# Markers of Cardiotoxicity with Radiation Therapy in Breast Cancer

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA · 2020 · $436,078

## Abstract

Abstract
Radiation therapy (RT) is a highly effective and widely used treatment for breast cancer, the most common
female cancer worldwide. However, RT carries a significant risk of cardiovascular (CV) toxicity, limiting important
gains in cancer control and survival. There are a number of fundamental questions related to the CV effects of
modern-day proton and photon RT. Do changes in CV biomarkers and imaging markers with RT support the
hypothesis that proton therapy is less cardiotoxic than photon therapy? Which RT dose-volume parameters are
most strongly associated with changes in these markers? Can we use biologic and imaging markers to identify
high CV risk subgroups? In order to address these questions, we propose a time-sensitive biomarker and
imaging ancillary study to the ongoing Radiotherapy Comparative Effectiveness (RadComp) pragmatic clinical
trial of breast cancer patients randomized to proton versus photon therapy (PCORI PCS-1403-12804;
NCT02603341). The overall objectives of our proposal are to determine how early, subclinical measures of CV
injury and dysfunction as detected by imaging (Aim 1) and biologic (Aim 2) markers differ according to RT type
(proton versus photon); and which RT cardiac dose-volume parameters are most strongly associated with
changes in these markers (Aim 3). To accomplish these objectives, we will build a longitudinal prospective cohort
study of 150 RadComp participants from the 3 highest enrolling sites: Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
(MSKCC), the University of Pennsylvania (Penn), and Northwestern Memorial HealthCare (NW). Our proposal
addresses a research priority within the NHLBI Strategic Vision, NCI Symptom Management and Quality of Life
Steering Committee, and NCI Radiation Research Branch.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9999220
- **Project number:** 1R01HL152707-01
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA
- **Principal Investigator:** Justin Bekelman
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $436,078
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2020-08-28 → 2024-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9999220

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9999220, Markers of Cardiotoxicity with Radiation Therapy in Breast Cancer (1R01HL152707-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9999220. Licensed CC0.

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