Testing lung fluid samples to predict cancer recurrence

Researchers at Memorial Sloan Kettering are studying tiny particles found in fluid from your airways to see if they can help predict whether non-small cell lung cancer might come back after surgery. During your routine lung cancer surgery, doctors will rinse your airways and collect the fluid — this won't add extra time or risk to your procedure. The goal is to understand whether these particles can serve as an early warning sign of recurrence.

Currently, doctors don't have a reliable way to predict which patients are at highest risk for their lung cancer returning after surgery. This research aims to find a simple test using fluid already being removed during your operation that could help identify recurrence risk earlier, when treatment options may be more effective.