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

April 6, 2026 updated by: Oscar Gerardo Arrieta Rodríguez, Instituto Nacional de Cancerologia de Mexico

Prophylactic Inhaled Steroids to Reduce Radiation Pneumonitis Frequency and Severity in Non-small Cell 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.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

Clinical evaluation

The following BASELINE data shall be taken prior to radiation therapy:

Demographic, clinical, laboratory, and imaging data will be obtained from medical history and electronic records.

The patient will be instructed to perform the PFRs and tests of lung function.

Two EORTC, QLQ-C30, and QLQ LC13 quality of life questionnaires and three respiratory symptom questionnaires (St. George, dyspnea scale, and modified BORG) will be performed on the same day of lung function tests.

Additionally; blood samples will be taken for the evaluation of inflammatory mediators at the following times: BASAL (before RT), and every six weeks up to 48 weeks post-RT.

INTERVENTION GROUP

  1. Prior to the onset of RT, the patient will be sorted to receive the control rather than experimental intervention (QT/RT or IMT + QT/RT) and a logbook to record adherence to treatment.
  2. An IDM device shall be granted per month, containing the number of doses corresponding to 30 days. The record in the database of the day of the first session of RT will be taken to quantify the number of days of use of the drug and grant the next device per 30 days until the end of the study.
  3. The patient will be instructed on the use of the device inhaled with the spacer chamber in the clinic Pulmonology consultation, alarm data and indications of the use of the drug will be given in writing, and knowledge will be reinforced at each visit.
  4. The patient will be granted the drug use log where the patient will place the date and time of use of the drug to assess adherence to treatment

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
72

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Phase 2

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Contact Backup

Study Locations

  • Mexico
      • Mexico City, Mexico, 14080
      • Mexico City, Mexico, 14080
        • Active, not recruiting
        • Instituto Nacional De Enfermedades Respiratorias

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years to 75 years (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with unresectable locally advanced or metastatic disease (IIIA, IIIB or IV) of the classification tumor node, metastasis (TNM) of malignant lung tumors, 7th edition.
  • NSCLC patients candidates for concomitant treatment (chemotherapy plus radiotherapy or target therapy plus radiotherapy).
  • Evidence of measurable disease
  • Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status ≤ 2, Karnofsky 70-100.
  • Life expectancy of > 4 months at the time of screening
  • Patients with the ability to comply with the study and follow-up procedures.
  • Patients with previous surgery less than four weeks.
  • Must be willing and able to give signed informed consent and, in the opinion of the Investigator, to comply with the protocol tests and procedures.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Unstable systemic disease: active infection, heart, liver, kidney or metabolic disease; including uncontrolled chronic lung disease.
  • Patients treated with systemic or inhaled corticosteroids.
  • Patients of reproductive age without a family planning method, pregnant or lactating.
  • Previous diagnosis of Pneumonitis with toxicity grade ≥ 2 by CTCAE v4.0 or RTOG scale.
  • Patients with disease progression.
  • Inspiratory flow < 90 liters / min.
  • Discontinue of Treatment

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Prevention
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: QT/RT + Budesonide
Patients are receiving chemotherapy (QT) and radiotherapy (RT) plus inhaled Budesonide with space chamber at 400 mcg given twice daily initiating after the first dose of RT and continuing until pneumonitis development or 12 months completed.
Drug: Inhaled budesonide
Patients will use inhaled budesonide (Numark) with space chamber at 400 mcg given twice daily initiating after the first dose of RT and continuing until pneumonitis development or 12 months completed.
Other Names:
  • Numark
No Intervention: QT/RT + No medication
Patients are receiving chemotherapy (QT) and radiotherapy (RT) without intervention therapy and followed during 12 months.
Experimental: Target drug/RT + Budesonide
Patients are receiving target therapy and radiotherapy (RT) plus inhaled Budesonide with space chamber at 400 mcg given twice daily initiating after the first dose of RT and continuing until pneumonitis development or 12 months completed.
Drug: Inhaled budesonide
Patients will use inhaled budesonide (Numark) with space chamber at 400 mcg given twice daily initiating after the first dose of RT and continuing until pneumonitis development or 12 months completed.
Other Names:
  • Numark
No Intervention: Target drug/RT + No medication
Patients are receiving target treatment and radiotherapy (RT) without intervention therapy and followed during 12 months.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Pneumonitis graded by the Common terminology criteria for adverse event v4.0. (CTCAE v4.0).
Time Frame: from the beginning of radiotherapy up to 1 year after the 1st session.
Current score for radiation pneumonitis according to symptoms and radiographic changes. Grade 0: No changes, Grade 1: Asymptomatic or mild respiratory symptoms, Grade 2: Moderate respiratory symptoms of pneumonitis (a severe cough) and radiographic changes (radiographic patches), Grade 3: Severe respiratory symptoms of pneumonitis, dense radiographic changes. Grade 4: Symptoms of acute respiratory failure requiring assisted ventilation or continuous oxygen. Grade 5: Death directly related to late effects of radiotherapy.
from the beginning of radiotherapy up to 1 year after the 1st session.
Pneumonitis graded by the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group score (RTOG)
Time Frame: from the beginning of radiotherapy up to 1 year after the 1st session.
Current score for radiation pneumonitis according to symptoms and radiographic changes. Grade 0: No changes, Grade 1: Asymptomatic, only radiological or tomographic findings, Grade 2: Symptomatic, does not interfere with daily activities, Grade 3: Symptomatic, interferes with daily activities, requires supplemental oxygen. Grade 4: Threatens life, needing ventilator support. Grade 5: Severe pneumonitis with fatal outcome.
from the beginning of radiotherapy up to 1 year after the 1st session.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Lung cancer-associated symptoms assessment
Time Frame: before the start of Radiotherapy, and at 6, 12, 24 and 48-weeks post-treatment.

