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Non Small Cell Lung CancerLOFTYNCT06577792

Lobectomy-First vs. Lymphadenectomy-First for Operable NSCLC (LOFTY)

A study testing Lobectomy-First and Lymphadenectomy-First in people with Non Small Cell Lung Cancer, run by Sun Yat-sen University at 26 sites in China.

Active, not recruiting

Under way, not looking for participants. Everyone needed has enrolled. The study is still running.

Official record
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Trial summary

During the surgery for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), lymphadenectomy or lobectomy are performed first, different surgeons have different choices. Oncology textbooks require dissecting distant lymph nodes (LNs) first and then dissecting nearby LNs. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 to 80 years
Conditions the study is for
Non Small Cell Lung Cancer
What is being tested?
Lobectomy-First and Lymphadenectomy-First
Type of treatment
Surgery or procedure
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
620 participants
Where
26 sitesChina
Study dates
16 Aug 2023to 20 Apr 2031
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
Not yet: the study is under way

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 to 80 years
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • Age from 18 to 80 years old;
  • The first clinical diagnosis before surgery was non-small cell lung cancer, including adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, large cell carcinoma, and other unknown types;
  • Clinical stage T1-2N0-1 (cI-II): Maximum diameter of tumor <= 5 cm and short diameter of mediastinal lymph node <= 1cm in thin layer computed tomography (CT);
  • The patient's physical condition is able to tolerate lobectomy: (1) Goldman index 0-1; (2) Predicted forced expiratory volume in 1s (FEV1) >= 40% and diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide (DLCO) >= 40%; (3) Total bilirubin <= 1.5 upper limit of normal; (4) Alanine aminotransferase (ALT)/Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) <= 2.5 upper limit of normal; (5) Creatinine <= 1.25 upper limit of normal and creatinine clearance rate (CCr) >= 60 ml/min;
  • Performance status of Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) = 0-1;
  • All relevant examinations were completed within 28 days before the operation;
  • Patients who understand this study and have signed an approved Informed Consent.

Who cannot join

  • Patients who have undergone anti-tumor therapy (radiotherapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy) before surgery;
  • Patients with previous medical history of other malignant tumors or combined with second primary cancer at the time of enrollment;
  • Patients who meet all of the following criteria are eligible for sublobar resection (segment/wedge resection): (1) Ground glass opacity (GGO) with a solid component <= 50%; (2) The largest diameter of nodule is <= 2 cm; (3) The nodule is located in the outer third of the lung field;
  • Patients with preoperative diagnosis of pure GGO;
  • Patients with previous medical history of unilateral thoracotomy;
  • Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding;
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  • Patients with active bacterial or fungal infection that is difficult to control;
  • Patients with serious psychosis;
  • Patients with a history of severe heart disease, heart failure, myocardial infarction or angina pectoris in the past 6 months.

Trial locations and contacts

26 sites in 1 country.

26 sites in 1 country

China26 sites
  • Cancer Institute and Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences

    Beijing, Beijing Municipality, 100021

  • Sichuan Cancer Hospital and Research Institute

    Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041

  • West China Hospital

    Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041

  • Dongguan People's Hospital

    Dongguan, Guangdong, 523059

  • First People's Hospital of Foshan

    Foshan, Guangdong, 528000

  • Fujian Medical University Union Hospital

    Fuzhou, Fujian, 350001

  • Fujian Provincial Hospital

    Fuzhou, Fujian, 350001

  • Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center

    Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510060

  • First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University

    Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510632

  • Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University

    Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510655

  • Shandong Provincial Hospital

    Jinan, Shandong, 250022

  • First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University

    Kunming, Yunnan, 650032

  • Gansu Provincial Hospital

    Lanzhou, Gansu, 730013

  • Jiangsu Cancer Institute & Hospital

    Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210009

  • The General Hospital of Eastern Theater Command

    Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210016

  • The First Affiliated Hospital with Nanjing Medical University

    Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210029

  • The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University

    Qingdao, Shandong, 266075

  • RenJi Hospital

    Shanghai, Shanghai Municipality, 200001

  • Shanghai Changzheng Hospital

    Shanghai, Shanghai Municipality, 201209

  • Suining Central Hospital

    Suining, Sichuan, 629099

  • Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital

    Tianjin, Tianjin Municipality, 300060

  • Tianjin Chest Hospital

    Tianjin, Tianjin Municipality, 300222

  • Wuhan TongJi Hospital

    Wuhan, Hubei, 430014

  • Wuhan Union Hospital, China

    Wuhan, Hubei, 430090

  • Tang-Du Hospital

    Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710032

  • The Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University

    Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221132

Other trials in China

About this study

Official title: Lobectomy-First Versus Lymphadenectomy-First Surgical Approach on Long-Term Survival in Operable Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Patients: A Prospective, Multi-Center, Randomized Study

During the surgery for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), lymphadenectomy or lobectomy are performed first, different surgeons have different choices. Oncology textbooks require dissecting distant lymph nodes (LNs) first and then dissecting nearby LNs. According to this requirement, thoracic surgeons should first perform lymphadenectomy and then lobectomy. Unfortunately, there is no high-level evidence to prove which surgical sequence is more beneficial to the long-term survival of NSCLC patients. In this multi-center randomized controlled trial (RCT), patients with stage I-II NSCLC were enrolled as the research object to determine which surgical sequence (lymphadenectomy-first vs. lobectomy-first) is better for the short-term and long-term outcomes in NSCLC patients.

