Clinical trial · Observational
An Exploratory Evaluation of Biomarkers in Blister Fluid in Healthy Volunteers and Irradiated Skin
- Source
- ClinicalTrials.gov
- Retrieved
- Sep 8, 2026
- Layer
- normalized (units and labels harmonized; values unchanged)
- Run
- ING-CLINICALTRIALS-20260908-000001
Summary
Brief summary (as posted)
Background: * Blister fluid contains many of the same biomarkers (substances that can be used to determine the effects of certain kinds of treatments) as blood and urine samples, particularly regarding changes in the skin. * The Radiation Oncology Branch and others are conducting research studies that require blood and urine samples from healthy volunteers and from patients with cancer. In addition to these samples, researchers would like to collect the fluid from blisters to examine markers of inflammation in the skin. Objectives: * To compare blood, urine, and blister fluid samples of patients with cancer who are undergoing radiation therapy to that of volunteers without cancer who will not be receiving radiation therapy. * To gather more information about the effects of radiation therapy on the skin and body fluids of individuals. Eligibility: * Patients 18 years of age and older who will be receiving radiation therapy for either breast or prostate cancer. * A separate group of healthy volunteers will also participate in this study. Design: * Physical examination and blood samples to determine eligibility for the study. * Blister induction, conducted before the start of radiation treatment, at completion of radiotherapy (last day of treatment), and at a visit 12 months after the end of radiation treatment. * Blisters will be created through the use of a suction blister device on the hip (for patients with prostate cancer) or on the treated breast or location of removed breast (for patients with breast cancer). * Blisters will take approximately 30 minutes to form, and fluid will be removed with a needle and syringe. * Blood and urine samples will also be collected at this time. * Radiation treatment for breast or prostate cancer will be conducted according to standard procedures, or as directed by a separate research protocol. * Evaluations during the treatment period: * Physical examination, including vital signs and body weight checks, and pregnancy test for women who can become pregnant. * Blood and urine tests. * Disease evaluation. * Post-treatment evaluations: * Clinic visits at months 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 after the end of radiation therapy for physical examination and disease assessment. * Study will end 1 year after the final radiation treatment, upon the collection of the final (third) blister fluid sample.
Conditions
Conditions (3)
Free-text conditions as registered, with the CancerIndex entity they were reconciled to and the match type.
| Condition (as posted) | Mapped entity | Match | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breast Cancer | Malignant Breast Neoplasm | CURATED_EXACT | 0.92 |
| Healthy Volunteer | — | UNRESOLVED | — |
| Prostate Cancer | Malignant Prostate Neoplasm | CURATED_EXACT | 0.92 |
Interventions
Interventions (0)
Data not yet available
Design
Arms and outcomes
Arms (2)
- label
- 1/healthy volunteers
- description
- healthy volunteers
- label
- 2/patients
- description
- subjects with breast cancer, ductal carcinoma in situ, and adenocarcinoma of prostate
Primary outcomes (2)
- measure
- To determine if cytokine levels in blister fluid change following exposure of the skin to low or high dose radiation
- timeFrame
- study completion
- description
- The primary objectives of this study are (i) to determine if cytokine levels in blister fluid change following exposure of skin to low or high dose radiation, and (ii) to compare cytokine levels in blister fluid from unirradiated skin in normal controls, breast cancer patients, and prostate cancer patients. We will examine IL-1 beta, IL6, TNF-alpha, and MMP-1 and -3 for the primary analysis. The remaining cytokines will be examined in secondary analyses.
