NCT06597045

BIOMARKER and IMAGING CHARACTERISATION of INFLAMMATORY ATHEROMA in PATIENTS RECEIVING IMMUNOTHERAPY and ANGIOGENESIS INHIBITORS

• Status: Active Not Recruiting
• Phase: —
• Study type: Observational
• Enrollment: 60 (estimated)
• Sponsor: NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

The advent of immunotherapy (immune checkpoint inhibitors \[ICI\]) has been an extremely important advancement for cancer treatment in recent decades. The anti-cancer effects of these agents is profound and can lead to radiological \'disappearance\' of the primary cancer and metastatic deposits. ICI are now commonly used in the treatment of multiple cancers including melanoma, kidney cancer, liver cancer and lung cancer. ICI can be used on their own or in combination with other agents such as vascular endothelial growth factor inhibitors (VEGFi) which is first line treatment for many patients. However, it has become clear that these drugs have cardiovascular side effects including high blood pressure and a reduction in the heart muscle pumping function. It is also increasingly recognised that ICIs may have a toxic effect on blood vessels resulting in an increased risk of heart attack or stroke. These side effects can have a significant impact on patients\' health and can lead to withdrawal of important cancer treatment. The mechanisms by which these side effects occur are unclear and have not been well described to date. The aim of this study is to examine the effect of ICI and VEGFi, both alone and in combination, on blood vessels and to understand their effects on blood markers and heart function. This study is observational and will not require any modification of cancer therapy. This study will aim to recruit patients diagnosed with cancer who are already planned to receive ICI or VEGFi alone or in combination at the Beatson West of Scotland Oncology Centre. Patients will undergo a vascular PET-CT scan before and 6 months after starting treatment. In addition patients will undergo echocardiography and tests of the function of the small blood vessels in the fingertips with a special machine (EndoPat). Blood and urine samples will also be collected.

Conditions

• Cancer
• Cardiotoxicity
• Atherosclerotic Disease

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
DIAGNOSTIC_TEST	PET/CT with 18-FDG	Study specific tests will include 18F-FDG PET/CT (specialised CT scan), electrocardiography (ECG), clinic blood pressure assessment, blood tests, urine sample, echocardiography (heart ultrasound) and tests on the fingertips (EndoPAT). Positron emission tomography with computerised tomography (PET-CT) is a scanning technique in routine clinical use. It is the gold standard method for assessing blood vessel inflammation. A small amount of radioactive sugar (18F-FDG \[18F- fluorodeoxyglucose\]) is administered intravenously 90 minutes prior to the PET-CT scan. The distribution of uptake of this tracer is seen on the subsequent PET-CT scan. The CT component of this scan allows the PET image to be precisely aligned with anatomical structures (especially large blood vessels).

Timeline

• Start date: 2022-08-30
• Primary completion: 2024-10-14
• Completion: 2024-11-20
• First posted: 2024-09-19
• Last updated: 2024-09-19

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United Kingdom