Being tested
Lobectomy-First, Lymphadenectomy-First
Keywords
Non-small cell lung cancer, Lobectomy, Lymphadenectomy
Medical subject headings
Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • Lobectomy-FirstProcedure or surgery

    During the surgical treatment for patients with NSCLC, thoracic surgeons should perform lobectomy first, and then perform lymphadenectomy next.

  • Lymphadenectomy-FirstProcedure or surgery

    During the surgical treatment for patients with NSCLC, thoracic surgeons should perform lymphadenectomy first, and then perform lobectomy next.

Study groups in NCT06577792
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Lobectomy-First groupOtherPatients with operable NSCLC received lobectomy first then received lymphadenectomy for surgical treatment.
Receives: Procedure: Lobectomy-First
Lymphadenectomy-First groupOtherPatients with operable NSCLC received lymphadenectomy first then received lobectomy for surgical treatment.
Receives: Procedure: Lymphadenectomy-First

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. 5-year disease-free survival (DFS)

    The disease-free survival rate 5 years after surgery

    Measured: 5 years after surgery

Secondary outcomes (16)
  1. 5-year overall survival (OS)

    The overall survival rate 5 years after surgery

    Measured: 5 years after surgery

  2. 3-year disease free survival (DFS)

    The disease-free survival rate 3 years after surgery

    Measured: 3 years after surgery

  3. 3-year overall survival (OS)

    The overall survival rate 3 years after surgery

    Measured: 3 years after surgery

  4. Intraoperative blood loss

    Total blood loss during the surgery

    Measured: During the surgery

  5. Conversion rate

    The number of cases converted to thoracotomy in a group divided by the total number of included cases in this group

    Measured: During the surgery

  6. Perioperative complications rate

    The number of cases in a group with perioperative complications divided by the total number of included cases in this group

    Measured: The day of surgery, 2/4/8/12/26/52 weeks after surgery

  7. Operative death rate

    The number of cases in a group died within 30/90 days after surgery divided by the total number of cases in this group

    Measured: 30/90 days after surgery

  8. Postoperative hospital stays

    The number of days between the date of surgery and the date of discharge

    Measured: Between the date of surgery and the date of discharge, assessed up to 30 days

  9. Postoperative pain score

    The degree of pain after surgery was measured using Numerical Rating Scale (NRS). The patient is asked to make three pain ratings, corresponding to current, best and worst pain experienced over the past 24 hours on a scale of 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst pain imaginable). The average of the 3 ratings was used to represent the patient's level of pain over the previous 24 hours

    Measured: Daily after surgery for up to 7 days and at weeks 2/4/8/12/26/52 after discharge

  10. R0 rate

    The number of cases in a group received complete resection divided by the total number of cases in this group

    Measured: Postoperative in-hospital stay up to 30 days

  11. Operative time

    The total time from skin to skin and the time of each step

    Measured: During the surgery

  12. Chest tube duration

    The number of days between the date of surgery and the date of chest tube removal

    Measured: Postoperative in-hospital stay up to 30 days

  13. The numbers of circulating tumor cell (CTC)/circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) before and after operation

    3ml of peripheral arterial blood was drawn before surgery and immediately after chest closure, and then CTC/ctDNA was isolated by differential centrifugation for quantitative measurement

    Measured: During the surgery

  14. Acesodyne (Grade III) dose

    The total amount of morphine used by the patient during the postoperative hospital period

    Measured: Postoperative in-hospital stay up to 30 days

  15. Total cost of hospitalization

    The total medical cost of the patient from admission to discharge

    Measured: From the date of admission to the date of discharge, assessed up to 30 days

  16. The number of resected lymph nodes

    The number of resected lymph nodes were calculated according to the official pathological report after surgery

    Measured: Postoperative in-hospital stay up to 30 days

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted29 Aug 2024
  2. Study start16 Aug 2023
  3. Primary completion20 Apr 2031 (estimated)
  4. Study completion20 Apr 2031 (estimated)

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase N/A
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Masking
None (open label)
Enrolment
620 participants (estimated)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT06577792
Sponsor's protocol ID
SL-B2022-443
Other IDs
ChiCTR2300068586
Acronym
LOFTY
Status last verified
Jul 2026
First submitted
8 Jul 2024
Last updated
14 Jul 2026
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
No

Publications

  • Fan HR, Yang MZ, Yan XL, Chen XB, Gou YJ, You J, Lin JB, Zhou HN, Zhang H, Chen WS, Zhang N, Tang H, Lin YB, Leng XF, Qian XZ, Yi J, Su XD, Cai SW, Gu WQ, Peng ZM, Du W, Yang H, Mei JD, Sun DQ, Liao YD, Liao HY, Qiu B, Ma GW, Jiao WJ, Wang W, Wang Y, Zhao ZR, Liu QW, Sun TY, Li M, Yang HX. Lobectomy-first versus lymphadenectomy-first on long-term survival for operable non-small cell lung cancer: protocol of LOFTY trial. Trials. 2025 Dec 29;26(1):581. doi: 10.1186/s13063-025-09285-9.

    PubMed 41462323

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing Lobectomy-First and Lymphadenectomy-First in people with Non Small Cell Lung Cancer, run by Sun Yat-sen University at 26 sites in China.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 7 inclusion and 9 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: under way, not looking for participants, as of the sponsor's last update on 14 Jul 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 26 sites in China. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

5-year disease-free survival (DFS) (time frame: 5 years after surgery). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT06577792, which also lists 1 linked publication.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 14 Jul 2026; AzTrials last refreshed its copy on 28 Oct 2026.

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