- measure
- To compare blister fluid cytokine levels in blister fluid from unirradiated skin in normal controls, breast cancer patients, and prostate cancer patients
Eligibility
Eligibility (as posted)
- Sex
- All
- Minimum age
- 18 Years
Show eligibility criteria text
* ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR PATIENTS RECEIVING RADIOTHERAPY: INCLUSION CRITERIA: 1. Histological diagnosis: Pathologically confirmed diagnosis of 1) invasive breast cancer, 2) ductal carcinoma in situ, or 3) adenocarcinoma of the prostate. 2. Patients in whom the management of the histologic diagnosis will include radiation treatment as part of standard clinical management. 3. Patients in whom the extent of disease is considered local or locoregional (i.e. requiring definitive radiotherapy to the breast or prostate). 4. Patients must be older than 18 years of age. 5. Patients must have a primary medical or surgical oncologist in the community or at NCI who is willing to collaborate with the ROB staff in the clinical management of the patient. 6. Patients of childbearing or child- fathering potential must be willing to use a medically acceptable form of birth control, which includes abstinence, while they are being treated with radiotherapy on this study. 7. Patients must have an ECOG performance status of 0-2 and a life expectancy greater than 12 months. EXCLUSION CRITERIA: 1. Patients with a history of chronic skin disease such as psoriasis, eczema, or history of keloid formation. 2. Patients requiring concurrent use of topical steroids 3. Patients requiring concurrent use of glucocorticoid therapy. 4. Patients who have received topical or systemic chemotherapy within 4 weeks of enrollment (not including hormonal agents such as antiandrogens, GnRH agonists, aromatase inhibitors, tamoxifen, and similar agents) are excluded. 5. Patients requiring concurrent chemotherapy with radiotherapy except as noted in (Protocol section 2.3.1) are excluded. 6. Patients with a history of lupus erythematosis, scleroderma, ataxia telengiectasia or other known hypersensitivity to therapeutic radiation. 7. Patients with prior radiotherapy to the site which would be used for blister induction. 8. Patients who are pregnant because of the potential mutagenic effects of radiation on a developing fetus or newborn. 9. Patients with unrelated systemic illness which in the judgment of the Principal Investigator (PI) would compromise the patient s ability to tolerate this therapy or are likely to interfere with the study procedures or results. 10. Patients who are in the estimation of the PI, deemed unable or unlikely to adhere to protocol treatment. 11. Patients with significant skin atrophy that would interfere with blister formation. 12. Breast cancer patients in whom the site of radiotherapy includes a myocutaneous flap or skin graft. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR HEALTHY VOLUNTEERS: INCLUSION CRITERIA: 1. Healthy volunteers older than 18 years of age. 2. Ability to provide informed consent. EXCLUSION CRITERIA: 1. History of chronic skin disease such as psoriasis, eczema, or history of keloid formation. 2. Concurrent use of glucocorticoid therapy. 3. History of lupus erythematosis, scleroderma, ataxia telengiectasia or other known hypersensitivity to therapeutic radiation. 4. Prior radiotherapy to the site which would be used for blister induction (for benign or malignant causes). 5. Unrelated systemic illness which in the judgment of the Principal Investigator (PI) would compromise the patient s ability to tolerate blister induction or are likely to interfere with blister healing, the study procedures, or the study results. 6. Darkly pigmented skin in whom pigmentation changes are a likely complication 7. Significant skin atrophy that would interfere with blister formation.
References
Publications (3)
- BACKGROUNDD'Auria L, Pimpinelli F, Ferraro C, D'Ambrogio G, Giacalone B, Bellocci M, Ameglio F. Relationship between theoretical molecular weight and blister fluid/serum ratio of cytokines and five other molecules evaluated in patients with bullous pemphigoid. J Biol Regul Homeost Agents. 1998 Jul-Sep;12(3):76-80. PMID 9795835
- BACKGROUNDRiekki R, Parikka M, Jukkola A, Salo T, Risteli J, Oikarinen A. Increased expression of collagen types I and III in human skin as a consequence of radiotherapy. Arch Dermatol Res. 2002 Jul;294(4):178-84. doi: 10.1007/s00403-002-0306-2. Epub 2002 Apr 27. PMID 12111348
- BACKGROUNDSonesson B, Rosengren E, Hansson AS, Hansson C. UVB-induced inflammation gives increased d-dopachrome tautomerase activity in blister fluid which correlates with macrophage migration inhibitory factor. Exp Dermatol. 2003 Jun;12(3):278-82. doi: 10.1034/j.1600-0625.2003.120307.x. PMID 12823441