Lung Cancer

Smoking negatively affects many organs and gradually worsens health, especially lung function. It causes mild airway obstruction and slows lung growth, impacting breathing and overall quality of life. This study evaluates balloon-blowing exercises combined with abdominal and lumbar core muscle activation positions to see if they can improve lung function and quality of life in smokers. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups: one will perform balloon-blowing exercises with abdominal and lumbar core muscle activation three times a week for four weeks, supervised by a physical therapist. The other group will perform diaphragmatic breathing exercises with the same frequency and duration. Both interventions last four weeks, with measurements taken before and after. Participants will undergo evaluations of lung function including forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), peak expiratory flow (PEF), dyspnea levels, oxygen saturation, and quality of life assessments. These measures will be collected at the start and end of the four-week period to monitor changes and effects of the exercises on respiratory health.

Researchers are evaluating the safety of a radiation therapy method called image-guided stereotactic ablative radiation therapy (IG-SABR) for patients with high-risk centrally located non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) tumors or a single pulmonary oligometastatic lesion. This phase II, non-randomized study focuses on patients whose disease cannot be treated with surgery and aims to assess side effects by monitoring the number and severity of treatment-related toxicities. Patients must meet specific criteria related to tumor and normal tissue radiation doses to be eligible. Treatment involves delivering radiation in 8 sessions (fractions), each with a dose of 7.5 Gy, using IG-SABR techniques that carefully target the tumor while respecting dose limits for surrounding normal tissues. The planning allows a minimum dose coverage between 75% and 95% of the planning target volume (PTV) and 75% to 99% of the gross tumor volume (GTV). Respiratory monitoring will be used during treatment, which employs photon beams of 6-10 MV energy. Optional translational sub-studies involve biomarker discovery and protein analysis and are available only at participating centers. Participants will be assessed weekly during treatment and at multiple time points after treatment, including 2, 4, 8 weeks, and then at 3, 6, 9, 12, 18, 24 months, followed by annual visits up to 5 years. These evaluations include toxicity monitoring and survival assessments. The main outcome measured is the rate of severe treatment-related toxicity within one year after treatment. The study aims to include 60 evaluable patients and will stop enrolling if excessive severe side effects occur. The study period includes up to 5 years of follow-up for long-term safety and effectiveness outcomes.

This research aims to understand how patients with cancer respond to COVID-19 vaccination by studying the levels of protective antibodies over time. The focus is on individuals with solid organ malignancies receiving various anti-cancer treatments such as chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy, as well as those who have been disease-free for at least six months. Since cancer patients were excluded from initial vaccine trials, this study seeks to fill knowledge gaps about vaccine safety and effectiveness in this group. Participants include cancer patients who are either undergoing active treatment or are disease-free for six months or more. They are grouped based on their treatment type: chemotherapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy, or disease-free status. The study involves monitoring antibody trends related to COVID-19 infection and vaccination at multiple time points over a 12-month period. During the study, researchers will collect blood samples to measure neutralizing and spike antibody levels every three months for up to one year. Participants will be followed to track their immune response depending on their cancer treatment and biological aging status. The study will also assess how antibody levels change over time and correlate with different treatments and patient characteristics. Safety and consent are carefully monitored throughout the trial.

Researchers are studying the long-term effects of reducing household air pollution (HAP) from biomass fuel use on heart, lung, and immune health among women and children in semi-rural Bangladesh. The study evaluates whether a mobile phone-based behavioral change communication (mHealth BCC) intervention can increase the adoption and exclusive use of cleaner cooking fuel, Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG). This research also investigates how lowering pollution exposure might influence immune responses to vaccines and subclinical cardiovascular and pulmonary changes. The study is a large household-level randomized controlled trial comparing two groups: one receiving the mHealth BCC intervention encouraging exclusive LPG use and a control group receiving no such intervention. Researchers will monitor personal and area levels of air pollutants like PM2.5 and black carbon before and after intervention, alongside detailed assessments including spirometry, chest X-rays, high-resolution CT scans, blood pressure, EKG, metabolic markers such as HbA1c and lipid profiles, and immune cell function. The intervention messages are delivered via mobile phone with frequency tailored to participant responses. Participants will be followed over two years with repeated measurements to assess pollutant exposure and health effects. Evaluations include lung function tests, imaging, cardiovascular markers, metabolic blood tests, and immune function assays. The study aims to provide insights into the health benefits of sustained LPG use and improved air quality. Total participation spans pre-intervention assessments through two years of follow-up, with ongoing monitoring of pollution exposure and health outcomes.

