Clinical Research Directory

Prophylactic Inhaled Steroids to Reduce Radiation Pneumonitis Frequency and Severity in Lung Cancer Patients

This randomized clinical study aims to assess whether prophylactic treatment with inhaled steroids in patients with locally advanced or concomitantly treated non-small cell lung carcinoma who are candidates for combination treatment with QT/RT or IMT + QT/RT. The main questions it aims to answer are: Whether prophylactic treatment decreases the severity of NPR on CTCAE v4.0 and RTOG scales. Whether inhaled steroid use modifies the response to radiation therapy treatment compared to patients who do not receive prophylactic inhaled steroids.

Functional Lung Avoidance SPECT-guided Radiation Therapy of Lung Cancer

Study aims to determine if functional lung avoidance based on perfusion single photon emission (SPECT)/CT scan, improves toxicity outcomes for patients with advanced lung cancer undergoing chemo-radiotherapy. Functional avoidance implies a dose plan that takes functional distribution in the lung into account, and avoids highly functional lung volumes sparing them from radiation.

Application of 4DCT-Based Pulmonary Ventilation Imaging in Lung Cancer Radiotherapy

This retrospective single-center study investigates whether four-dimensional CT (4DCT)-based lung ventilation imaging can guide functional lung avoidance radiotherapy (FLAR) for patients with primary lung cancer. Ventilation maps generated from planning 4DCT are used to identify well-ventilated lung regions, enabling paired comparison between functional lung avoidance radiotherapy plans and conventional anatomic radiotherapy plans. The study aims to assess whether incorporating functional lung information into radiotherapy planning can reduce radiation exposure to well-ventilated lung while maintaining adequate tumor coverage, and to explore its relationship with radiation-induced lung injury. All analyses are based on existing clinical imaging, treatment planning data, and follow-up records. No additional interventions, imaging, or procedures are performed as part of this study.

Functional Lung Avoidance Radiotherapy Guided by 4DCT Pulmonary Ventilation Function Imaging: A Prospective Single-arm Clinical Study

This prospective, single-center, single-arm study will evaluate the feasibility and safety of 4DCT ventilation functional imaging-guided functional lung avoidance radiotherapy (FLAR) in patients with lung malignancies receiving IMRT radiotherapy. All participants will undergo 4DCT simulation as part of routine radiotherapy preparation. A ventilation map will be generated from 4DCT data, and the top 80% ventilation region will be defined as the high-function lung. This structure will be imported into the treatment planning system to create an FLAR plan that prioritizes sparing of high-function lung while maintaining target coverage (PTV D95%) and meeting standard dose constraints for organs at risk. A conventional anatomic plan (without functional guidance) will also be created for paired, within-patient dosimetric comparison. The primary outcome is improvement in dosimetric sparing of the high-function lung (V10, V20, V30, and mean lung dose). Secondary outcomes include the incidence of grade ≥2 radiation pneumonitis (CTCAE v5.0), changes in pulmonary function (e.g., FEV1 and DLCO), and lung-related quality-of-life scores. Assessments will be performed mid-treatment (after 15 fractions), at the end of radiotherapy (after 30 fractions), and at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after radiotherapy. The study plans to enroll 100 participants and follow each participant for 12 months.

Single-Cell Sequencing Analysis of Radiation Pneumonitis Signals In Patients Treated For Cancer With Radiotherapy

Patients with signs of radiation induced lung inflammation, who are referred for a clinical bronchoscopy for investigation, will have a sample sent for single cell sequencing. This is a novel technique which allows for identification of which cells are present and what they are doing. This hopes to better understand radiation pneumonitis, a dose-limiting toxicity in cancer treatment which can be highly morbid and even fatal.

FAPI PET for Lung Fibrosis

This is a prospective exploratory biodistribution study in patients with interstitial lung disease (ILD). The purpose of this research study is to determine where and to which degree the FAPI tracer (68Ga-FAPI-46) accumulates in normal and fibrotic lung tissues of patients with interstitial lung disease. The study will include patients with interstitial lung disease who have or will initiate a new ILD medication OR will undergo tissue biopsy or surgery of the lung. The study will include 30 patients, the upper limit for PET imaging studies conducted under the Radioactive Drug Research Committee (RDRC) purview. Participants will be injected with up to 7 mCi of 68-GaFAPi and will undergo one PET/CT scan and one High Resolution CT of the lungs. The study is sponsored by Ahmanson Translational Theranostic Division at UCLA.

