Mitigation of Radiation Pneumonitis and Fibrosis

This project will test the effect of enalapril to mitigate the lung damage that can occur as a side effect of radiation therapy for lung cancer or other intrathoracic cancers. Thousands of Veterans develop lung cancer every year, and are treated by radiation therapy. Studies of lung radiation injury in laboratory animals show that with enalapril, investigators can significantly reduce the severity of radiation injury to the lung. Enalapril is FDA approved and in common use for treatment of hypertension, kidney disease, and heart failure. These studies will advance that work to human use. Successful mitigation of lung radiation damage will improve the quality of life in Veterans and non-Veterans who are treated for lung cancer by radiation, and may also improve cure rates of radiation therapy for lung cancer.