Cardiopulmonary Toxicity of Thoracic Radiotherapy in Lung and Oesophageal Cancer Patients

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are investigating the potential cardiopulmonary side effects of thoracic radiotherapy in patients with oesophageal cancer and non-small cell lung cancer. The study aims to determine if pulmonary hypertension (PH), particularly the pulmonary arterial hypertension subtype, is a clinically relevant radiation-induced side effect affecting survival and quality of life. This observational study seeks to clarify how radiation dose to the heart and lungs may contribute to treatment-related mortality, which is currently underrecognized. The study will assess changes in heart and lung function over time using diagnostic methods such as echocardiography, cardiac MRI, and blood biomarkers. Patients scheduled for curative external-beam radiotherapy will be monitored to track the incidence and progression of PH and other cardiovascular changes in relation to radiation dose. The research will also explore risk factors and the clinical impact of PH by correlating findings with patient-reported outcomes and survival. Participants will undergo regular assessments including imaging scans, blood tests, and quality of life questionnaires over at least one year. Researchers will measure the number of patients at high and intermediate risk for pulmonary hypertension, changes in cardiac biomarkers, and the incidence of other late cardiopulmonary toxicities. This comprehensive monitoring will help identify radiation-induced cardiovascular damage and inform future prevention and treatment strategies. The study is sponsored by University Medical Center Groningen and started in 2018 with an expected completion in 2027.

Cardiopulmonary Toxicity of Thoracic Radiotherapy