Skip to main content
OpenTrials
Not Yet Recruiting

NCT Number: NCT07460440

SPARC - Screening for Lung Cancer With Platelets Via an AI-enabled RNA-based Classifier

The purpose of this study is to test whether combining a unique analytical approach with changes in platelet RNA expression accurately diagnoses lung cancer. Using retrospective platelet transcriptomic data from 522 patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC, the most common type of lung cancer), an approach that appears to accurately classify lung cancer has been developed.

The study will build upon these retrospective analyses to prospectively recruit patients with newly diagnosed lung cancer, obtain platelet RNA samples from whole blood, and perform validation analyses. This research will also test whether this approach accurately distinguishes benign from malignant lung nodules.

Not Yet Recruiting

Trial opening soon.

Get Notified

Key information

Age range

21 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Observational

Primary location

University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States

Loading trial locations.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Study Population 1: Treatment-Naïve Patients with a Lung Nodule or Lung Cancer

Inclusion criteria

  • Aged 21 years or older
  • Meeting at least one of the following two criteria:
  • Diagnosed with any stage or type of lung cancer
  • Having at least one lung nodule identified on imaging (e.g., low dose computed tomography [LDCT] or other diagnostic chest imaging) that was completed within 180 days prior to enrollment, and where there is planned or recommended biopsy, surgical resection, radiation therapy, systemic therapy, or other invasive diagnostic or therapeutic procedure to further evaluate the nodule(s) in the next six months based on the clinical judgment of the patient's provider(s)

Exclusion criteria

  • Other diagnosis of, or treatment for, any cancer within the last 6 months except for non-melanoma skin cancer, carcinoma in situ of the cervix, or low-grade prostate cancer (defined as Gleason score ≤ 6) treated locally
  • A history of lung cancer or metastatic cancer to the lungs from an extrathoracic primary site with definitive treatment (surgical, medical, or radiotherapy) within the past 2 years
  • Currently receiving any systemic therapy (chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and/or targeted therapy) or radiation therapy for lung cancer
  • Already undergone surgical resection of the lung cancer in part or in whole
  • Have undergone invasive diagnostic or therapeutic procedures (e.g., biopsy, surgery) related to the lung nodule within the past 3 months
  • Unable to provide blood sample

Study Population 2: Control Subjects

Inclusion criteria

  • Aged 21 years or older

Exclusion criteria

  • Any active malignancy or diagnosis of cancer within the last 6 months except for non-melanoma skin cancer, carcinoma in situ of the cervix, or low-grade prostate cancer (defined as Gleason score ≤ 6) treated locally
  • Treatment for any cancer within the last 6 months except for non-melanoma skin cancer, carcinoma in situ of the cervix, or low-grade prostate cancer (defined as Gleason score ≤ 6) treated locally
  • Hospitalization or surgery (other than minor surgery such as mole removal) within the last 8 weeks
  • Renal failure (defined as eGFR < 60 mL/min/1.73m² or on dialysis)
  • Liver failure (defined as having hepatic encephalopathy of any degree, OR moderately severe coagulopathy defined as INR ≥ 1.5, OR known cirrhosis, OR ALT of ≥ 10X ULN, OR total bilirubin of ≥ 3.0 mg/dL, OR diagnosis of liver failure)
  • Decompensated or end-stage heart failure (defined as ACC/AHA Stage C or Stage D heart failure)
  • Venous thrombosis, myocardial infarction, or stroke within the last 8 weeks
  • Currently pregnant or have been pregnant within the last 12 weeks
  • Any blood product transfusion within the last 8 weeks
  • Personal history of lung cancer at any time
  • Unable to provide blood sample

Treatment and study plan

Platelet RNA-based assay

Diagnostic Test

Up to 20mL (the maximum blood volume collected) of whole blood will be collected by peripheral venipuncture by a site phlebotomist into sterile, 4mL EDTA-containing venipuncture tubes. The minimum whole blood collected will be 4mL.

Primary outcomes

  1. Sensitivity

    Time frame: up to one day after study enrollment

    Sensitivity of the assay in detecting lung cancer

  2. Specificity

    Time frame: up to one day after study enrollment

    Specificity of the assay in detecting lung cancer.

  3. Positive predictive value (PPV)

    Time frame: up to one day after study enrollment

    Positive predictive value (PPV) in distinguishing benign vs. malignant lung nodules.

  4. Negative Predictive Value (NPV)

    Time frame: up to one day after study enrollment

    Negative predictive value (NPV) in distinguishing benign vs. malignant lung nodules.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Performance Across Lung Cancer Stage

    Time frame: up to one day after study enrollment

    Performance of the assay across lung cancer stage (stage I-IV).

  2. Performance Across Lung Cancer Histologic Subtypes

    Time frame: up to one day after study enrollment

    Performance of assay across lung cancer histologic subtypes (e.g., adenocarcinoma, squamous, small cell).

  3. Validation Completion

    Time frame: up to one day after study enrollment

    Technical and analytical validation completion.

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Matthew Rondina, MD, MS

CONTACT

[email protected]

801-587-8308

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Utah

Other

Collaborators

  • United States Department of Defense

Registry information

Acronym: SPARC

Important dates

Study start
2026
Primary completion
2028
Study completion
2028
First posted
Mar 10, 2026
Registry last updated
May 15, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

Published trials that share one or more normalized conditions with this study.