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HEARTS Trial for Thoracic Cancers

This study, called the HEARTS Trial, is looking at two different ways to give radiation therapy to people with cancers in the chest area, such as non-small cell lung cancer, esophageal cancer, and thymoma. It compares Magnetic Resonance-guided Adaptive Radiation Therapy (MRgART) with standard LINAC (linear accelerator) radiation treatment. MRgART uses MRI scans daily to make a new treatment plan and guide the radiation in real-time. The main goal is to see if MRgART affects your heart differently than LINAC, specifically by measuring changes in your heart's pumping ability (left ventricular ejection fraction, or LVEF) over time. You might be able to join if you are over 18 and have certain types of thoracic cancer where a significant part of your heart would receive radiation. The study plans to enroll 60 participants, but its current status is unclear.

Study design
This is an interventional study comparing two radiation therapies. It plans to enroll 60 participants.
What's involved
Participants will receive radiation therapy, undergo MRIs and bloodwork, and complete quality of life questionnaires.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
Your heart's pumping ability will be measured before treatment, and then 3 and 6 months after treatment.

AI-generated from the public study record. Only the study team can confirm whether you're eligible — confirm details with them before making decisions.

NCT07132918

HEARTS Trial for Thoracic Cancers

Recruiting
PHASE2Ages 18+InterventionalTreatment
University of Wisconsin, Madison
~60 participants
Updated 2026-03-11 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:MRgARTLINAC

At a glance

Recruiting sites
1 of 1 listed site is recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
Change in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF)
Measured over Pre-treatment, 3 months post-treatment, 6 months post-treatment

Conditions

Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (Stage III)
Esophageal Cancer Stage I-III
Esophagogastric Cancer Stage I-III
Thymoma and Thymic Carcinoma Stage II-III
Other Cancers in the Thoracic Region

Explore related trials

Esophageal CarcinomaEsophagogastric CancerLung Non-Small Cell CarcinomaLung Small Cell CarcinomaLymphomaSarcomaThymomaThymus Carcinoma

Where it's being run

1 sites across 1 states
Wisconsin1

Study leadership

  • Carri Glide-Hurst, PhD, DABR, FAAPM · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · University of Wisconsin, Madison

Who to contact

Cancer Connect
[email protected]
800-622-8922
Email the study team

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Do you actually qualify for this trial?

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Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

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

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.

What this trial measures

  • Change in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF)Pre-treatment, 3 months post-treatment, 6 months post-treatment

    Changes are measured between timepoints as determined by cardiac MRI. LVEF is calculated by dividing the left ventricular (LV) stroke volume (the amount of blood pumped out) by the end-diastolic volume (the amount of blood in the left ventricle before contraction) and multiplying by 100.