Skip to content

Pharmacologic Therapies to Mitigate Radiation- Associated Heart Disease

Pharmacologic Therapies to Mitigate Radiation- Associated Heart Disease

Status
Recruiting
Phases
Phase 2
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT07685938
Enrollment
60
Registered
2026-07-06
Start date
2026-08-12
Completion date
2029-02-01
Last updated
2026-09-17

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Breast Cancer, Chest Wall Tumor, Esophageal Cancer, Lung Cancer, Mediastinal Cancers, Spinal Tumor, Spine Metastases, Thoracic Cancer, Thoracic Neoplasms

Keywords

radiation therapy, morbidity, mortality, radiation induced heart disease, major adverse cardiac events, placebo-controlled, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, statins

Brief summary

Radiation therapy is an essential treatment for tumors in the chest area, including breast, lung, esophageal, mediastinal cancers, and spine metastases. Although technical advances have reduced treatment-related illness and death, radiation exposure to the heart can still cause substantial rates of radiation-induced heart disease (RIHD) among survivors. For example, about 21% of non-small cell lung cancer patients receiving a mean heart dose of 20 Gy or higher experience major adverse cardiac events (MACE) within 2 years. In breast cancer patients, the risk of MACE increases by about 7% for each additional Gy of mean heart dose. There is currently no established medication strategy to prevent or reduce RIHD. Preclinical and clinical studies show that statins and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors may help reduce radiation-induced heart disease (RIHD). Statins and ACE inhibitors are generally well tolerated, available as generic drugs, and commonly used to help prevent cardiovascular disease. They may protect the heart by reducing damage to blood vessel lining (endothelial damage), microvascular dysfunction, atherosclerosis, reduced blood flow (ischemia), and fibrosis (scarring). This study is a prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled phase II hybrid decentralized trial. Patients receiving standard radiation therapy and expected to receive an equivalent dose of at least 25 Gy (EQD2) to at least 10% of the heart will be randomly assigned to receive either: * placebo, or * Atorvastatin 20 mg plus Lisinopril 5 mg daily. The medications will be taken during radiation therapy and continued for 6 months after treatment. The study aims to determine whether the intervention can reduce radiation-related decreases in blood flow to the heart, measured using myocardial perfusion imaging, such as positron emission tomography (PET), which is commonly used to evaluate the risk of coronary heart disease.

Interventions

DRUGAtorvastatin and Lisinopril

Patients will receive statins and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors.

DRUGPlacebo

Patients will receive placebo.

Sponsors

UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
SINGLE (Subject)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Written informed consent obtained to participate in the study and HIPAA * authorization for release of personal health information. * Subjects is willing and able to comply with study procedures based on the * judgement of the investigator. * Consent for serial blood draws and consent for use of biological specimens. * Age ≥ 18 years at the time of consent

Exclusion criteria

* Pregnant or breastfeeding (NOTE: breast milk cannot be stored for future use while the mother is being treated on study). * Pre-existing use of a statin or ACE-inhibitor * Pre-existing hypotension

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Percent difference in the radiation (RT)-induced reduction of myocardial perfusionPre radiation therapy and 6-month post radiation therapyPercent difference in the radiation (RT)-induced reduction of myocardial perfusion in cardiac regions receiving ≥25Gy equivalent dose in 2Gy fractions (EQD2) based on comparison of before and after RT among participants receiving placebo and statins and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors intervention.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Percent Change in Radiation-Induced Myocardial Perfusion Reduction by Cardiac Dose: Placebo vs Statin and ACE Inhibitor TherapyPre radiation therapy and 6-month post radiation therapyPercent difference in radiation therapy (RT)-induced reduction of myocardial perfusion in cardiac regions receiving different radiation doses (10-20 Gy and 20-25 Gy equivalent dose in 2 Gy fractions, EQD2), based on comparison of pre-RT and 6-month post-RT myocardial perfusion imaging scans between participants receiving placebo versus statins and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors intervention.
Change in for cardiac biomarker panelPre radiation therapy and 3 months and 6-month post radiation therapyChange in for cardiac biomarker panel including high- sensitivity troponin, Creatine Kinase myocardial band (CK-MB) or N-terminal pro-B-type Natriuretic Peptide( NT-proBNP).
Correlation between cardiac stress and perfusion biomarkers and radiation dosePre radiation therapy and 3 months and 6-month post radiation therapyCorrelations between absolute values and changes in cardiac stress/perfusion biomarkers and radiation dose at the individual pixel level will be compared between the placebo and intervention groups. Cardiac perfusion imaging provides quantitative assessment of regional myocardial perfusion, and the absolute difference in RT-induced perfusion reduction between study arms will be evaluated using pre- and post-RT measurements. Changes in cardiac biomarkers, including high- sensitivity troponin, Creatine Kinase myocardial band (CK-MB) or N-terminal pro-B-type Natriuretic Peptide( NT-proBNP). will also be assessed.
Rates of major adverse cardiac eventsAt follow-up of 1, 2, and 3 years.Rates of major adverse cardiac events (unstable angina, heart failure hospitalization or urgent visit, myocardial infarction, coronary revascularization, and cardiac death) will be compared between trial groups at long-term

Countries

United States

Contacts

CONTACTClaire Kowalczyk
claire_kowalczyk@med.unc.edu984-974-0000
PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORShivani Sud, MD

UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Sep 18, 2026