An interventional study of Nitroglycerin in Non-small Cell Lung Cancer, Brain Metastases and EGFR Gene Mutation, sponsored by Instituto Nacional de Cancerologia de Mexico. Recruiting at 1 site in Mexico. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 85 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-04-09.
Sponsored by Instituto Nacional de Cancerologia de Mexico · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment
The goal of this interventional phase III clinical trial is to evaluate objective intracranial response rate (iORR) after a treatment with total cranial radiation therapy plus concomitant transdermal nitroglycerin (NTG) addition or total cranial radiation therapy only in patients with stage IV non-small cell lung cancer with brain metastases and EGFR mutation. The main questions it aims to answer are:
Determine progression-free survival (PFS) to CNS and overall survival (OS). Evaluate and compare the quality of life (QoL) of patients during and after treatment.
Evaluate the cognitive function of patients before, during and after treatment. Evaluate treatment-associated toxicity to grade adverse treatment events Evaluation of HIF1α, VEGF and ROS1 in peripheral blood before and after nitroglycerin treatment.
All participants will have laboratory tests at the beginning and end of radiation therapy. Cranial MRI will be performed prior to treatment and 12 weeks after the end of treatment, then every 16 weeks until intracranial progression. Patients in the interventional group will be given 36 mg patches of transdermal nitroglycerin for 24 hours with a 12-hour rest interval during treatment with radiation therapy. The control group will only receive total cranial radiation therapy at the same doses and with the same schedule.
The prognosis of patients with central nervous system (CNS) metastases is poor. About 50% of patients with CPCNP and EGFR mutation have tumor activity in the central nervous system during the first 2 years of diagnosis.
Treatment with total cranial radiation therapy (CRT) has shown to have a benefit in local response and patient survival. However, resistance factors such as intratumoral hypoxia decrease the response by CRT.
Thus, the use of nitric oxide generators, such as nitroglycerin, has been shown to avoid radio resistance. A previous study conducted at our Institute showed that the addition of transdermal nitroglycerin (NTG) CRT increases intracranial response evaluated by objective radiological response in patients with NSCLC and the subgroup in which a greater benefit was seen was in patients with mutations in the EGFR gene.
In this study we propose that the addition of transdermal nitroglycerin to patients with brain metastases and mutations in the EGFR gene receiving CRT will have an increase in intracranial objective response.
Exclusion Criteria:
Disposal Criteria:
Patients will be given patches of nitroglycerin during treatment with radiation therapy (30 Gy in 10 fractions, i.e. 10 days of treatment).
Combination Product: Nitroglycerin
Patients will be given a conventional treatment with radiation therapy (30 Gy in 10 fractions, i.e. 10 days of treatment).
Patients in the intervention group will receive four 8mg-patches (36 mg final dose) of transdermal nitroglycerin with 10 mg release in 24 hours, for 24 hours with 12-hour rest intervals (to avoid receptor saturation) during treatment with radiation therapy (30 Gy in 10 fractions, or 10 days of treatment).
Also known as: Minitran® Patch
iORR
Objective intracranial response rate (iORR) in patients with lung cancer and brain metastases treated with total cranial radiation therapy plus concomitant transdermal nitroglycerin addition versus patients treated with total cranial radiation therapy only.
Time frame: From date after radiation treatment until the first documented progression date, or last evaluable assessment in the absence of progression, or death from any cause, whichever comes first, to 12 weeks of follow up.
iPFS
Intracranial progression-free survival (iPFS) in patients with lung cancer and brain metastases treated with total cranial radiation therapy plus concomitant transdermal nitroglycerin addition versus patients treated with total cranial radiation therapy only.
Time frame: From date of treatment initiation until date of disease progression or worsening until 12 weeks, and every 16 weeks of follow up until progression.
OS
Overall survival (OS) in patients with lung cancer and brain metastases treated with total cranial radiation therapy plus concomitant transdermal nitroglycerin addition versus patients treated with total cranial radiation therapy only.
Time frame: Duration of patient survival from the date of treatment initiation until until 12 weeks, and every 16 weeks of follow up
QoL
Quality of Life (QoL) measured by EORTC QLQ C30/LC13 in patients with lung cancer and brain metastases treated with total cranial radiation therapy plus concomitant transdermal nitroglycerin addition versus patients treated with total cranial radiation therapy only. The EORTC QLQ-C30 questionnaire consists of 30 questions with five functional scores (physical, role, cognitive, emotional and social); a global health status score three symptom scale score (fatigue, pain, nausea and vomiting); and six independent one-it. All scale and single-item scores can be linearly transformed to a score ranged from 0 to 100. A higher score of global health and functional subscriptions indicates better functioning.
Time frame: A day before, within, and a day after the date of treatment initiation until date of disease progression or worsening or 12 weeks, and every 16 weeks of follow up.
Cognitive function
Evaluate the cognitive function of patients with lung cancer and brain metastases treated with nitroglycerin vs radiation therapy alone before, during and after treatment using the Neuropsi Attention and Memory (NAM) instrument. NEUROPSI evaluates attention, memory, and learning functioning in Spanish speakers. Subtests are organized into summary scores that yield a General Attention and Memory Index Score, an Attention Index, Memory Index, and each of the subtests. Subtests evaluate Orientation, Attention and Concentration, Working Memory, Immediate Verbal Memory, Delayed Verbal Memory, Immediate Visual Memory, Delayed Verbal Memory, and Executive Functions. The Neuropsi Attention and Memory includes theoretical updates and new test scores indexes. It includes an adjustment of the norms of Total Attention and Executive Functions and Total Attention and Memory according to the modification of the tasks of digit detection and Stroop test.
Time frame: A day before, within, and a day after the date of treatment initiation until date of disease progression or worsening or 12 weeks, and every 16 weeks of follow up.
Treatment-related Toxicity
Treatment-related toxicity in patients with lung cancer and brain metastases treated with total cranial radiation therapy plus concomitant transdermal nitroglycerin addition versus patients treated with total cranial radiation therapy only using NCI Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE), version 5.0 to grading adverse events (AE). A grading (severity) scale is provided for each AE term. The CTCAE displays Grades 1 through 5: Grade 1 Mild; asymptomatic or mild symptoms; clinical or diagnostic observations only; intervention not indicated. Grade 2 Moderate; minimal, local or noninvasive intervention indicated; limiting age appropriate instrumental ADL\*. Grade 3 Severe or medically significant but not immediately life-threatening; hospitalization or prolongation of hospitalization indicated; disabling; limiting self care ADL\*\*. Grade 4 Life-threatening consequences; urgent intervention indicated. Grade 5 Death related to AE.
Time frame: Thee date of day 1, 7 and 10 of therapy and the date of 12 weeks after treatment.
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Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung→
Instituto Nacional de Cancerologia de Mexico