Airway disease optimisation of pharmaco-therapy in lung cancer

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  Prospective randomised controlled trial to investigate the effectiveness of inhalers for the relief of breathlessness in patients with lung cancer and COPD

• IRAS ID

  58098

• Contact name

  Mary O'Brien

• Sponsor organisation

  Royal Marsden Hospital

• Eudract number

  2010-021412-42

• ISRCTN Number

  N/A

• Research summary

  Breathlessness is a major symptom in patients with lung cancer and specific treatments are limited. There are a number of reasons why patients with lung cancer may be breathless. One reason is that they may have also have a condition called ??COPD??. COPD stands for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. This is a term used for a number of conditions; including chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Patients who have COPD have narrowed airways which makes it hard for them to get air in and out of their lungs. Therefore they may develop breathlessness. Inhalers are used to treat patients with COPD. Inhalers contain medicines which help to make the airways wider. We know that treating patients with COPD with inhalers is very effective at improving breathlessness. However, as yet, it is unclear if treating patients with lung cancer and co-existing COPD with inhalers is also effective at improving breathlessness. Breathlessness in lung cancer has many causes and therefore inhalers may not provide the same benefits in patients with lung cancer and co-existing COPD compared with patients who just have COPD. Therefore we plan to conduct a study at the Royal Marsden Hospital, to assess if the use inhalers in patients with COPD and lung cancer improves breathlessness. Participants will be randomised into 2 groups. The first group will be given 3 inhalers that are commonly used in patients with COPD (Ventolin, Spiriva, and Seretide). The second group will not receive inhalers and their breathlessness will be managed according to current best practice. Each participant's involvement in the study will last for 4 weeks. During this time participants will be required to make 3 visits to the Royal Marsden and to undergo breathing tests, walking tests and to complete questionnaires that will assess their quality of life and activity levels.

• REC name

  London - South East Research Ethics Committee

• REC reference

  10/H1102/66

• Date of REC Opinion

  25 Oct 2010

• REC opinion

  Favourable Opinion