Symptoms are evaluated with the supplementary lung cancer-specific questionnaire of the European Organization for the Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (validated Mexican-Spanish version).

It comprises 13 questions related to the assessment of dyspnoea, pain, coughing, sore mouth, dysphagia, peripheral neuropathy, alopecia, and hemoptysis. The items scale ranges from 1 (Not at all) to 4 (Very much). The average of the items that contribute to the scale (raw score) is estimated and transformed so that scores range from 0 to 100. A higher scale score represents a higher level of symptoms.
before the start of Radiotherapy, and at 6, 12, 24 and 48-weeks post-treatment.
Treatment-related side effects in lung cancer
Time Frame: before the start of Radiotherapy, and at 6, 12, 24 and 48-weeks post-treatment.

Symptoms are evaluated with the supplementary lung cancer-specific questionnaire of the European Organization for the Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (validated Mexican-Spanish version).

It comprises 13 questions related to the assessment of dyspnoea, pain, coughing, sore mouth, dysphagia, peripheral neuropathy, alopecia, and hemoptysis. The items scale ranges from 1 (Not at all) to 4 (Very much). The average of the items that contribute to the scale (raw score) is estimated and transformed so that scores range from 0 to 100. A higher scale score represents a higher level of side-effects.
before the start of Radiotherapy, and at 6, 12, 24 and 48-weeks post-treatment.
Cognitive functioning evaluated by the European Organization for the Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire
Time Frame: before the start of Radiotherapy, and at 6, 12, 24 and 48-weeks post-treatment.

The cognitive functioning is evaluated using the validated Mexican-Spanish version of the European Organization for the Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaires.

It comprises two questions related to the assessment of short and long-term memory. The items scale ranges from 1 (Not at all) to 4 (Very much). The average of the items that contribute to the scale (raw score) is estimated and transformed so that scores range from 0 to 100. A higher scale score represents a healthy level of functioning.
before the start of Radiotherapy, and at 6, 12, 24 and 48-weeks post-treatment.
Emotional Functioning evaluated by the European Organization for the Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire
Time Frame: before the start Radiotherapy, and at 6, 12, 24 and 48-weeks post-treatment

The Emotional Functioning is evaluated using the validated Mexican-Spanish version of the European Organization for the Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaires.

It comprises four questions related to the assessment of depression, anxiety, irritability, and stress. The items scale ranges from 1 (Not at all) to 4 (Very much). The average of the items that contribute to the scale (raw score) is estimated and transformed so that the scores range from 0 to 100. A higher scale score represents a represents a healthy level of functioning.
before the start Radiotherapy, and at 6, 12, 24 and 48-weeks post-treatment
Physical functioning evaluated by the European Organization for the Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire
Time Frame: before the start Radiotherapy, and at 6, 12, 24 and 48-weeks post-treatment.

The Physical functioning is evaluated using the validated Mexican-Spanish version of the European Organization for the Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaires.

It comprises five questions related to self-sufficiency activities (eating, walking, laying in bed or completing simple chores). The items scale ranges from 1 (Not at all) to 4 (Very much). The average of the items that contribute to the scale (raw score) is estimated and transformed so that the scores range from 0 to 100. A higher scale score represents a represents a healthy level of functioning.
before the start Radiotherapy, and at 6, 12, 24 and 48-weeks post-treatment.
Role Functioning evaluated by the European Organization for the Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire
Time Frame: before the start Radiotherapy, and at 6, 12, 24 and 48-weeks post-treatment.