Hyperbaric Oxygen in the Prevention of Radiation Pneumonitis

Radiotherapy is one of the important treatments to improve the survival rate of breast cancer patients, but also has the risk of radiation lung injury, which can develop into pulmonary fibrosis. Hyperbaric oxygen can improve the tissue after radiation by promoting the function of vascular endothelial cells and fibroblasts, and reducing the secretion of inflammatory factors, thereby inhibiting the process of fibrosis and fiber atrophy after radiotherapy, and promoting tissue repair. Therefore, it has the potential value of treating chronic radiation injury. We aim to investigate whether hyperbaric oxygen treatment can reduce the incidence of radiation pneumonia and improve patients' quality of life, and to evaluate its safety and the impact on the patients' long-term survival outcomes.

Radiotherapy Exposed Lung Injury: Effect on Functioning - Cohort

Prospective cohort research to study the state of oxygen metabolism, reserve capabilities of cardiovascular and respiratory systems in patients with breast cancer to create a program of prevention and rehabilitation of lung damage in the process of complex treatment of the disease. The aim of the study is to study the dynamics of oxygen metabolism and reserve capabilities of cardiovascular and respiratory systems in the process of complex treatment of breast neoplasias. Objectives of the study: 1. Explore the dynamics of pulmonary ventilation and gas exchange disorders in patients with breast cancer in the course of radiation therapy 2. Establish an algorithm for risk stratification of post-radiation disorders of pulmonary ventilation and gas exchange in patients with breast cancer. 3. Analyze the prognostic significance of cardiopulmonary exercise testing in assessing the cardiotoxic effect of chemo- and radiation therapy in patients with breast cancer. 4. Analyze the influence of post-radiation disorders of pulmonary ventilation and gas exchange on the quality of life and psycho-emotional status of patients with breast cancer. 5. Develop a fundamental basis for the program of prevention and rehabilitation of post-radiation lung damage in patients with breast neoplasias based on the study of individual parameters of oxygen metabolism and reserve capabilities of cardiovascular and respiratory systems. All participants go through 5-week radiation therapy in standard protocol, will have investigation of their lung functioning by spirography and assessment of pulmonary diffusion capacity, cardiopulmonary stress tests and CT-scan on the lungs before radiotherapy course. Researchers will analyze such parameters as stage of the disease, surgery type, all patient's medications, complications, nutritional status, psychological status.

Nintedanib for the Prevention of Radiation Pneumonia in Unresectable NSCLC

This study is aimed at patients with unresectable NSCLC who take nintedanib during sequential radiotherapy to explore the incidence of radiation pneumonitis above grade 2 in the nintedanib combined with radiotherapy mode and observe safety. And will further explore the progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) of patients treated with nintedanib in combination with radiotherapy and immunotherapy. Primary objective: To evaluate the safety of nintedanib combined with sequential radiotherapy in patients with unresectable NSCLC and the incidence of radiation pneumonitis above grade 2. Secondary objective: To evaluate the changes in lung function, progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) in patients with unresectable NSCLC after nintedanib combined with sequential radiotherapy. Patients need to receive induction therapy, chemotherapy and/or immunotherapy for at least one cycle. Then they will receive sequential radiotherapy and nintedanib for 6 months. Finally, they will receive immunotherapy maintenance therapy for 16 cycles.

A Study on Predictive Models and Clinical Outcome of Radiation Pneumonitis

Radiation pneumonitis is the main dose-limiting toxicity of thoracic radiotherapy, which can affect life quality, survival, and the tumor-controlling effects of patients receiving thoracic radiotherapy. The purpose of this study is to: * Identify biomarkers including serum proteins, gene expression, genetic changes, and epigenetic modifications that determine radiation pneumonitis. * Investigate the relationship between radiation pneumonitis and other toxicities induced by radiotherapy. * Construct a predictive model for radiation pneumonitis. * Evaluate survival and treatment outcome of patients with radiation pneumonitis.