NCT03748030

Brief Summary

Radiation therapy (RT) of the breast is a critical component of modern breast cancer treatment. RT treatments have led to improved local control and overall survival of breast cancer patients. However, the incidence of radiation induced harmful effects is increasing in these patients. This is because in delivering RT, it is difficult to completely avoid surrounding non-cancerous normal tissue, including the heart. The main concern here is that radiation induced effects on the heart may lead to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease later in a patient's life, potentially many years after radiation. Despite methods that can detect alterations in blood flow one to two years following radiotherapy, knowledge of early radiation effects to the heart is still limited. A previous animal experiment performed by our group involved delivering a radiation dose to the heart in a manner similar to the way a heart would be exposed, during radiotherapy for a cancer involving the left breast. Taking several images over the months following radiation with a new imaging technique, hybrid PET/MRI, has suggested an increase in inflammation can be detected as early as one-week following irradiation and may be the triggering event for cardiac disease seen in women 10-15 years after radiotherapy. The investigators propose a pilot study where 15 left-sided breast cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy will be imaged before, as well as one week and one-year post radiotherapy with our hybrid PET/MRI scanner. Areas of inflammation, changes in blood flow, and scar formation within the heart, will be measured by looking at the difference between images that are taken after radiation treatment to the images taken before treatment. The expectation is that any areas of the heart that show detectable differences in the images will be directly related to how much radiation was deposited in those areas. The information gained from this pilot study which will correlate the amount of radiation administered to the degree and extent of injury will help aid in the design of new treatment strategies, that can hopefully decrease or eliminate inadvertent heart damage, thereby, improving the quality of life for breast cancer patients.

Trial Health

43
At Risk

Trial Health Score

Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach

Trial has exceeded expected completion date
Enrollment
15

participants targeted

Target at below P25 for all trials

Timeline
Completed

Started Jan 2019

Typical duration for all trials

Geographic Reach
1 country

1 active site

Status
unknown

Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.

Trial Relationships

Click on a node to explore related trials.

Study Timeline

Key milestones and dates

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

November 16, 2018

Completed
4 days until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

November 20, 2018

Completed
1 month until next milestone

Study Start

First participant enrolled

January 1, 2019

Completed
2 years until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

December 31, 2020

Completed
1 year until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

December 31, 2021

Completed
Last Updated

November 27, 2018

Status Verified

November 1, 2018

Enrollment Period

2 years

First QC Date

November 16, 2018

Last Update Submit

November 23, 2018

Conditions

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (5)

  • Detection of Imaging Biomarkers of acute cardiac inflammation

    18F-2-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-PET imaging to detect increase in cardiac inflammation compared to baseline with corresponding blood markers (Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR), high sensitivity C-reactive protein, and troponin levels in blood (inflammation)).

    one month

  • Detection of Imaging Biomarkers of late cardiac inflammation

    FDG-PET imaging to detect increase in cardiac inflammation compared to baseline with corresponding blood markers (Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR), high sensitivity C-reactive protein, and troponin levels in blood (inflammation)).

    one year

  • Detection of Imaging Biomarkers of acute cardiac perfusion changes

    N-13 Ammonia PET imaging to detect changes in acute cardiac perfusion changes compared to baseline.

    one month

  • Detection of Imaging Biomarkers of late cardiac perfusion changes

    N-13 Ammonia PET imaging to detect changes in late cardiac perfusion changes

    one year

  • Detection of cardiac fibrosis

    Gadolinium Enhanced MR imaging to detect cardiac fibrosis compared to baseline

    one year

Study Arms (1)

Confirmed Left-Sided Breast Cancer

T1/T2 N0, T1/T2 N1, T3/T4 and/or N2/N3 Left-Sided Breast Cancer Patients receiving standard radiation therapy will receive PET/MRI, ECG/EKG, and bloodwork before, within a month, and within a year post treatment.

Radiation: Confirmed Left-Sided Breast Cancer

Interventions

Left-Sided Patients will receive standard radiation therapy, including 42.5 Gy in 16 fractions or 50 Gy in 25 fractions.

Confirmed Left-Sided Breast Cancer

Eligibility Criteria

Age18 Years+
Sexfemale
Healthy VolunteersNo
Age GroupsAdult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)
Sampling MethodNon-Probability Sample
Study Population

Ultimately, the sample size was based upon practical considerations and that 15 breast cancer patients could be accrued relatively easily from new patient clinics, while sufficiently providing enough evidence to validate the imaging techniques to be used as a non-invasive measure for future clinical trials aimed at reducing or mitigating radiation-induced cardiac toxicity.

You may qualify if:

  • Age 18 or older
  • Ability to provide informed consent
  • Histologically evidence of left-sided breast cancer where potentially curative treatment is planned
  • T1/T2 N0, T1/T2 N1, T3/T4 and/or N2/N3 according to Tumor-Node-Metastases (TNM) staging criteria
  • All patients to receive prescription dose according to current London Regional Cance Program (LRCP) standards
  • No prior RT to the thorax
  • Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status 0-2 within one month of accrual
  • Satisfactory pulmonary function as determined by the treating radiation oncologist
  • Expected lifespan at least 1 year
  • Negative pregnancy test within one month of accrual if woman is premenopausal

You may not qualify if:

  • No current or recurring atrial fibrillation
  • Previous coronary bypass surgery
  • Patients with severe reversible airways obstruction
  • Patients with acute coronary syndrome (STEMI/non-STEMI and unstable angina)
  • Atrioventricular block without pacemaker
  • Patients who are renal insufficient (eGFR \<40)
  • Patients with asthma
  • Allergy to gadolinium for scans using contrast; will be eligible for non-contrast scans.
  • Other contraindications to gadolinium contrast media as determined by the research team.
  • Relative contraindications to PET (e.g. uncontrolled diabetes, claustrophobia, inability to be still for 60 minutes

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (1)

Lawson Health Research Institute

London, Ontario, N6C 2R5, Canada

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Unilateral Breast NeoplasmsRadiation Injuries

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Breast NeoplasmsNeoplasms by SiteNeoplasmsBreast DiseasesSkin DiseasesSkin and Connective Tissue DiseasesWounds and Injuries

Study Officials

  • Stewart Gaede, PhD

    London Health Sciences Centre Research Institute OR Lawson Research Institute of St. Joseph's

    PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Study Design

Study Type
observational
Observational Model
COHORT
Time Perspective
PROSPECTIVE
Sponsor Type
OTHER
Responsible Party
SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

November 16, 2018

First Posted

November 20, 2018

Study Start

January 1, 2019

Primary Completion

December 31, 2020

Study Completion

December 31, 2021

Last Updated

November 27, 2018

Record last verified: 2018-11

Data Sharing

IPD Sharing
Will not share

Locations