A study looking at adding an increased dose of radiation to CHART radiotherapy to treat non small cell lung cancer (CHART ED)

You can enter this trial if you

• Have stage 3 non small cell lung cancer
• Are well enough to take part (performance status 0 or 1)
• Have been told that your cancer cannot be treated with surgery or you are able to have surgery but have chosen not to
• Have satisfactory lung function tests
• Are willing to use reliable contraception if there is any chance that you or your partner could become pregnant
• Are at least 18 years old

You cannot enter this study if you

• Have already had radiotherapy to your chest (thoracic radiotherapy)
• Have had a section (lobe) of your lung removed (‘lobectomy’)
• Have had a whole lung removed (‘pneumonectomy’)
• Have had chemotherapy that treats the whole body (‘systemic chemotherapy’)
• Have had any other cancer that your doctor believes may affect the study treatment or results
• Have had a disorder that may cause scarring of your lung tissue (interstitial lung disease)
• Have had a disease affecting your spinal cord
• Have a disease that affects the supporting tissues of the body (connective tissue), for example lupus or scleroderma
• Have another medical condition, for example diabetes, heart disease or a serious infection that is uncontrolled
• Are pregnant or breastfeeding

This study will recruit up to 36 people.

If you are due to have radiotherapy to treat your lung cancer, you first come to hospital to have your radiotherapy planning session. If the session shows that you are suitable to have CHART radiotherapy, you will sign a consent form for this. If you agree to take part in this study, you then sign a separate consent form.

Everyone taking part will have CHART radiotherapy. You have CHART 3 times a day for 12 days in a row, including the weekend.

After this, you will be put into one of 3 groups for the extra study treatment

• Group 1 will have 2 extra radiotherapy treatments on day 15 (Monday)
• Group 2 will have 4 extra radiotherapy treatments on days 15
  and 16
• Group 3 will have 6 extra radiotherapy treatments on days 15,
  16 and 17

You will also have blood tests regularly throughout your treatment.

You will continue to see the study team regularly after you finish the study treatment, for up to 5 years. You will also see your usual cancer doctor in the same way as before the study.

Before you join the study you will see the doctor and have some tests. These tests include

• Chest X-ray
• CT scan and PET scan, or a PET-CT scan of your chest and upper tummy area (abdomen)
• Lung function tests
• Blood tests
• Heart trace (ECG)
• Pregnancy test (if appropriate)

You will see the study doctor every week during your radiotherapy. After you finish treatment, the study team will follow your progress for 5 years. You will see them

• Every week for a month
• Once a month for the next 5 months
• Every 3 months for the next year and a half
• Twice in the following year
• Then once a year for the next 2 years

During the first 2 years you will also have

• 6 chest X-rays
• 2 CT scans of your chest
• 3 lung function tests
• 2 heart traces (ECGs)

You may have extra tests during this time if your doctor thinks you need them.

Researchers think the side effects of the CHART radiotherapy in this study may include

• Soreness when swallowing
• Tiredness (fatigue)
• Skin reaction
• Chest discomfort
• Cough
• Breathlessness – if you are breathless the treatment may make this a little worse, but this should settle down once treatment has finished
• Lung scarring (fibrosis) which can cause breathlessness many months after your treatment
• Damage to the spinal cord – this is very rare

You will have more chest X-rays if you take part in this study than if you were having the standard radiotherapy treatment. But the study team do not think that you would notice any extra problems with your health as a result of this.

You can find out more about the general side effects of lung cancer radiotherapy on CancerHelp UK.