The Impact of Using Nicorandil for the Prevention of Doxorubicin-Induced Cardiotoxicity (NICBREASTRCT)

November 1, 2026 updated by: Noha Salah Ahmed Abdelaziz, Universiti Sains Malaysia

The Impact of Using Nicorandil for the Prevention of Doxorubicin-Induced Cardiotoxicity, Including Quality of Life and Cost Analysis Among Breast Cancer Patients at Breast Cancer Hospital: A Randomized Controlled Trial in Egypt

Breast cancer is one of the world's most common cancers in females. Most of the chemotherapy protocols used to treat breast cancer involve doxorubicin. Doxorubicin has a very significant antitumor effect on breast tumors. One of the obstacles that hinders the use of doxorubicin is cardiotoxicity. Although many agents are used to address this issue, only dexrazoxane is FDA-approved. One suggested pathway for doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity is due to calcium imbalance. Calcium ions are very important in controlling the heart's function. Nicorandil is an anti-anginal agent that shows cardioprotective effects against doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity in preclinical trials. Not only that, but preclinical studies on rats and mice have also shown that it has antitumor and augmenting effects on doxorubicin's anticancer properties. Here in our trial, the impact of the nicorandil will be assessed on breast cancer patients. The chosen method will be a parallel, open-label, randomized clinical trial. The selected sampling method will be stratified blocks based on radiotherapy and HFA-ICOS baseline scores. The sample size will be 146 patients, who will be randomized using a premuted block. The primary parameter will be the ejection fraction. The secondary parameters will include cardiac troponins, creatine kinase myocardial band, safety assessment of nicorandil use on the gastrointestinal and cardiovascular systems, quality of life after nicorandil use, cost-effectiveness and cost-utility of nicorandil, and the quality of life and baseline cardiac scoring system.

Study Overview

Status

Not yet recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

There are different modalities for the treatment of breast cancer, including surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, endocrine therapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy. Chemotherapy is important to decrease the tumor size of the breast, making breast conservation possible.

Doxorubicin (DOX) is an anticancer agent used in chemotherapy to treat hematological and solid cancers. In breast cancer, DOX is used in many protocols. One of the well-known chemotherapeutic protocols is AC-T (adriamycin, cyclophosphamide, and paclitaxel). The mechanism of DOX cytotoxicity is due to free radical formation, which is associated with DOX cardiotoxic adverse events. DOX-induced cardiomyopathy leads to fibrosis of myocardial cells that causes cardiovascular disorders. DOX-cardiotoxicity is considered irreversible (type I) cardiotoxicity. Echocardiography remains the gold standard for assessing cardiac function primarily by evaluating the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). Besides, echocardiography could assess the global longitudinal strain (GLS), a measure of the left ventricle's longitudinal shortening, which is more sensitive for detecting early myocardial dysfunction that cannot be assessed by LVEF alone. Changes in GLS can indicate subclinical cardiac impairment, which is considered an early warning sign of doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity.

Biomarkers of cardiotoxicity are a non-invasive method for early detection in patients undergoing doxorubicin therapy. These biomarkers enable clinicians to initiate preventive treatment regimens earlier, as they indicate long-term LVEF deterioration. Studies have shown that the risk of DOX cardiotoxicity increases at a cumulative dose of 400 mg/m² without other risk factors. DOX-induced cardiotoxicity may lead to increased morbidity and mortality.

As a consequence, for most of the patients with DOX-induced cardiotoxicity, their quality of life will be affected. One of the methods used for quality of life assessment is the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC) Core 30 (QLQ-C30), and another one for breast cancer patients (BR-42). A study has shown the deterioration in the psychological and physical state of breast cancer patients on chemotherapy treatment.

Many antioxidant supplements are used to treat DOX-induced cardiotoxicity. Dexrazoxane is the only FDA-approved cardioprotective agent for DOX cardiotoxicity. Although other supplements like omega-3, vitamin E, and levocarnitine have shown significant effects in preclinical studies, only a few have been investigated in clinical practice. Yet, few studies have targeted the Ca²⁺ imbalance caused by DOX administration.

Nicorandil (NIC), a nicotinamide ester with a nitrate group, is used in several medical conditions in Japan and Europe. Nicorandil's (NIC) cardioprotective effect was caused by selective activation of the mitochondrial ATP-sensitive K+ channel (mitoKATP) and nitric oxide (NO) donor activity. These will lead to cardiac muscle relaxation and decrease reactive oxygen species and cell death. They also maintain calcium homeostasis and prevent high intracellular calcium levels, which can cause cellular malfunction and apoptosis.

