Functional Lung Avoidance SPECT-guided Radiation Therapy of Lung Cancer

Last updated: February 22, 2026
Sponsor: University of Aarhus
Overall Status: Active - Recruiting

Phase

N/A

Condition

Lung Cancer

Pneumonia

Lung Injury

Treatment

Single-photon-emission CT scan

Clinical Study ID

NCT04676828
KFE-1930
  • Ages > 18
  • All Genders

Study Summary

Study aims to determine if functional lung avoidance based on perfusion single photon emission (SPECT)/CT scan, improves toxicity outcomes for patients with advanced lung cancer undergoing chemo-radiotherapy. Functional avoidance implies a dose plan that takes functional distribution in the lung into account, and avoids highly functional lung volumes sparing them from radiation.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion

Inclusion Criteria:

  • histologically verified lung cancer (small-cell and non-small cell lung cancer)

  • referred for radiotherapy with curative intent

  • radiation dose of 60-66 Gy given in 2-Gy fractions, other dose levels andfractionation schedules accepted, as per site standard

  • concurrent chemotherapy is accepted

  • patients with oligometastatic disease are allowed, where metastasis have beenablated with surgery or radiotherapy

  • receiving (chemo)-radiotherapy to the thoracic disease with curative intent

  • adults over 18, that have given oral and written informed consent before patientregistration.

Exclusion

Exclusion Criteria:

  • concurrent immunotherapy

  • previous radiotherapy to the thorax

  • other uncontrolled malignancies; any psychological, familial, sociological orgeographical condition potentially hampering compliance with the study protocol

Study Design

Total Participants: 90
Treatment Group(s): 1
Primary Treatment: Single-photon-emission CT scan
Phase:
Study Start date:
December 01, 2021
Estimated Completion Date:
December 01, 2028

Study Description

In this project, a novel method of safe radiotherapy delivery shall be tested for patients with lung cancer in a clinical setting. Functional avoidance radiotherapy is a new method that protect highly functional lung tissue from radiation, while delivering high dose radiotherapy to the lung tumour. Radiotherapy is usually based on a CT scan that does not account for functional variations in the lungs. Therefore, I hypothesize that using functional distribution in the lungs and avoiding irradiation of highly functional lung will improve treatment outcome for individual patients with lung cancer.

The objective of my project is to determine if functional image guided radiotherapy (functional avoidance radiotherapy) improves toxicity outcomes for patients with lung cancer undergoing curative chemo-radiotherapy in a prospective clinical trial.

To reach this objective, the impact of functional avoidance radiotherapy on pulmonary toxicity measured by the incidence and severity of radiation-induced lung disease shall be assessed. Additionally, loco-regional control, time to progression, overall survival, quality of life and radiation-induced molecular response in patients treated with functional avoidance radiotherapy shall be assessed and compared to patients receiving standard treatment.

Connect with a study center

  • Sydney West Radiation Oncology Network Westmead and Blacktown Hospitals

    Sydney, New South Wales 2145
    Australia

    Site Not Available

  • Sydney West Radiation Oncology Network Westmead and Blacktown Hospitals

    Sydney 2147714, New South Wales 2155400 2145
    Australia

    Active - Recruiting

  • Department of Oncology, Aarhus University Hospital

    Aarhus, DK-8000
    Denmark

    Site Not Available

  • Department of Oncology, Aarhus University Hospital

    Aarhus 2624652, DK-8000
    Denmark

    Active - Recruiting

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