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Not Yet Recruiting

NCT Number: NCT07134426

Vaped Phenanthrene

Some people who used to smoke cigarettes continue to be at higher risk of developing lung cancer, even years after quitting. This study will look to see if a specific chemical, phenanthrene, is broken down in the lungs of former smokers through more harmful pathways than never-smokers. If former smokers break down chemicals that enter their lungs through more harmful pathways this might be putting them at higher risk for developing lung cancer even though they quit smoking. This information may help find better ways to prevent or treat cancer in the future.

This study is under an IND, but the drug is not being studied; instead, it is being used as a marker for drug metabolism.

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Key information

Conditions

Former Smoker Behavior Health Behavior Non-Smoker Smoking Smoking Cessation Vaping

Age range

21 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

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

Inclusion criteria

  • > 21 years of age
  • In good physical & mental health
  • In stable physical & mental health
  • Have tried vaping
  • Former daily cigarette smokers who quit 1-20 year ago
  • Non-smokers who have not used tobacco or nicotine products

Exclusion criteria

  • Has any respiratory disease (ex - asthma, COPD, etc...)
  • Has/had high blood pressure
  • Has/had liver disease
  • Has/had cancer
  • Has experience negative effects when vaped previously
  • Pregnant or nursing

Treatment and study plan

D10-phenanthrene

Other

All study participants (Former Daily Smokers and Non-smokers) will be asked to vape D10-phenanthrene to see how their lungs breakdown a class of cancer-causing chemicals known as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons [PAHs].

Primary outcomes

  1. Urinary Ratio of D10PheT/D9PhOH

    Time frame: 24 hours after vaping phenanthrene

    The ratio of D10-phenanthrene tetraol to D9-phenanthrene phenols in the urine will determine how the lung breaks down a class of cancer-causing chemicals called Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs). The higher this ratio the more the lungs break down these chemicals through harmful pathways, which might increase cancer risk. The lower the ratio the more the lung breaks down the chemicals through safer pathways.

  2. TNE

    Time frame: Baseline measure

    Total nicotine equivalents will be measured in the urine samples to confirm that study participants are not using tobacco or nicotine products.

Study contacts

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

Aleksandra Alcheva

CONTACT

[email protected]

612-422-8902

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Minnesota

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Investigating Vaped Phenanthrene Biomarkers in Former Smokers

Important dates

Study start
2026
Primary completion
2027
Study completion
2028
First posted
Aug 21, 2025
Registry last updated
Jul 8, 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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