RecruitingPhase 2

HEARTS Trial for Thoracic Cancers

United States60 participantsStarted 2025-10-08

Plain-language summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to compare a new way of using magnetic resonance-guided adaptive radiation therapy (MRgART) to the standard of care linear accelerator (LINAC) radiation treatment in people with cancer in the thoracic region near the heart. The main question it aims to answer is whether MRgART affects the heart differently than LINAC. Participants will: * Receive radiation therapy * Undergo MRIs and bloodwork * Complete quality of life questionnaires

Who can participate

Age range

18 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion Criteria: * Age \> 18 years at the time of consent. * Dosimetric eligibility criteria met using endpoints from QUANTEC (\>10% of heart receives \> 25 Gy) as determined through rapid auto-planning * Participants with histologically or cytologically proven AJCC, 8th edition including: * Stage IIB, IIIA, IIIB, IIIC, or IV non-operable non-small cell lung cancer * Limited stage small cell lung cancer, once daily treatment (excluding twice per day fractionation schemes). Stage I-III N0-2 disease esophageal/esophagogastric cancer * Stage II or III thymoma/thymic carcinoma * Other cancers in the thoracic region that meet the dosimetric and other clinical trial criteria, for example lymphoma sarcoma. * Participants must have a course of daily fractionated RT planned of at least 15 treatment fractions, typically ranging from 1.8 to 4 Gy/fraction Exclusion Criteria: * Definitive clinical or radiologic evidence of metastatic disease with life expectancy \<12 months * Prior thoracic radiotherapy significantly overlapping the heart region * Contraindications to MRI * Severe, active co-morbidity defined as follows: New York Heart Association Functional Classification III/IV are not eligible.

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Change in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF)

Timeframe: Pre-treatment, 3 months post-treatment, 6 months post-treatment

Trial details

NCT IDNCT07132918

SponsorUniversity of Wisconsin, Madison

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2029-03

Contact for this trial

Cancer Connect

800-622-8922 cancerconnect@uwcarbone.wisc.edu

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (Stage III) trials