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NCT Number: NCT04193722

The Effect of Hyperbaric OxygeN Therapy on brEast Cancer Patients With Late Radiation toxicitY - UMBRELLA HONEY Trial

The "Hyperbaric OxygeN therapy on brEast cancer patients with late radiation toxicity" (HONEY) trial aims to evaluate the effectiveness of HBOT on late radiation toxicity in breast cancer patients using the trial within cohorts (TwiCs) design.

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Key information

Conditions

Breast Cancer Breast Diseases Breast Neoplasms Neoplasms Neoplasms by Site Radiation Injuries Radiation Toxicity Skin Diseases Skin and Connective Tissue Diseases Wounds and Injuries

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

Female

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Phase 3

Primary location

University Medical Center Utrecht

Utrecht, 3508GA, Netherlands

About this study

Objective: The aim of this study is to assess whether HBOT reduces pain, and improves physical functioning and QoL in breast cancer patients with late radiation toxicity.

Study design: Randomized controlled trial, nested within the prospective UMBRELLA breast cancer cohort according to the TWiC's design. UMBRELLA is a prospective cohort study including all breast cancer patients visiting the University Medical Center (UMC) Utrecht department of Radiotherapy. In total 120 patients will be randomized in a ratio of 2:1.

Study population: Breast cancer patients participating in the UMBRELLA cohort who have given informed consent to be invited for future research (e.g. cmRCT's), and who have reported symptoms of late radiation toxicity.

Intervention: Eligible patients will be referred to the HBO center for a standard HBO treatment. HBOT consists of 30-40 treatment sessions (1 session per day during 5 days per week). During the hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) sessions patients breath in 100% oxygen during 4 times 20 minutes in a hyperbaric chamber.

Main study parameters/endpoints: The primary endpoint of this study is patient reported breast/chest wall pain. Secondary endpoints are: physical functioning, QoL cosmetic outcome, physician reported pain and radiation toxicity (according to CTCAE criteria version 4.03, tissue oxygenation previous to HBOT and after HBOT and side-effects of HBOT.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

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

Inclusion criteria

  • Self reported pain grade 3-4 (on a scale of 1-4) as assessed by the late radiation toxicity questionnaire;
  • Participation >12 months in the UMBRELLA cohort;
  • Previous treatment with radiotherapy for breast cancer;
  • Completed surgery and (neo)adjuvant systemic therapy except adjuvant endocrine therapy, for breast cancer.

Exclusion criteria

  • Poor responder to questionnaires (i.e. return of ≤ 2 UMBRELLA questionnaires);
  • Previous HBOT;
  • Contra-indications for HBOT (e.g. (severe) chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or asthma, pacemaker, morbid obesity, epilepsy in medical history, severe heart failure);
  • Current metastatic disease or recurrent breast cancer.

Additional exclusions criteria based on screening visit:

  • Inability to follow schedule of all consecutive HBO treatments (e.g. due to scheduled holidays > 2 days);
  • Not meeting criteria for HBOT (e.g. due to complaints similar to late radiation toxicity, not caused by radiotherapy).

Treatment and study plan

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy

Drug

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy in a multiperson hyperbaric oxygen chamber. Standard hyperbaric oxygen therapy provided as reimbursed by insurers.

Other names: Oxygen

Primary outcomes

  1. Change in breast/chest wall pain: EORTC QLQ-BR23 questionnaire

    Time frame: Baseline and 6 months after baseline (i.e. 3 months after HBOT)

    The primary endpoint of this study is the difference in proportion of patient-reported breast/chest wall pain grade 3-4 between control and intervention group. Pain is assessed by means of the EORTC QLQ-BR23 questionnaire on a 4-point Likert scale. At baseline all patients have a pain score of 3 or 4 (see inclusion criteria). The proportion of patients with 3-4 at 6 months will be compared between intervention and control group. A higher score indicates more pain.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Change in patient-reported quality of life: (EORTC QLQ) C30

    Time frame: Baseline and 6 months after baseline (i.e. 3 months after HBOT)

    Quality of life (QoL) measured by European Organisation of Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ) C30. QoL will be scored on a scale of 0-100. A higher score indicates a better outcome. Change in score between baseline and 6 months will be compared between intervention and control group.

  2. Change in patient-reported late radiation toxicity

    Time frame: Baseline and 6 months after baseline (i.e. 3 months after HBOT)

    Late radiation toxicity is assessed by means of a late radiation toxicity questionnaire (ability to move the arm, (breast) edema, fibrosis) in both control group and intervention group. Change in patient reported late radiation toxicity will be compared between intervention and control group. Late radiation toxicity will be assessed on a 4-point Likert scale. A higher score indicates worse outcomes.

  3. Physician-reported late radiation toxicity

    Time frame: Baseline (prior to HBOT), 3 months after baseline (i.e. after HBOT) and 6 months after baseline (i.e. 3 months after the last HBO session)

    Assessed by Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) version 4.03 only in intervention group. CTCAE criteria are assessed on a scale of 0-3.

  4. Patient-reported cosmetic outcome

    Time frame: Baseline and 6 months after baseline (i.e. 3 months after HBOT)

    Assessed by means of the breast cancer questionnaire (BREAST-Q) in both control group and intervention group. BREAST-Q scores will be assessed using the BREAST-Q scoring tables.

  5. Physician-reported cosmetic outcome

    Time frame: Baseline and 6 months after baseline (i.e. 3 months after HBOT)

    Reported by means of medical photograph (cosmetic outcome judged by group of experts and "Breast Cancer Conservative Treatment - cosmetic results" (BCCT.core) program) and with physical examination using the Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale (POSAS) score v2.0. Physician reported cosmetic outcome will only be assessed in the intervention group.

  6. Number of participants with side effects of treatment with hyperbaric oxygen therapy

    Time frame: During hyperbaric oxygen treatment sessions and at 3 months after last HBO session

    Side effects of HBOT will be monitored using the MacFie classification only in the intervention group.

  7. Oxygenation of the skin

    Time frame: Baseline and prior to last hyperbaric oxygen session (i.e. 3 months after baseline).

    Skin oxygenation will be measured prior to HBOT and after last treatment session using transcutaneous oxygen measurement. The contralateral breast will be used as a reference. Only assessed in the intervention group.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

UMC Utrecht

Other

Registry information

Official study title

The Effect of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy on Breast Cancer Patients With Late Radiation Toxicity

Acronym: HONEY

Important dates

Study start
2019
Primary completion
2023
Study completion
2023
First posted
Dec 10, 2019
Registry last updated
Apr 3, 2025

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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