Low Dose Lung Radiotherapy to Treat COVID-19 Pneumonia

Subjects will be identified following admission to hospital who test positive for COVID-19 infection. They will then be informed and consented, and eligibility confirmed and registered to study. Following this the first, sentinel patient, will be treated with 0.5Gy dose radiotherapy to cover the lungs, with heterogeneity correction. A further 0.5Gy dose can be repeated within 96 hours. There shall then be a 7 day gap prior to recruiting patient 2. The remaining patients will be recruited, treated and observed in cohorts of 3.

The patients shall then be followed up at 48 hours post Radiotherapy, 7 days post radiotherapy and 29 days post radiotherapy. With assessment of Physiological parameters, survival status, laboratory testing and imaging performed on follow up at 7 and 29 days.

Inclusion criteria

• Age ≥ 50 years.
• Patients have symptoms of COVID-19 infection as per WHO guidelines (e.g. cough, fever, dyspnea, etc.) for under 5 days from hospital admission.
• Patients are hospitalized and meet the criteria for WHO level 5 COVID pneumonia. In addition:
• SpO2 <94% on Room Air;
• Respiratory rate >20 Breaths per minute on Room Air.
• Laboratory confirmed COVID-19 infection based on PCR.
• Patients need ward-based oxygen between 28 to 40%.
• Patients able to provide witnessed verbal informed consent.
• Patient is free of other severe medical conditions that would preclude radiotherapy treatment (e.g. severe recent CVA).

Exclusion criteria

• Pregnant or lactating women.
• Presence of secondary infection with procalcitonin assessment at baseline.
• Patient is generating aerosols e.g. use of CPAP device.
• Hereditary syndromes known to have increase sensitivity to Radiotherapy including, but not limited to, ataxia-telangiectasia, and Njemgen Breakage Syndrome.
• History of prior thoracic radiotherapy.
• Inability to undergo radiotherapy for any reason as determined by the treating medical team.
• Alternative diagnosis for lung compromise unrelated to COVID-19 / deemed more likely than COVID-19 related lung compromise.
• Inability to consent directly.
• If patient has participated in any other COVID-19 therapy study within the last month (4 weeks).
• Pre-existing generalized pulmonary fibrosis.
• Known prior systemic use of the following drugs within the last 6 months: Bleomycin, Carmustine, Methotrexate, Busulfan, Cyclophosphamide, or Amiodarone.
• History of lung lobectomy or pneumonectomy.
• Known history of pulmonary sarcoidosis, Wegener's Granulomatosis, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, or other autoimmune disease affecting lungs.
• Symptomatic congestive heart failure within the past 6 months including during hospitalization.
• History of recent or current malignancy receiving any cytotoxic chemotherapy or immunotherapy within the past 6 months.
• Bone marrow transplantation.
• Latent tuberculosis.
• Any solid organ transplant (renal, cardiac, liver, lung) requiring immunosuppressive therapy.
• Septic shock and organ dysfunction.
• Severe ARDS P/F ratio ≤100mmHg.