An interventional study of Continuous Positive Airway Pressure and Deep inspiratory breath hold in Lung Cancer and Left Sided Breast Cancer, sponsored by Case Comprehensive Cancer Center. Completed at 1 site in United States. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-02-02.
Sponsored by Case Comprehensive Cancer Center · Not applicable, Interventional, and Supportive care
Data collection and assessment on patients with left-sided breast cancer or undergoing lung stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) utilizing continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) devices.
Lung stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) has emerged as a definitive treatment for patients with early-stage lung cancers as well as for patients with limited metastases to the lung. One challenge with the treatment of the lung is the risk of pulmonary toxicity, particularly for early-stage lungs cancers that are inoperable (those receiving primary lung SBRT) or those with metastatic cancers receiving systemic therapy that may impact pulmonary function (those receiving lung SBRT for metastatic cancers).
Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) devices are commonly utilized for patients with obstructive sleep apnea. However, through the use of continuous pressure, lung volumes are increased. Preliminary data in patients undergoing breast radiation as well as lung radiation has demonstrated the safety and feasibility of such an approach, demonstrating increased lung volumes with decreases in heart dose6-8. Additional potential advantages of CPAP include increased ease of use for patients and the potential for cost savings as compared to traditional respiratory management techniques.
This prospective study is to allow for the collection and assessment of data on patients with left-sided breast cancer or undergoing lung SBRT utilizing CPAP. This will allow for the assessment of lung doses with and without CPAP as well as cardiac doses. No additional changes to our standard of care breast or lung radiation will occur. With respect to the safety profile, CPAP is commonly used with limited toxicity concerns. The potential benefit of CPAP has reduced lung and heart doses and, consequently, radiation-related toxicities.
Patients with left-sided breast cancers
Patients undergoing lung SBRT
Exclusion Criteria:
Participants will come in for their regularly scheduled radiation planning and treatment. Participants will undergo three scans (with and without DIBH (i.e., free-breathing), with CPAP). Participants will also use the CPAP device before the CT scan, for which they will be educated and trained.
Device: Continuous Positive Airway Pressure · Other: Deep inspiratory breath hold · Other: Free Breath
Participants will come in for their regularly scheduled radiation planning and treatment. Participants will undergo three scans (with and without DIBH (i.e., free-breathing), with CPAP). Participants will also use the CPAP device before the CT scan, for which they will be educated and trained.
Device: Continuous Positive Airway Pressure · Other: Deep inspiratory breath hold · Other: Free Breath
Use of CPAP device at the start of treatment planning.
Also known as: CPAP
Treatment during breath holds leads to longer treatment times for patients and radiation oncology departments
Also known as: DIBH
Regular breathing
Also known as: Without DIBH
Dosimetry comparison CPAP and free breathing.
The primary objective will be to assess changes in lung dosimetry V5 on the affected side when using CPAP compared to free breathing will be measured in percentages.
Time frame: At the time of Scan, " Day 1"
Dosimetry comparison CPAP and free breathing.
The primary objective will be to assess changes in lung dosimetry V20 on the affected side when using CPAP compared to free-breathing will be measured in percentages.
Time frame: At the time of Scan, " Day 1"
Dosimetry comparison CPAP and free breathing.
The primary objective will be to assess changes in lung dosimetry mean lung on the affected side when using CPAP compared to free-breathing will be measured in Grays.
Time frame: At the time of Scan, " Day 1"
Total Lung dosimetry
Total Lung dosimetry will be measured in Grays.
Time frame: At the time of Scan, " Day 1"
Cardiac dosimetry with CPAP as compared to free breathing
Cardiac dosimetry with CPAP as compared to free-breathing will be measured in Grays.
Time frame: At the time of Scan, " Day 1"
Measure breast/chest wall or lung tumor motion as well as organ at risk motion
Simulation scans will be performed with CPAP and free breathing. The breast/chest wall, and tumors (lung SBRT), as well as lung and heart, will be contoured on each scan. Using the CPAP scan as a reference, we will assess breast/chest wall motion, lung tumor motion, and organ at risk (ex. heart, abdominal organs) motion with free-breathing scans for each patient and analyze by treatment site (breast vs. lung SBRT).
Time frame: At the time of Scan, " Day 1"
Treatment time with CPAP treatments
Treatment time will be measured for each fraction
Time frame: At the time of Scan, " Day 1"
Confirm maintenance of inflation with CPAP using surface guidance
At the time of simulation, investigators will create a surface rendering with the patient using CPAP. Investigators will assess maintenance of inflation when using CPAP where all three dimensions will be measured during treatment by comparing the surface rendering obtained during simulation with CPAP to the surface during treatment with CPAP, assessing for the greatest changes over the course of each fraction.
Time frame: At the time of Scan, " Day 1"
This study is completed, as verified in Jan 2026. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
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Case Comprehensive Cancer Center