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NCT Number: NCT07685938

Pharmacologic Therapies to Mitigate Radiation- Associated Heart Disease

Radiation therapy is an essential treatment for tumors in the chest area, including breast, lung, esophageal, mediastinal cancers, and spine metastases. Although technical advances have reduced treatment-related illness and death, radiation exposure to the heart can still cause substantial rates of radiation-induced heart disease (RIHD) among survivors.

For example, about 21% of non-small cell lung cancer patients receiving a mean heart dose of 20 Gy or higher experience major adverse cardiac events (MACE) within 2 years. In breast cancer patients, the risk of MACE increases by about 7% for each additional Gy of mean heart dose.

There is currently no established medication strategy to prevent or reduce RIHD.

Preclinical and clinical studies show that statins and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors may help reduce radiation-induced heart disease (RIHD). Statins and ACE inhibitors are generally well tolerated, available as generic drugs, and commonly used to help prevent cardiovascular disease. They may protect the heart by reducing damage to blood vessel lining (endothelial damage), microvascular dysfunction, atherosclerosis, reduced blood flow (ischemia), and fibrosis (scarring).

This study is a prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled phase II hybrid decentralized trial. Patients receiving standard radiation therapy and expected to receive an equivalent dose of at least 25 Gy (EQD2) to at least 10% of the heart will be randomly assigned to receive either:

* placebo, or * Atorvastatin 20 mg plus Lisinopril 5 mg daily. The medications will be taken during radiation therapy and continued for 6 months after treatment.

The study aims to determine whether the intervention can reduce radiation-related decreases in blood flow to the heart, measured using myocardial perfusion imaging, such as positron emission tomography (PET), which is commonly used to evaluate the risk of coronary heart disease.

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Key information

Conditions

Chest Wall Tumor Breast Cancer Breast Diseases Breast Neoplasms Cardiovascular Diseases Central Nervous System Diseases Central Nervous System Neoplasms Digestive System Diseases Digestive System Neoplasms Esophageal Cancer Esophageal Diseases Esophageal Neoplasms Gastrointestinal Diseases Gastrointestinal Neoplasms Head and Neck Neoplasms Lung Cancer Lung Diseases Lung Neoplasms Mediastinal Cancers Mediastinal Diseases Mediastinal Neoplasms Neoplasms Neoplasms by Site Nervous System Diseases Nervous System Neoplasms Respiratory Tract Diseases Respiratory Tract Neoplasms Skin Diseases Skin and Connective Tissue Diseases Spinal Cord Diseases Spinal Cord Neoplasms Spinal Tumor Spine Metastases Thoracic Cancer Thoracic Diseases Thoracic Neoplasms

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Phase 2

Primary location

Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center at University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 27599, United States

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Written informed consent obtained to participate in the study and HIPAA
  • authorization for release of personal health information.
  • Subjects is willing and able to comply with study procedures based on the
  • judgement of the investigator.
  • Consent for serial blood draws and consent for use of biological specimens.
  • Age ≥ 18 years at the time of consent

Exclusion criteria

  • Pregnant or breastfeeding (NOTE: breast milk cannot be stored for future use while the mother is being treated on study).
  • Pre-existing use of a statin or ACE-inhibitor
  • Pre-existing hypotension

Treatment and study plan

Atorvastatin and Lisinopril

Drug

Patients will receive statins and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors.

Placebo

Drug

Patients will receive placebo.

Primary outcomes

  1. Percent difference in the radiation (RT)-induced reduction of myocardial perfusion

    Time frame: Pre radiation therapy and 6-month post radiation therapy

    Percent difference in the radiation (RT)-induced reduction of myocardial perfusion in cardiac regions receiving ≥25Gy equivalent dose in 2Gy fractions (EQD2) based on comparison of before and after RT among participants receiving placebo and statins and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors intervention.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Percent Change in Radiation-Induced Myocardial Perfusion Reduction by Cardiac Dose: Placebo vs Statin and ACE Inhibitor Therapy

    Time frame: Pre radiation therapy and 6-month post radiation therapy

    Percent difference in radiation therapy (RT)-induced reduction of myocardial perfusion in cardiac regions receiving different radiation doses (10-20 Gy and 20-25 Gy equivalent dose in 2 Gy fractions, EQD2), based on comparison of pre-RT and 6-month post-RT myocardial perfusion imaging scans between participants receiving placebo versus statins and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors intervention.

  2. Change in for cardiac biomarker panel

    Time frame: Pre radiation therapy and 3 months and 6-month post radiation therapy

    Change in for cardiac biomarker panel including high- sensitivity troponin, Creatine Kinase myocardial band (CK-MB) or N-terminal pro-B-type Natriuretic Peptide( NT-proBNP).

  3. Correlation between cardiac stress and perfusion biomarkers and radiation dose

    Time frame: Pre radiation therapy and 3 months and 6-month post radiation therapy

    Correlations between absolute values and changes in cardiac stress/perfusion biomarkers and radiation dose at the individual pixel level will be compared between the placebo and intervention groups. Cardiac perfusion imaging provides quantitative assessment of regional myocardial perfusion, and the absolute difference in RT-induced perfusion reduction between study arms will be evaluated using pre- and post-RT measurements. Changes in cardiac biomarkers, including high- sensitivity troponin, Creatine Kinase myocardial band (CK-MB) or N-terminal pro-B-type Natriuretic Peptide( NT-proBNP). will also be assessed.

  4. Rates of major adverse cardiac events

    Time frame: At follow-up of 1, 2, and 3 years.

    Rates of major adverse cardiac events (unstable angina, heart failure hospitalization or urgent visit, myocardial infarction, coronary revascularization, and cardiac death) will be compared between trial groups at long-term

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Claire Kowalczyk

CONTACT

[email protected]

984-974-0000

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center

Other

Registry information

Important dates

Study start
2026
Primary completion
2029
Study completion
2029
First posted
Jul 6, 2026
Registry last updated
Jul 6, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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