Researchers are evaluating new imaging techniques in adults aged 18 to 85 with lung diseases such as asthma, emphysema, COPD, bronchiectasis, sarcoidosis, pulmonary fibrosis, alpha 1-anti-trypsin deficiency, and lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM). The study aims to develop tools for analyzing lung function and structure using hyperpolarized Xenon 129 MRI alongside pulmonary function tests. This research is supported by Western University, Canada. Participants will undergo a series of tests during a one to two-hour visit, including medical history review, vital signs measurement, full pulmonary function testing following American Thoracic Society guidelines, proton MRI, specialized 129-Xe MRI scans using chest coils, and a low-dose thoracic CT scan. The MRI procedure includes monitoring heart rate and oxygen levels, providing hearing protection, and offering supplemental oxygen as needed. These imaging and testing methods help assess lung ventilation, diffusion, and gas exchange. During the study visit, participants will complete pulmonary function tests such as spirometry, plethysmography, and diffusing capacity tests. They will undergo magnetic resonance imaging with hyperpolarized Xenon gas to visualize lung airways and anatomy, along with CT scans matched to MRI breathing maneuvers. Researchers will measure ventilation defect percent (VDP), apparent diffusion coefficients (ADC), and dissolved phase spectroscopy over five years. Participant safety is monitored throughout the visit, and the total study duration includes these assessments and follow-up measures.

Researchers are evaluating 177Lu-RAD204, a radiolabeled antibody targeting PD-L1, in a Phase 0/1 study involving participants with advanced solid tumors that express PD-L1. The study aims to assess the safety, tolerability, biodistribution, radiation dosimetry, and preliminary anti-tumor effects of this treatment. The main goal is to find the maximum tolerated dose and recommended doses for future studies in participants with cancers such as NSCLC, SCLC, triple-negative breast cancer, melanoma, head and neck cancer, endometrial cancer, and others with specific genetic markers. The study includes a pre-screening period for PD-L1 testing if needed, followed by a screening period lasting up to four weeks. Participants undergo a Phase 0 Imaging Period where a low dose of 177Lu-RAD204 is given to assess imaging quality, safety, and dosimetry over two weeks. This may be followed by a Phase 1 Treatment Period with escalating doses of 177Lu-RAD204 administered in cycles lasting six weeks each. Participants may receive multiple treatment cycles based on clinical benefit and safety evaluations. Dose-limiting toxicity is monitored for six weeks after the first treatment dose, and dosing intervals may be adjusted as agreed by the study team. During the study, participants will have imaging scans, safety evaluations, and laboratory tests to track the distribution and effects of 177Lu-RAD204. Researchers will measure pharmacokinetics, radiation dosimetry, and tumor responses up to 30 weeks. Safety and tolerability are closely monitored throughout. Participants must meet specific health and tumor criteria to join and will be observed for any adverse reactions. The total duration of participation varies depending on treatment response and tolerability.

Researchers are evaluating the safety and effectiveness of a new molecular probe called 18F-FAPI-YQ104, which targets fibroblast activation protein (FAP), for early tumor diagnosis. This observational study focuses on patients with lung cancer, pancreatic cancer, neuroendocrine tumors, and thyroid cancer. The goal is to verify how well this probe works in detecting tumors during clinical use. Participants will receive an intravenous injection of the 18F-FAPI-YQ104 probe followed by a PET-CT examination to capture detailed images of tumor lesions. The study will observe the probe's uptake in tumor sites, measured by SUVmax values 60 minutes after administration. No additional treatment is given; instead, the study monitors the imaging results to assess the probe's diagnostic potential. During the study, participants will undergo PET-CT scans and other imaging tests such as CT or MRI. Researchers will evaluate the images to measure tumor activity and probe uptake. Safety assessments include checking kidney and liver function, blood counts, and monitoring for allergic reactions. The study will last from April 2025 to March 2026 and includes adults aged 18 to 75 years who have confirmed tumors and meet health criteria.

