Carotid Artery Disease in Childhood Cancer Survivors

July 27, 2012 updated by: M.D. Anderson Cancer Center

Carotid Artery Disease in Long-Term Survivors of Childhood Cancer

The goal of this clinical research study is to find out if long-term survivors of childhood head or neck cancer, who received radiation therapy as part of the overall treatment plan, are at increased risk of thickening or blockage of the carotid arteries (the major blood vessels in the neck).

Researchers also want to find out if other medical conditions, such as high blood sugar, high blood cholesterol, or history of tobacco use may contribute to the thickening or blockage of the carotid arteries.

Study Overview

Status

Terminated

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Some research shows that survivors of adult head or neck cancer, who received radiation therapy, are at increased risk for thickening or blockage of the carotid arteries, which may increase the risk for other medical conditions, such as stroke. Researchers want to learn about the possible risks of thickening or blockage of the carotid arteries in survivors of childhood head or neck cancer.

If you agree to take part in this study, researchers will see if there are any possible effects (thickening or blockage) of radiation therapy on your carotid arteries. This will be done by examining the test results from routine testing (mentioned below) that is normally done for your standard long-term follow-up care of the disease. These routine tests would be performed even if you were not in this research study.

During your long-term follow-up clinic appointment, you will have a physical exam and an ultrasound test (performed at the Cardiology Clinic) of the carotid arteries. A carotid ultrasound is a test that uses sound waves to look at the blood vessels in the neck. Blood will be drawn (about 2-3 teaspoons) for laboratory tests, including blood sugar level, blood cholesterol level, blood triglyceride level, thyroid hormone level, and blood levels of certain proteins (C-reactive protein and brain natriuretic peptide).

If any of the tests show any thickening or blockage of the carotid arteries or other medical problems, such as high blood sugar, your study doctor will discuss the test results, treatment options, and/or a follow-up plan with you.

This is an investigational study. Up to 60 patients will take part in this study. All will be enrolled at M. D. Anderson.

Study Type

Observational

Enrollment (Actual)

3

Contacts and Locations

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

Study Locations

    • Texas
      • Houston, Texas, United States, 77030
        • UT MD Anderson Cancer Center

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

Ages Eligible for Study

No older than 21 years (Child, Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Sampling Method

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Long-term survivors of pediatric cancers who received radiation therapy to the neck as part of their treatment at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  1. Subjects must have been less than 21 years of age at time of initial diagnosis.
  2. Patients treated at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center for any malignancy (including primary CNS tumors) that required unilateral radiation therapy to the head and neck area and involving the ipsilateral carotid artery as part of the overall treatment plan.
  3. Patients must be at least 5 years status post completion of therapy.
  4. Must be English speaking, or able to consent through an approved medical language translator.
  5. A written informed consent from the patient and/or the patient's legally authorized guardian must be obtained from all patients.

Exclusion Criteria:

  1. Leukemia patients receiving craniospinal irradiation
  2. Non-English speaking subjects for which no appropriate medical translator is available
  3. Patients who received head/neck radiation involving both carotid arteries will not be eligible.

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

  • Observational Models: Cohort
  • Time Perspectives: Prospective

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
Intervention / Treatment
Carotid Ultrasound
Carotid Ultrasound: Irradiated and non-irradiated sides of the neck in long-term survivors of pediatric cancers who received unilateral radiation therapy involving the carotid artery as part of their treatment
Bilateral carotid ultrasound measurements: A test that uses sound waves to look at the blood vessels in the neck.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Time Frame
Patients with Carotid intima-media thickening (IMT)
Time Frame: Carotid ultrasound testing and laboratory examinations performed at time of routinely scheduled yearly appointment.
Carotid ultrasound testing and laboratory examinations performed at time of routinely scheduled yearly appointment.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Time Frame
Patients with Carotid artery stenosis (CAS)
Time Frame: Carotid ultrasound testing and laboratory examinations performed at time of routinely scheduled yearly appointment.
Carotid ultrasound testing and laboratory examinations performed at time of routinely scheduled yearly appointment.

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Winston Huh, MD, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center

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.

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

December 1, 2007

Primary Completion (Actual)

August 1, 2010

Study Completion (Actual)

August 1, 2010

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

December 28, 2007

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

December 28, 2007

First Posted (Estimate)

January 11, 2008

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimate)

July 31, 2012

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

July 27, 2012

Last Verified

July 1, 2012

More Information

Terms related to this study

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.

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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