Available studies show promising results for NIC in patients with heart failure. Preclinical studies suggested that NIC may also have a protective effect against DOX-induced cardiotoxicity by avoiding mitochondrial dysfunction without affecting the antitumor activity of DOX. Further clinical studies are needed to confirm the protective effect of NIC against DOX-induced cardiotoxicity.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

146

Phase

  • 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 Locations

  • Egypt
    • Cairo Governorate
      • Cairo, Cairo Governorate, Egypt

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

18 years to 65 years (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

Female

Description

Inclusion criteria

  • 18 years - 65 years
  • Female patients with stage (I, II, III) breast cancer.
  • Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≥ 55% upon breast cancer diagnosis.
  • Systolic blood pressure ≥ 90 mmHg
  • Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR ≥ 60 mL/min per 1.73 m²). Exclusion criteria
  • Pregnant and lactating mothers.
  • Metastatic breast cancer. (stage IV).
  • Patients are currently using beta-blockers and phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitors.
  • Patients who require chronic use of aspirin or chronic use of corticosteroids (≥3 months).
  • Patients who are diagnosed with heart failure, myocardial infarction, stable angina, cardiogenic shock, hypovolemia, or previous coronary revascularization.
  • Previously treated with anthracyclines.
  • Previous gastrointestinal bleeding, ulcer, or perforation.
  • Severe hepatic impairment (ALT, AST ≥ 5 upper limit normal), or diagnosed with clinical evidence of hepatic ascites, encephalopathy, variceal bleeding, decompensated cirrhosis, and acute hepatitis.

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
Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: STANDARD CARE

DOX protocol AC regimen (doxorubicin 60 mg/m2 intravenous every 21 days, cyclophosphamide 600 mg/m2 intravenous every 21 days for 4 cycles).
Drug: Adriamycin (Doxorubicin)

AC regimen (doxorubicin 60 mg/m2 intravenous every 21 days, cyclophosphamide 600 mg/m2 intravenous every 21 days for 4 cycles).

Other Names:
  • DOX
  • AC-T PROTCOL
Experimental: Treatment

NIC ( 5-10 mg per day ) + DOX protcol
Drug: Adriamycin (Doxorubicin)

AC regimen (doxorubicin 60 mg/m2 intravenous every 21 days, cyclophosphamide 600 mg/m2 intravenous every 21 days for 4 cycles).

Other Names:
  • DOX
  • AC-T PROTCOL
Drug: Nicorandil Oral Tablet

drug

Other Names:
  • NIC

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
To evaluate the effect of nicorandil on left ventricular ejection fraction in breast cancer patients receiving doxorubicin.
Time Frame: before the treatment initiation, at the 3rd and the 6th months of the treatment initiation

Elevation or maintenance of Ejection fraction percentage (EF %) using echocardiogram
before the treatment initiation, at the 3rd and the 6th months of the treatment initiation
To evaluate the safety of nicorandil
Time Frame: before the treatment initiation, at the 3rd and the 6th months of the treatment initiation

possible hypotension (mmhg)
before the treatment initiation, at the 3rd and the 6th months of the treatment initiation

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
To assess patients' quality of life
Time Frame: From enrollment, at the 3rd and the 6th months of the treatment

using the modified EORTC QLQ-BR42, where 100 is the best quality and 0 is the worst.
From enrollment, at the 3rd and the 6th months of the treatment
To determine the effect of nicorandil on global longitudinal strain in breast cancer patients receiving doxorubicin.
Time Frame: From enrollment and at the 3rd and the 6th months of treatment

by using echogradiogram in %
From enrollment and at the 3rd and the 6th months of treatment
To evaluate the cost-utility of nicorandil as a cardioprotective agent against doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity.
Time Frame: at the treatment initiation, the 3rd and the 6th months of the treament

using the QALY unit
at the treatment initiation, the 3rd and the 6th months of the treament
To assess the effect of nicorandil on cardiac biomarkers
Time Frame: at the treatment initiation, at the 3rd and 6th months of the treament

by assessing, including cardiac troponin ng/ml
at the treatment initiation, at the 3rd and 6th months of the treament

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

Universiti Sains Malaysia

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Noha S Abdelaziz, PhD, Universiti Sains Malaysia
  • Principal Investigator: Sabariah N H, Ass.Prof, Universiti Sains Malaysia
  • Principal Investigator: Ayman A G, Prof, National Cancer Institute (NCI)
  • Principal Investigator: Nur H Md, lecturer, Universiti Sains Malaysia

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 (Estimated)

December 1, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

June 1, 2027

Study Completion (Estimated)

September 1, 2027

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

October 3, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

October 22, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

October 27, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

November 3, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

November 1, 2026

Last Verified

November 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • NIC in DOX Cardiotoxicity

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.

Subscribe