
“I think it’s really important that people keep signing up to these type of trials to push research forward.”
Please note - this trial is no longer recruiting patients. We hope to add results when they are available.
This study is looking at whether a technique that restricts blood to the upper arm for short periods can stop heart damage caused by some chemotherapy drugs.
Chemotherapy is a usual treatment for cancer. And anthracyclines are one of the common types of drug that you might have. These include drugs such as epirubicin and doxorubicin.
All drugs have side effects. One of the side effects of anthracycline drugs is damage to the heart. At the moment, there isn’t a treatment to stop heart damage caused by these drugs. So, researchers are looking for ways to protect the heart.
In this study, they are looking at a technique called remote ischaemic conditioning or RIC. It involves inflating and deflating a blood pressure cuff on your upper arm before having chemotherapy. This safely restricts the blood supply for a short time.
Early research in the laboratory shows that RIC helps protects the heart, lungs and kidneys during a heart attack or surgery. Anthracycline chemotherapy can damage the heart muscle in a similar way to a heart attack. So, researchers think RIC might help. But they aren’t sure so want to find out more.
Some people in the study will have the RIC technique. And some will have a dummy technique.
The aim of the study is to find out if RIC protects the heart from damage that anthracycline chemotherapy can cause.
You see a doctor before you join the study. They will discuss the study with you and you have some tests. These include:
You give some blood and urine samples before starting chemotherapy.
You see the study team when you finish chemotherapy for a check up at:
At each visit you might have blood tests, urine tests and a heart scan.
The researchers will contact you 5 years after you finish chemotherapy to see how you are getting on.
There is a very small possibility that having an MRI scan can make you feel uneasy if you have problems being in enclosed spaces.
Please note: In order to join a trial you will need to discuss it with your doctor, unless otherwise specified.
Dr J Malcolm Walker
Professor Derek Yellon
NIHR Biomedical Research Centres (BRCs) Award
University College London (UCL)
University College Hospital Special Charity Trustees (McLean/Greenbaum Legacy)
If you have questions about the trial please contact our cancer information nurses
Freephone 0808 800 4040
“I think it’s really important that people keep signing up to these type of trials to push research forward.”