Evaluation of Radiation Induced Toxicity to the Heart by Multi-detector Computed Tomography (MDCT)

Evaluation of Radiation Induced Cardiotoxicity by Multi-detector Computed Tomography (MDCT)

The current study is aimed to evaluate various imaging methods, including multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) as potential surrogates to assess the degree of damage caused to the heart by radiation therapy to the breast, in breast cancer survivors many years before it becomes clinically apparent.

Study Overview

• Status: Unknown
• Conditions: Breast Cancer
• Intervention / Treatment: Device: MDCT, ECG, Echocardiography

Detailed Description

Early detection and improved treatment approaches following breast cancer (BC) have increased disease specific survival and resulted in increasing cohorts of BC survivors who are prone to develop late complications from treatment, including damage caused by radiation therapy (RT) to the heart. Older RT techniques for treating the breast resulted in excess cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Improved RT techniques minimize irradiation to the heart. Data from various trials have yielded conflicting results on the extent to which these contemporary techniques have actually decreased cardiotoxicity. Long term follow-up and large cohorts are needed in order to evaluate the risk for cardiotoxicity, when based on its clinical manifestations. The current study is aimed to evaluate various imaging methods as potential surrogates to assess the degree of damage caused to the heart by RT in BC survivors many years before it becomes clinically apparent.This includes Multi-detector computed tomography (MDCT) - based on high resolution computed tomography of the heart following injection of contrast medium which evaluates the degree of stenosis of the coronary arteries.

One hundred patients treated for breast carcinoma, fifty with left breast and fifty with right breast cancer, will be included in the current study and compared for the incidence of cardiac damage. Since the radiation dose to the heart is substantially lower in patients irradiated for right-sided tumors, comparing the incidence of findings indicating cardiac injury in the two groups will define the contribution of RT to these findings. For each patient included in the study, the incidence of cardiovascular disease will be correlated also with the volume of heart irradiated, the radiation dose delivered to that volume, the concomitant administration of cardiotoxic systemic agents, as well as to patient's age when irradiated and risk factors for developing coronary artery disease.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Anticipated): 100

Contacts and Locations

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 60 years (Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: Female

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Patients with breast cancer followed in the oncology clinic.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Patients who were diagnosed with early breast cancer, histologically proven. Both invasive and non invasive histologies will be included.
2. The study will include patients, who underwent a definitive surgery - either breast conserving or mastectomy - and received radiation therapy to the breast or to the chest wall respectively +/- to lymphatic drainage.
3. No evidence of recurrence of their malignancy or any other malignant disease.
4. Age at diagnosis and radiation to the breast will not exceed 60 years.
5. Signed informed consent by the patient will be mandatory.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. As MDCT requires injection of contrast media, Patients with contra indications for injection of contrast media, due to either a history of allergic reaction or renal insufficiency, will be excluded of the study.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Number of groups / cohorts

2

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort	Intervention / Treatment
Left side breast cancer	Device: MDCT, ECG, Echocardiography; Multi-detector computed tomography to evaluate coronary artery patency; ECG and Echocardiography - to evaluate cardiac function.
Right side breast cancer	Device: MDCT, ECG, Echocardiography; Multi-detector computed tomography to evaluate coronary artery patency; ECG and Echocardiography - to evaluate cardiac function.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Time Frame
Degree of damage to the coronary arteries as measured by MDCT	5 to 15 years

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Western Galilee Hospital-Nahariya
• Collaborators: Rambam Health Care Campus
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Hadassah Goldberg, MD, Oncology center, Western Galilee Hospital

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: January 1, 2010
• Primary Completion (Anticipated): December 1, 2011

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: November 17, 2009
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: November 23, 2009
• First Posted (Estimate): November 25, 2009

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimate): November 25, 2009
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: November 23, 2009
• Last Verified: November 1, 2009

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Radiotherapy; breast cancer radiotherapy cardiotoxicity multidetector CT
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Chemically-Induced Disorders; Pathologic Processes; Heart Diseases; Cardiovascular Diseases; Wounds and Injuries; Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions; Radiation Injuries; Cardiotoxicity
• Other Study ID Numbers: cardiotoxicity66809