchial visible malignancy on bronchoscopic inspection
3. Target lesion within reach of the linear EBUS scope
4. Failure to comply with the study protocol
5. Known allergy or risk factors for an allergic reaction to fluorescein
6. Pregnancy or breastfeeding
7. Hemodynamic instability
8. Refractory hypoxemia
9. Therapeutic anticoagulant use that cannot be withheld for an appropriate interval before the procedure
10. Unable to tolerate general anesthesia according to the anesthesiologist
11. Undergoing chemotherapy as several chemotherapies have fluorescent properties at the same wavelength (e.g., doxorubicin)

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
nCLE arm	Neelde Based Confocal Laser Endomicroscopy	Diagnostic bronchoscopy is done according to institutional practice with the addition of nCLE
Control arm	Conventional diagnostic bronchoscopy	Diagnostic bronchoscopy is done according to institutional practice without the addition of nCLE
nCLE arm	Conventional diagnostic bronchoscopy	Diagnostic bronchoscopy is done according to institutional practice with the addition of nCLE

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Diagnostic yield (intermediate definition)	After all patients have been included and followed up to 6 months after bronchoscopy (expected total time frame 2 years)	Diagnostic yield (defined as the proportion of patients in whom the bronchoscopic procedure results in a definitive diagnosis \[either malignant, specific benign or non-specific benign confirmed as benign in follow-up\], relative to the total number of patients that underwent the diagnostic bronchoscopic procedure). If patients with multiple lesions are included, the diagnostic yield will be computed per nodule.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Diagnostic yield subgroup analysis (stratified by lesion size in mm)	After all patients have been included and followed up to 6 months after bronchoscopy (expected total time frame 2 years)	To assess the diagnostic yield (primary outcome) for two subgroups (≤20 mm vs \>20 mm)
Procedure duration	During procedure (bronchoscopy)	Procedure duration (from bronchoscope insertion until removal).
Proportion needle repositionings and fine-tuning	During procedure (bronchoscopy)	Percentage of patients in which the needle was fine-tuned (defined as moving the needle within the same distal airway) or repositioned (defined as the selection of a different distal airway for tissue sampling) based on nCLE feedback (defined as the number of patients the needle was fine-tuned/repositioned divided by the total number of patients in which nCLE imaging was used).
Diagnostic sensitivity	After all patients have been included and followed up to 6 months after bronchoscopy (expected total time frame 2 years)	Diagnostic sensitivity for malignancy (defined as the proportion of patients in whom the bronchoscopic procedure diagnoses malignancy relative to the total number of patients with a final diagnosis of malignancy as determined by the reference standard).
Diagnostic yield subgroup analysis (stratified by Brock score)	After all patients have been included and followed up to 6 months after bronchoscopy (expected total time frame 2 years)	To assess the diagnostic yield (primary outcome) for three subgroups (Brock score \<10%, 10 - 35%, 36-70% and \>70%)
Complication rate	Up to 1 week after bronchoscopy	Complication rate (defined as any complication or complication categories occurring during or directly after the bronchoscopic procedure or any procedure-related complication within one week after the procedure).
Diagnostic yield subgroup analysis (stratified rEBUS visibility)	After all patients have been included and followed up to 6 months after bronchoscopy (expected total time frame 2 years)	To assess the diagnostic yield (primary outcome) for three subgroups (eccentric vs concentric vs absent)
Diagnostic yield subgroup analysis (stratified by location in the lung)	After all patients have been included and followed up to 6 months after bronchoscopy (expected total time frame 2 years)	To assess the diagnostic yield (primary outcome) for three subgroups (upper lobe (without lingual) vs middle lobe/lingual vs lower lobe)
Diagnostic yield (strict definition)	After all patients have been included (expected total time frame 2 years)	Diagnostic yield according to the strict definition by Vachani et al.(21) (defined as the proportion of patients in whom the bronchoscopic procedure results in a definitive diagnosis \[either malignant or specific benign diagnosis\], relative to the total number of patients that underwent the diagnostic bronchoscopic procedure).
Fluoroscopy time/dose	During procedure (bronchoscopy)	Fluoroscopy radiation time and dose.
Yield ROSE	After all patients have been included and followed up to 6 months after bronchoscopy (expected total time frame 2 years)	Diagnostic yield of ROSE (defined as the proportion of patients in whom ROSE resulted in a classifying diagnosis \[malignant or specific benign diagnosis\], relative to the total number of patients).
ROSE tool-in-lesion	During procedure (bronchoscopy)	Proportion of patients in which ROSE provided tool-in-lesion confirmation, meaning that the acquired tissue shows signs of a malignant or non-malignant diagnosis and was not related to airway/lung parenchyma sampling such as bronchus epithelium/blood contamination, and tissue not suitable for a specific diagnosis such as atypical cells.
Additional diagnostics needed	Up to 6 months after index bronchoscopy	Requirement of additional diagnostic procedures (CT-guided transthoracic biopsies, surgical diagnostics and/or additional bronchoscopy) during the 6-month follow-up period.

Trial Locations

Locations (7)

University Hospital basel; 🇨🇭 Basel, Switzerland

Montefiore Medical Center; 🇺🇸 New York, New York, United States

Vienna General Hospital; 🇦🇹 Vienna, Austria

General University Hospital Prague; 🇨🇿 Prague, Czechia

Sotiria Hospital; 🇬🇷 Athens, Greece

Morgagni Pierantoni Hospital; 🇮🇹 Forlì, Italy

Amsterdam University Medical Centers; 🇳🇱 Amsterdam, Netherlands