Clinical Research Directory

Fluoroscopy Radiation Reduction During Sacral Neuromodulation Lead Placement

Fluoroscopy is performed when placing a lead during a sacral neuromodulation procedure. During lead placement, subjects will receive either conventional or experimental fluoroscopic settings. The radiation exposure will be compared between the two groups.

Safety Study of BMX-001 (Radio-protector) in Patients With Newly Diagnosed Anal Cancer

Over 80% of anal cancers are squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Current standard treatment for locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the anal canal is a combination of radiation therapy (RT) and concurrent chemotherapy. This allows for organ preservation in approximately 75% of patients. The use of concurrent radiation and chemotherapy with infusional 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and mitomycin results in locoregional relapse rates of 20-32 and 5-year overall survival rates of 58-78%. However, while mitomycin significantly increases the rate of grade 4 toxicities, it improves local outcomes and has been considered a necessary agent in the care of anal cancer. Oxidative stress induced by radiotherapy and chemotherapy tends to protect tumor cells and promote normal tissue damage. A recently developed compound, BMX-001 (MnTnBuOE-2- PyP5+), is among the most highly potent metalloporphyrin compounds which reduce oxidative stress, thereby protecting normal tissues and augmenting tumor killing. In this Phase 1/2 study, the investigators will conduct a safety and efficacy study of the combination of BMX-001 with standard radiation therapy and concurrent (5FU)/mitomycin in newly diagnosed Anal Squamous Cell Carcinoma (ASCC) patients. The primary Phase 1 objective is to determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of BMX-001 in ASCC patients receiving RT and concurrent 5FU/mitomycin chemotherapy. Three participants will be treated at Dose Level 1 and three at Dose Level 2, then three at Dose Level 3. Dose Limiting Toxicities (DLT) experienced by any participant will be used to determine the MTD. The Phase II objective is to examine the impact of BMX-001 on the overall acute ≥ grade 3 toxicity rate of the normal tissue including rectum, bladder, and skin in combination with RT and concurrent 5FU/mitomycin in treatment of newly diagnosed ASCC patients. These will be determined by participant reports, biological materials (blood, tissue, urine) sampling and imaging. Participant health-related quality of life will be assessed by two questionnaires.

The Radiation ProtEction for Dose RedUction in the Cardiac CathEter Lab Study: The REDUCE Trial

Doctors and nurses who perform heart procedures using X-ray guidance are exposed to radiation, which can be harmful over time. This exposure increases the risk of certain health problems, including cancers, eye damage (cataracts), and DNA damage. Although protective lead clothing is used to reduce exposure, it is heavy, uncomfortable, and can cause muscle and joint problems for those who wear it daily. A new radiation protection device, called RAMPART, may help reduce radiation exposure for heart specialists and their teams. It could also allow them to wear lighter protective gear-or none at all-making their work safer and more comfortable. This study will compare the radiation levels received by doctors and nurses during heart procedures when using RAMPART versus standard protection. By doing so, we hope to find out if this new device can better protect medical teams from radiation, improving both their safety and well-being.

MRI Biomarkers for Radiation-Induced Neurocognitive Decline Following SRS of Newly Diagnosed Brain Mets

Brain metastases are a source of much morbidity and mortality in adults with primary solid malignant tumors. With improvements in systemic therapy that prolong survival but have limited central nervous system penetration, patients with brain metastases are at increasing risk of developing and experiencing long-term side effects from treatment of brain metastases. The overarching goal of this study is to better understand the determinants of RT-associated changes in white and gray matter function and associated neurocognitive decline.

Longitudinal Registry Including Patients Treated With Heavy Particles

The purpose of this registry is to collect retrospective and prospective standardized data of patients treated with particle therapy, either with protons or carbon ions, at the National Center for Oncological Hadrontherapy (CNAO) based in Pavia. By keeping track of the patients treated, it will allow the investigators to periodically analyze and evaluate data collected of daily clinical activity. This will help gathering more information on the results of particle therapy and will provide the basis for in depth evaluation of patients' outcome with respect to the delivered treatment.

Omitting CTV for Primary Tumor in LS-SCLC

This randomized controlled non-inferior trial prospectively enrolled patients with limited-stage small cell lung cancer (LS-SCLC). Patients in the experimental group would receive radiotherapy with omission of the clinical target volume (CTV) for the primary tumor, while those in the control group would receive radiotherapy including CTV. The efficacy and toxicity of the two groups are compared to provide evidence for the radiotherapy of LS-SCLC. The target volume of LS-SCLC may be reduced by omitting CTV without increasing local recurrence but potentially reducing the dose to organs at risk and the side effects.

