1.1 mm-diameter cryoprobe for lung cancer triumphs in NGS testing

Use of a 1.1 mm-diameter cryoprobe in transbronchial cryobiopsy (TBC) is both safe and helpful in next-generation sequencing (NGS) analysis, both for DNA and RNA sequencing, a study has shown.

Fifty-six patients with lung cancer submitted themselves to TBC using a 1.1-mm cryoprobe for NGS testing during the study period. Of these, 98 percent were already in the advanced stage of the disease (recurrent of inoperable disease of stages III or IV).

The diagnostic yield of NGS was 95 percent each for DNA and RNA sequencing (53 of 56). Three patients had moderate bleeding, while none had developed any life-threatening complications, such as pneumothorax or lung infection.

“TBC using a 1.1 mm-diameter cryoprobe is a useful and safe tool for NGS analysis, for both DNA and RNA sequencing,” the researchers said.

This study included lung cancer patients who underwent TBC using a 1.1 mm-diameter cryoprobe for NGS testing between October 2020 and April 2023. Peripheral lung lesions were detected using a 4.0 or 3.0 mm-diameter bronchoscope with radial probe endobronchial ultrasound and virtual bronchoscopic navigation. All procedures were done under fluoroscopic guidance. Data were retrospectively analysed.

Currently, NGS analysis is the gold standard for lung cancer diagnosis in clinical practice, according to the researchers. “Little is known about the feasibility of NGS using tumour tissue sampled with a 1.1 mm-diameter cryoprobe,” they added.