The Role functioning is evaluated using the validated Mexican-Spanish version of the European Organization for the Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaires.

It comprises two questions related to daily activities (work and hobbies limitation). The items scale ranges from 1 (Not at all) to 4 (Very much). The average of the items that contribute to the scale (raw score) is estimated and transformed so that the scores range from 0 to 100. A higher scale score represents a represents a healthy level of functioning.
before the start Radiotherapy, and at 6, 12, 24 and 48-weeks post-treatment.
Social Functioning evaluated by the European Organization for the Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire
Time Frame: before the start Radiotherapy, and at 6, 12, 24 and 48-weeks post-treatment.

The Social Functioning is evaluated using the validated Mexican-Spanish version of the European Organization for the Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaires.

It comprises two questions related to family life and social activities. The items scale ranges from 1 (Not at all) to 4 (Very much). The average of the items that contribute to the scale (raw score) is estimated and transformed so that the scores range from 0 to 100. A higher scale score represents a represents a healthy level of functioning.
before the start Radiotherapy, and at 6, 12, 24 and 48-weeks post-treatment.
Respiratory symptoms evaluation using St. George respiratory questionnaire
Time Frame: before the start Radiotherapy, and at 6, 12, 24 and 48-weeks post-treatment.
Respiratory symptoms are evaluated using the St. George respiratory questionnaire validated to Mexican-Spanish version. It is a disease-specific instrument designed to measure the impact on overall health, daily life, and perceived well-being in patients with airways disease. Scores range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating more limitations.
before the start Radiotherapy, and at 6, 12, 24 and 48-weeks post-treatment.
Dyspnea assessment by the Borg Scale Dyspnea Index (BSDI)
Time Frame: before the start Radiotherapy, and at 6, 12, 24 and 48-weeks post-treatment.
A system used to document the severity of the patient's shortness of breath using numbers anchored with verbal descriptions. This scale asks the patient to rate the dyspnea. It starts at number 0 where the breathing is causing no difficulty at all and progresses through to number 10 where the breathing difficulty is maximal.
before the start Radiotherapy, and at 6, 12, 24 and 48-weeks post-treatment.
Pulmonary function evaluation using spirometry test
Time Frame: before the start of Radiotherapy, and at 6, 12, 24 and 48-weeks post-treatment
Spirometry measures the inhaled and exhaled air volume as a function of time using a forced expiratory maneuver.
before the start of Radiotherapy, and at 6, 12, 24 and 48-weeks post-treatment
Pulmonary function evaluation using diffusion lung capacity of carbon monoxide measurement (DLCO).
Time Frame: before the start of Radiotherapy and at 6, 12, 24 and 48-weeks post-treatment.
Diffusion lung capacity of carbon monoxide (DLCO) test measures the conductance of gas transfer from inspired gas to the red blood cells.
before the start of Radiotherapy and at 6, 12, 24 and 48-weeks post-treatment.
Airway inflammatory response evaluation using the fraction of exhaled nitric oxide measurement (FeNO)
Time Frame: before the start of Radiotherapy, and at 6, 12, 24 and 48-weeks post-treatment.
Nitric oxide concentration detected in the exhaled gas by chemiluminescence reported as particles per million.
before the start of Radiotherapy, and at 6, 12, 24 and 48-weeks post-treatment.
Pulmonary function evaluation using Impulse oscillometry test (IOS)
Time Frame: before the start of Radiotherapy, and at 6, 12, 24 and 48-weeks post-treatment.
Impulse oscillometry provides a rapid, noninvasive measure of airway impedance during normal tidal breathing.
before the start of Radiotherapy, and at 6, 12, 24 and 48-weeks post-treatment.

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Instituto Nacional de Cancerologia de Mexico

Collaborators

Collaborators

An organization other than the sponsor that provides support for a clinical study. This support may include activities related to funding, design, implementation, data analysis, or reporting.
Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Respiratorias

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Oscar Arrieta, MD MSc, Instituto Nacional de Cancerologia, Mexico

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
September 1, 2018

Primary Completion (Estimated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
December 1, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
December 1, 2027

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
January 3, 2019

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
January 11, 2019

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
January 15, 2019

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
April 8, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
April 6, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
April 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • CI/910/17

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

YES

IPD Plan Description

The data of the participants will be reported in the publication results.

IPD Sharing Time Frame

october 2021

IPD Sharing Access Criteria

the information will be available after being published in an indexed journal, any information or data related to this study must be requested via e-mail with the researchers.

IPD Sharing Supporting Information Type

  • STUDY_PROTOCOL
  • SAP
  • CSR

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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