The purpose of this study is to document the feasibility and tolerability of low dose thoracic radiotherapy in patients with WHO level 5 COVID 19 infections.
Subjects will be identified following admission to hospital who test positive for COVID-19
infection. They will then be informed and consented, and eligibility confirmed and registered
to study. Following this the first, sentinel patient, will be treated with 0.5Gy dose
radiotherapy to cover the lungs, with heterogeneity correction. A further 0.5Gy dose can be
repeated within 96 hours. There shall then be a 7 day gap prior to recruiting patient 2. The
remaining patients will be recruited, treated and observed in cohorts of 3.
The patients shall then be followed up at 48 hours post Radiotherapy, 7 days post
radiotherapy and 29 days post radiotherapy. With assessment of Physiological parameters,
survival status, laboratory testing and imaging performed on follow up at 7 and 29 days.
Radiation: Low dose Radiotherapy
External Beam irradiation, single fraction of 0.5Gy, to be delivered within 48 hours of enrolment to study. With field to cover as close to lung edges as AP/PA technique allows.
A further 0.5GY to the thorax given up to 96 hours apart from first fraction is permitted, if a patient had either (a) responded to the first dose but then deteriorated, however remaining better than baseline level or (b) stabilized after first dose but not fully improved.
Inclusion Criteria:
- Age ≥ 50 years.
- Patients have symptoms of COVID-19 infection as per WHO guidelines (e.g. cough, fever,
dyspnea, etc.) for under 5 days from hospital admission.
- Patients are hospitalized and meet the criteria for WHO level 5 COVID pneumonia. In
addition:
- SpO2 <94% on Room Air;
- Respiratory rate >20 Breaths per minute on Room Air.
- Laboratory confirmed COVID-19 infection based on PCR.
- Patients need ward-based oxygen between 28 to 40%.
- Patients able to provide witnessed verbal informed consent.
- Patient is free of other severe medical conditions that would preclude radiotherapy
treatment (e.g. severe recent CVA).
Exclusion Criteria:
- Pregnant or lactating women.
- Presence of secondary infection with procalcitonin assessment at baseline.
- Patient is generating aerosols e.g. use of CPAP device.
- Hereditary syndromes known to have increase sensitivity to Radiotherapy including, but
not limited to, ataxia-telangiectasia, and Njemgen Breakage Syndrome.
- History of prior thoracic radiotherapy.
- Inability to undergo radiotherapy for any reason as determined by the treating medical
team.
- Alternative diagnosis for lung compromise unrelated to COVID-19 / deemed more likely
than COVID-19 related lung compromise.
- Inability to consent directly.
- If patient has participated in any other COVID-19 therapy study within the last month
(4 weeks).
- Pre-existing generalized pulmonary fibrosis.
- Known prior systemic use of the following drugs within the last 6 months: Bleomycin,
Carmustine, Methotrexate, Busulfan, Cyclophosphamide, or Amiodarone.
- History of lung lobectomy or pneumonectomy.
- Known history of pulmonary sarcoidosis, Wegener's Granulomatosis, Systemic Lupus
Erythematosus, or other autoimmune disease affecting lungs.
- Symptomatic congestive heart failure within the past 6 months including during
hospitalization.
- History of recent or current malignancy receiving any cytotoxic chemotherapy or
immunotherapy within the past 6 months.
- Bone marrow transplantation.
- Latent tuberculosis.
- Any solid organ transplant (renal, cardiac, liver, lung) requiring immunosuppressive
therapy.
- Septic shock and organ dysfunction.
- Severe ARDS P/F ratio ≤100mmHg.
Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS
Preston, United Kingdom