Researchers are evaluating the potential usefulness of 18F-FAPI-04 positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) and positron emission tomography/magnetic resonance imaging (PET/MR) for diagnosing primary and metastatic cancer lesions, detecting recurrence, and assessing pathological response across various cancer types. The study is observational and aims to assess how well these imaging methods perform compared to standard diagnosis using histopathology and follow-up. Participants with different types of cancer undergo imaging with 18F-FAPI-04 PET/CT and PET/MR scans. The tracer 18F-FAPI-04 is injected into patients before the scans. Tumor uptake is measured by maximum standard uptake value (SUVmax) and tumor to background ratio (TBR). The imaging results are compared using sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and accuracy to evaluate diagnostic performance. During the study, participants are assessed through these imaging procedures to monitor tumor presence, recurrence, or response to treatment. The primary outcome is the diagnostic performance evaluated over one year. The study includes participants aged 18 to 90 years and involves informed consent and ethical approval. The total duration and follow-up details are based on imaging and clinical evaluations to confirm findings.

Researchers are evaluating a new PET imaging tracer called [18F]FAPI-74 to detect cancer by targeting the fibroblast-activation protein (FAP) found in cancer-associated fibroblasts. This study aims to compare [18F]FAPI-74 PET scans to the standard [18F]-FDG PET scans and other imaging methods like CT or MRI across several cancers including pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, cholangiocarcinoma, hepatocellular carcinoma, gastric, bladder, ovarian cancers, pheochromocytoma/paraganglioma, small cell lung cancer, neuroendocrine cancer, mesothelioma, and sarcoma. The study is a phase 2 interventional trial conducted by the National Cancer Institute (NCI). Participants will receive an intravenous dose of [18F]FAPI-74 before undergoing PET/CT imaging about one hour later. They will also have a baseline FDG PET scan within one week. If tumors are detected by [18F]FAPI-74, additional scans using this tracer and FDG may be repeated during routine treatment and if cancer progresses within two years. Those with negative baseline [18F]FAPI-74 scans will not have repeated scans but remain in follow-up. The study involves a single arm where participants undergo both types of PET imaging. During the study, participants will have scans at baseline and potentially at subsequent treatment or progression points. Safety monitoring includes observation for reactions to the tracer up to three days after injection. Researchers will measure the mean number of lesions, standardized uptake values at baseline, post-treatment, and recurrence. Follow-up calls will continue for two years to assess progression-free survival and overall survival. The total participation duration includes imaging visits and two years of follow-up monitoring.

Researchers are evaluating the diagnostic value of a new protein-specific probe called 18F-T2 in PET/CT imaging for people with solid tumors that are likely to express high levels of CAIX protein. The study will also assess how safe and tolerable the 18F-T2 injection is, as well as measure its radiation dosage. This research is important to better understand how well 18F-T2 can detect these tumors compared to standard imaging techniques. Participants with tumors suspected to express high levels of CAIX will receive an intravenous injection of 18F-T2. About an hour after the injection, PET/CT imaging will be performed to capture detailed images of the tumors. Within one week, participants will also undergo a whole-body PET/CT scan using 18F-FDG, a commonly used imaging agent, to allow comparison between the two imaging methods. During the study, participants will be monitored for any adverse events within 24 hours after the 18F-T2 injection to evaluate safety and tolerability. Researchers will measure the diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of 18F-T2 PET/CT for detecting CAIX-positive tumors. They will also assess uptake values in tumors on both 18F-T2 and 18F-FDG scans, analyze the correlation between 18F-T2 uptake and CAIX expression in tissue samples, and evaluate radiation dosimetry. The study will continue until one month after completion for outcome assessments.