To date, lung resection and lymphadenectomy remain the best curative option in patients with early-stage non-small cell lung cancer. Moreover, cancer screening programs have led to a frequent diagnoses of indeterminate lung lesions, many of which require surgical biopsy for diagnosis and intervention. Additionally, pre-operative imaging assessment frequently underestimates lymph-node involvement. Finally, the increase in the utilization of minimally invasive procedures remains mandatory. The aim of our project is to verify if Cetuximab-IRDye800 could detect cancer nodules and lymph node metastases during minimally invasive thoracic surgery. A result favoring the use of Cetuximab-IRDye800 would permit the use of a minimally invasive approach to a more significant number of patients, which are presently operable only by a traditional "open" approach. Consequentially, it would lead to an improvement in surgical outcomes, a reduction of costs, and an enhanced patient quality of life. In addition, a result favoring Cetuximab-IRDye800 could consent to correctly remove mislead metastatic lymph nodes (i.e., unexpected lymph-nodes metastasis) and neoplastic localization unidentified at pre-operative diagnostic assessments. It would lead to more accurate cancer staging, and a tailored post-operative treatment. Finally, the investigators expect to validate using Cetuximab-IRDye800 as an optimal tracker that can be easily applied intraoperatively during minimally invasive surgical procedures.
Age range
18 Years – 80 Years
Sex
ALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
Nodule Detection
Timeframe: The detection of lung nodules' NIR emission was registered in the first 5 minutes of the NIR camera activation during surgery.