IOPS Technology During Cannnulation of Contralateral Limb in EVAR

Short-term results are favorable for EndoVascular Aneurysm Repair (EVAR) compared to open surgery. One of the major drawbacks to this shift is the need for fluoroscopy and contrast dyes to visualise endovascular devices. The use of fluoroscopy exposes both patients and caregivers to harmful ionizing radiation. Because of the harmful effects of radiation, recent radiation protection guidelines strongly recommend as low as reasonably achievable (ALARA) principle. The need for additional radiation-reducing navigation techniques is high, with the ultimate goal of performing endovascular procedures without radiation at all. In response to these challenges, Centerline Biomedical (Cleveland, Ohio, USA) has developed a proprietary electromagnetic tracking and positioning system called the Intra-Operative Positioning System (IOPS). This medical device provides surgeons with 3D visualization for increased surgical precision while reducing the radiation exposure for patients and healthcare professionals. IOPS provides 3D electromagnetic navigation of interventional devices as an adjunct to fluoroscopy. During the intervention, the IOPS devices can be visualized with on-screen image guidance. The IOPS guidewires and catheters can be used together or combined with off-the-shelf 0.035-inch catheters and guidewires, as needed. This study aims to describe the influence of IOPS technology on radiation exposure during cannulation of the contralateral limb (CL) during standard EVAR.

Zero Fluoroscopy Voltage Guided vs. Linear CTI Ablation

Catheter ablation of the cavo-tricuspid isthmus (CTI) is the curative first-line therapy for typical atrial flutter. Currently, two approaches are used in clinical practice. In contrast to the conventional linear ablation approach, the Maximum voltage-guided (MVG) strategy aims to limit ablation to high voltage areas (HVAs) representing the detectable correlate of relevant conducting bundles. Data from registries show that the MVG technique is sufficient to reach comparable clinical outcome with significantly shorter ablation duration when compared to the conventional linear strategy. Despite growing evidence, however, data from properly powered prospective randomized trials are lacking and the linear approach still remains standard. In addition, data on radiation exposure are controversial. As a substrate-based approach, the MVG strategy requires detailed mapping and signal analysis for identification of the individual architecture and exactly targeted energy application. However, the spatial mapping resolution of large tip catheters is limited. The use of the MicroFidelity catheter technology (IntellaMiFi) with high resolution mini-electrodes at the 8 mm catheter tip can be expected to further improve the feasibility of a voltage-guided approach. In addition, the MVG approach theoretically may encompass an increased risk for clinically inapparent reconduction. A prospective study with predefined invasive re-evaluation of persistent CTI block is needed to further evaluate this issue. Objective of this prospective randomized study is evaluate the performance of the micro-sensor technology for zero-fluoroscopy voltage-guided ablation of typical atrial flutter (AFL) compared with a population undergoing conventional linear ablation including a predefined invasive re-evaluation of persistent CTI block in addition to clinical follow-up. The study has been approved by the responsible ethics committee.

Enhancing Radiation Safety for Nuclear Medicine Radiographers: the Impact of Introducing the Automat-ed Radiopharmaceutical Preparation and Administration System

This project aims to evaluate the impact of the introduction of an automated system for radiopharmaceutical preparation and administration on the radiation safety of the radiographers working in nuclear medicine. This study will help to fill the existing gap in the scientific literature and provide useful guidance for the selection of the safest and most effective automated infusion system.

Study of the Patient Radiation Dose During Five Endourological Procedures

In the medical world more and more procedures are performed with the use of ionizing radiation (x-ray), both diagnostic and therapeutic. The main and most known risk is the development of malignancies as a result of the use of ionizing radiation. Purpose of this study: To examine the patient radiation dose (PRD) if the frames per second (FPS) are set differently during the five most performed endourological procedures where fluoroscopy is used (insertion/replacement of ureteral stent, (mini-)percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL/PNL), ureterorenoscopy (URS) and extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL/SWL)) and to propose an acceptable PRD for these procedures in a multicentric study.

Ultra Low Dose CT and Use of Iomeron 400 in PCD-CT

Evaluation of ultra low dose protocols and Iomeron 400 contrast in PCD-CT

Y90 Radioembolization Dose Delivery and Radiation Exposure Assessment

The objective of this study is to examine critical aspects of radiation exposure, dose delivery, and systemic yttrium-90 (Y90) exposure related to the infusion of Y90 microspheres for treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and other metastatic liver disease.