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The STOP-MED CTRCD Trial

NCT06183437 · University Health Network, Toronto
In plain English

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Official title
A Multi-Centre Non-Inferiority Randomized Controlled Trial of STOPping Cardiac MEDications in Patients With Normalized Cancer Therapy Related Cardiac Dysfunction: The STOP-MED CTRCD Trial
About this study
Cancer therapy-related cardiac dysfunction (CTRCD) is when the heart's ability to pump oxygenated blood to the body is compromised. It is a side effect of cancer therapy which can occur as commonly as in 1 in 5 patients. When this occurs, heart failure medications are started to protect the heart from progressing to heart failure. With early detection and treatment, heart function recovers to normal in \>80% of patients. Unfortunately, heart failure medications are associated with an undesirable long-term pill burden, financial costs, and side-effects (e.g., dizziness and fatigue). As a result, cancer survivors frequently ask if they can safely stop their heart failure medications once their heart function has returned to normal. Currently there is no scientific evidence in this area of Cardio-Oncology. To address this knowledge gap, the investigators have designed a randomized control trial to assess the safety of stopping heart failure medication in patients with CTRCD and recovered heart function. The investigators will enrol patients who have completed their cancer therapy and are on heart medications for their CTRCD, which has now normalized. The investigators will randomize patients with no other reasons to continue heart failure medications (e.g., kidney disease) to continuing or stopping their heart medications safely. All patients will undergo a cardiac MRI at baseline, 1 and 5 years with safety assessments at 6-8 weeks, 6 months and 3 and 5 years. The investigators will determine if stopping medications is non-inferior to continuing medications by counting the numbers of patients who develop heart dysfunction by 1 year in each group.
Eligibility criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Adult patients (age ≥18 years) with cancer therapy completed more than 6 months prior (other than hormonal therapy) and no plan for further cancer treatments with potential risk for CTRCD. * Prior cancer therapy with anthracyclines and/ or HER2-targeted therapy. * Prior asymptomatic, moderate to severe CTRCD, defined using the ESC/ICOS criteria (MODERATE: ≥10% drop in LVEF from baseline to 40% to 49.9% OR \<10% drop to 40-49.9% with a reduction in GLS by \>15% or new abnormal Troponin I/T or NT-proBNP or SEVERE: new LVEF reduction to \<40% from normal baseline LVEF), diagnosed within 1 year of completing potentially cardiotoxic cancer therapy. * Current use of ≥1 HF medication started for CTRCD for at least 6 months with LVEF ≥55% by recently performed (≤6 months) echocardiogram, normal sex and age adjusted NT-proBNP or BNP ≤97.5th Centile, and no symptoms attributable to HF. * Reference ranges for NT-proBNP and BNP by age and sex: \<30 years: Female: NT-proBNP ≤196 pg/ml, BNP ≤55 pg/ml Male: NT-proBNP ≤104 pg/ml, BNP ≤29 pg/ml 30-39 years: Female: NT-proBNP ≤209 pg/ml, BNP ≤59 pg/ml Male: NT-proBNP ≤102 pg/ml, BNP ≤29 pg/ml 40-49 years: Female: NT-proBNP ≤233 pg/ml, BNP ≤65 pg/ml Male: NT-proBNP ≤137 pg/ml, BNP ≤38 pg/ml 50-59 years: Female: NT-proBNP ≤299 pg/ml, BNP ≤84 pg/ml Male: NT-proBNP ≤195 pg/ml, BNP ≤55 pg/ml 60-69 years: Female: NT-proBNP ≤399 pg/ml, BNP ≤112 pg/ml Male: NT-proBNP ≤333 pg/ml, BNP ≤93 pg/ml 70-79 years: Female: NT-proBNP ≤743 pg/ml, BNP ≤208 pg/ml Male: NT-proBNP ≤763 pg/ml, BNP ≤214 pg/ml ≥80 years: Female: NT-proBNP ≤2,704 pg/ml, BNP ≤757 pg/ml Male: NT-proBNP ≤6,792 pg/ml, BNP ≤1,902 pg/ml * Confirmation of LVEF ≥55% and normal volumes at baseline CMR (i.e., some patients recruited based on echocardiography, may be excluded if baseline CMR LVEF/volumes are not normal). This is included given that the primary outcome includes the use of CMR LVEF. Exclusion Criteria: * Indication for continuation of HF medications i.e., ongoing HF symptoms, chronic kidney disease (CKD), vascular disease, atrial or ventricular arrythmias, other (note: participants with hypertension will be switched to other guideline-based antihypertensive therapy). * Contraindications for CMR (e.g., MRI non-compatible implanted pacemakers). * Patients with cardiac devices i.e. defibrillator, CRT, pacemaker, etc. * Continued use of loop diuretic therapy for heart failure purposes i.e., furosemide. * Life expectancy \<1 year or metastatic disease. * Prior history of major cardiovascular event (defined as myocardial infarction, cerebral vascular event, admission for HF) or therapeutic cardiovascular procedure (e.g., percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG)). * Issues that prevent communication, understanding or presentation for study-related visits and inability to provide informed consent.
Study design
Enrollment target: 335 participants
Allocation: randomized
Masking: none
Age groups: adult, older_adult
Timeline
Starts: 2024-03-04
Estimated completion: 2031-12
Last updated: 2026-03-30
Interventions
Other: Stopping Heart Failure Medication(s)
Primary outcomes
  • Cancer Therapy Related Cardiac Dysfunction Relapse (1 year)
Sponsor
Dinesh Thavendiranathan · other
With: Unity Health Toronto, Hamilton Health Sciences Corporation, St. Boniface Hospital, Ottawa Heart Institute Research Corporation, University College London Hospitals, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Alberta Health services, Hospital Universitario La Paz, Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, Maria Sklodowska-Curie National Research Institute of Oncology
Contacts & investigators
ContactPaaladinesh Thavendiranathan, MD · contact · dinesh.thavendiranathan@uhn.ca · 416-340-5326
ContactSadia Khan · contact · Sadia.Khan@uhn.ca · 437-522-6441
All locations (14)
University of California, Los AngelesNot Yet Recruiting
Los Angeles, California, United States
Brigham and Women's HospitalRecruiting
Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Baker Heart and Diabetes InstituteRecruiting
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Cardio-Oncology Clinic, MAHI, University of Alberta HospitalNot Yet Recruiting
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
St. Boniface HospitalRecruiting
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Hamilton General HospitalNot Yet Recruiting
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
University of Ottawa Heart InstituteRecruiting
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
St Michael's HospitalNot Yet Recruiting
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
University Health NetworkRecruiting
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Maria Sklodowska-Curie National Research Institute of OncologyNot Yet Recruiting
Warsaw, Poland
La Paz University HospitalNot Yet Recruiting
Madrid, Spain
Barts Health NHS Trust, University College LondonRecruiting
London, London, United Kingdom
Liverpool Heart and Chest HospitalNot Yet Recruiting
Liverpool, United Kingdom
Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust (Royal Brompton Hospital)Not Yet Recruiting
London, United Kingdom
The STOP-MED CTRCD Trial · TrialPath