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Recruiting Phase 2 NCT06860542

NCT06860542 Inhaled Budesonide for REcurrence Prevention and Adjuvant THerapy in Checkpoint Inhibitor Pneumonitis

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Clinical Trial Summary
NCT ID NCT06860542
Status Recruiting
Phase Phase 2
Sponsor AHS Cancer Control Alberta
Condition Pneumonitis
Study Type INTERVENTIONAL
Enrollment 94 participants
Start Date 2026-02-10
Primary Completion 2029-12-01

Eligibility & Interventions

Sex All sexes
Min Age 18 Years
Max Age N/A
Study Type INTERVENTIONAL
Interventions
Arm 2- Budesonide (Pulmicort® Turbuhaler®) + Usual careArm 1- Usual care

Eligibility Fast-Check

Enter your details for a quick preliminary check. This does not replace medical advice.

What to Expect as a Participant

You will actively receive the study intervention — which may be a drug, biologic, device, or procedure.

In Phase 2, researchers evaluate early signs of effectiveness. You may be randomized to receive the active treatment or a comparator. Monitoring continues closely.

This trial targets 94 participants in total. It began in 2026-02-10 with a primary completion date of 2029-12-01.

⚠ This information is for research awareness only. Always consult your physician before joining any clinical trial. Participation is voluntary and you may withdraw at any time.

Brief Summary

The introduction of immune checkpoint inhibitors (immunotherapy) that stimulate our immune system to recognize and attack cancer cells has been one of the most exciting advances in oncology over the last decade. These medications are now employed across almost half of cancer types and settings, however they come with a cost. In some patients, instead of attacking cancer cells alone, the stimulated immune system damages healthy tissues (immune related adverse events), with one of the most severe and potentially deadly such complications being immune attack on the lungs, or checkpoint inhibitor pneumonitis (CIP). When treated promptly with oral or intravenous steroids, acute CIP improves in many cases, however for approximately one-fifth of patients the lung inflammation is difficult to control, resulting in recurrent shortness of breath, the need for extended courses of oral or intravenous steroids, impacting quality of life and cancer therapy decisions. The goal of the trial is to assess whether use of inhaled steroids, a type of medication commonly used in asthma patients, for one year after a first diagnosis of CIP may help the lung inflammation resolve and not return, without the repeated use of oral or intravenous medications that carry more side effects.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria: 1. Patients must be 18 years of age, or older on the day of signing informed consent and be willing and able to provide written informed consent/assent and, in the opinion of the Investigator, comply with protocol tests and procedures 2. Patients require histologically confirmed solid tumour undergoing immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy 3. Diagnosis of first documented diagnosis of Checkpoint Inhibitor Pneumonitis (CIP) made per European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO)/American Society for Medical Oncology (ASCO) guidelines with severity \>/grade 2 by Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE)v5.0 a. Per ASCO/ESMO consensus guidelines, workup must include a compatible clinical picture, plus/minus supporting radiographic evidence (chest x-ray or preferably computed tomography (CT)), combined with clinical and/or microbiologic ruling out of alternative etiologies including infections or pulmonary disease progression. This includes a negative COVID test. Bronchoscopic sampling is not required, but can be considered. 4. Be able to effectively operate and use budesonide delivery method (Turbuhaler®), either independently or with aid of caregiver who anticipates being able to do so throughout trial period 5. Have adequate organ function, as judged by enrolling clinician 6. Females of childbearing potential have a negative urine or serum pregnancy test prior to study day 1. Patients of childbearing potential are those who have not been surgically sterilized or have not been free of menses for at least 1 year 7. Females of childbearing potential are willing to use contraception or abstain from heterosexual sexual contact for the course of the study Exclusion Criteria: 1. Diagnosis of interstitial lung disease (ILD) active (clinically and radiologically evident) within last year prior to diagnosis of CIP 2. Clinically suspected significant lung disease for which inhaled steroid would be standard of care (moderate asthma or severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)) and for which randomization to no inhaled steroids (control arm) would not represent optimal medical care. Based on enrolling physicians judgement; spirometry/pulmonary function tests are NOT required to assess this exclusion criteria. 3. Current (within last two weeks), active (not medically able or unwilling to discontinue prior to treatment start) and regular (2 or more times per week) use of inhaled steroids (for any indication) or systemic (\>10mg prednisone equivalent) corticosteroids (for indication other than CIP) at time of randomization 4. Receiving systemic, non-chemotherapy immunosuppressive agent at time of randomization (hydroxychloroquine is acceptable) 5. Use of a medication with significant interaction with inhaled budesonide (HIV protease inhibitors, ketoconazole or other potent CYP3A4 inhibitors), unless deemed required and safe by co-investigator. 6. Known poorly controlled diabetes, defined as A1c \>10, prior to initiation of steroids for CIP 7. History of active and unstable systemic disease, including heart failure New York Heart Association (NYHA) III or IV, cirrhosis with Child Pugh B or C, Renal Failure with creatinine clearance (CrCl) \<30 per Cockcroft-Gault formula, or other unstable life limiting condition as determined by trial investigators 8. Current or prior participation in a study of an investigational agent or device within 4 weeks of randomization 9. History or current evidence of any condition, therapy, or laboratory abnormalities which might confound trial results, interfere with the patient's participation for the full duration of the trial, or otherwise causing it to be not in the best interest of the patient to participate in the trial, in the opinion of the treating investigator. 10. Is or has an immediate family member (e.g., spouse, parent/legal guardian, sibling or child) who is directly involved with this trial, unless prospective ethics board approval (by chair or designee) is given allowing exception to this criterion for a specific patient 11. Breastfeeding is not permitted during the duration of trial participation.

Contact & Investigator

Central Contact

Alexander Watson, MD

✉ alexander.watson@cancercarealberta.ca

📞 587-231-5098

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can join the NCT06860542 clinical trial?

This trial is open to participants of all sexes, aged 18 Years or older, studying Pneumonitis. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria are listed in the Eligibility Criteria section. Always confirm your eligibility with the research team before applying.

What phase is the NCT06860542 trial and what does that mean for participants?

Phase 2 trials evaluate whether the treatment shows signs of effectiveness while continuing to monitor safety. More participants are enrolled than in Phase 1 to help refine the treatment protocol.

Is NCT06860542 currently recruiting?

Yes, NCT06860542 is actively recruiting participants. Contact the research team at alexander.watson@cancercarealberta.ca for enrollment information.

Where is the NCT06860542 trial being conducted?

This trial is being conducted at Calgary, Canada.

Who is sponsoring the NCT06860542 clinical trial?

NCT06860542 is sponsored by AHS Cancer Control Alberta. The trial plans to enroll 94 participants.

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