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Breast ReconstructionNCT07140198

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy to Improve Autologous Fat Graft Intake in Irradiated Breast

A study testing Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy in people with Breast Reconstruction and Lipofilling, run by University Hospital, Geneva at 1 site in Switzerland.

Recruiting

Looking for participants now. Contact the study team or a site below to ask about taking part.

Sites and contacts
Official record
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Trial summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) enhances fat graft survival in lipofilling procedures in irradiated breast cancer patients. The main questions it aims to answer are: Does it improve fat graft survival ? Evaluate safety and tolerability of HBOT in this setting?… Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 years and older, women only
What is being tested?
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy
Type of treatment
Surgery or procedure
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
16 participants
Where
1 siteSwitzerland
Study dates
1 Mar 2026to Dec 2028
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
Not yet: the study is under way

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 years and older
  • Women only
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • Adult (18 y.o. or more) female patients considered for lipofilling following breast reconstruction in an oncological setting which received radiation therapy on the affected breast.
  • Ability to provide informed consent, documented by signature

Who cannot join

  • Pregnancy or breastfeeding
  • Unability to provide informed consent
  • Previous enrolment into the current investigation
  • Contra-indication to HBOT :
  • Anamnestically reported spontaneous pneumothorax
  • Status post-thoracotomy
Show all 29Show fewer
  • Significant intra-pulmonary lesions (including emphysematous bullae)
  • Respiratory function disorders (both obstructive and restrictive syndromes)
  • Pregnancy
  • Major psychiatric disorders
  • Uncontrollable claustrophobic reaction
  • Seizures, even if treated and asymptomatic for some time
  • Status post-severe traumatic brain injury with neurological deficits and seizures
  • Decompensated heart failure
  • Recent myocardial infarction (<6 months) or with persistent hemodynamic sequelae
  • Spastic coronary angina
  • Cardiac arrhythmias, atrioventricular block, Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, sinus node dysfunction, Lown-Ganong-Levine syndrome
  • Cardiac pacemakers with unknown pressure resistance
  • Severe bradycardia
  • Sinus ostium displacement (acute or chronic)
  • Displacement of the auditory canal entrance (acute or chronic)
  • Status post-tympanoplasty type I-III <3 months
  • Acute febrile state
  • Optic neuritis
  • Unstabilized hyperthyroidism
  • Contra-indication to MRI :
  • Non-MRI-compatible pacemaker, cochlear implant, drug-infusion pump or neurostimulator.
  • Metallic foreign body in critical area (eye, brain, etc.)
  • Ferromagnetic vascular surgical clips of older generation, e.g., for intracranial aneurysm repair.

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.

Dominik André-Lévigne, MD, PhD contact

+41 (0)22 372 79 97

dlev@hug.ch

Matteo Scampa, MD contact

+41 (0)79 55 38 542

asmp@hug.ch

Switzerland1 site, 1 recruiting
  • Geneva University Hospitals

    Geneva, Canton of Geneva, 1206

    Dominik André-Lévigne, MD-PhD, +41 (0)22 372 79 97, dlev@hug.ch

    Matteo Scampa, MD, +41 (0)79 553 85 42, asmp@hug.ch

    Recruiting

Other trials in Switzerland

About this study

Official title: Prospective Study to Evaluate the Effectiveness of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) to Increase the Survival of Autologous Fat Transfer for Breast Reconstruction After Radiotherapy: A Randomized Controlled Phase II Cross-over Trial

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) enhances fat graft survival in lipofilling procedures in irradiated breast cancer patients. The main questions it aims to answer are:

Does it improve fat graft survival ? Evaluate safety and tolerability of HBOT in this setting? Researchers will compare patient receiving HBOT to a control group without HBOT to see if.

Sixteen female patients will undergo two autologous fat grafting sessions: one with HBOT and one without, in a randomized sequence. Patients will undergo three MRI during the study to evaluate the fat retention rate.

Read the detailed description

This is a prospective, monocentric, randomized controlled phase II crossover clinical trial designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) in improving fat graft retention following autologous fat transfer (AFT) in breast reconstruction for patients with prior radiotherapy.

AFT is widely used in breast reconstruction but is often less effective in irradiated tissues due to reduced vascularization and oxygenation, which compromises graft survival. HBOT, which involves breathing 100% oxygen at 2.5 atmospheres absolute (ATA), has been shown to promote angiogenesis and tissue oxygenation, potentially improving fat graft integration and reducing complications in irradiated tissues.

The study will enroll 16 adult female patients who have undergone radiotherapy as part of their breast cancer treatment and are scheduled to receive two sessions of AFT. Each participant will be randomized to one of two sequences:

  • Sequence AB: AFT alone (control) followed by AFT + HBOT (intervention)
  • Sequence BA: AFT + HBOT followed by AFT alone HBOT will be administered in five sessions (1 on Day 0, 2 on Day 1, 2 on Day 2), beginning immediately after the fat grafting procedure. Each session consists of 100% oxygen inhalation at 2.5 ATA for 90 minutes. Postoperative MRI will be performed six months after each AFT session to assess the volume of retained graft.

Primary Objective:

To determine whether HBOT significantly improves fat graft retention in irradiated breast tissue, assessed as the percentage of volume retained (measured by MRI) six months postoperatively.

Secondary Objectives:

  • To assess the absolute fat volume retention in milliliters
  • To evaluate the safety and tolerability of HBOT in this setting
  • To assess the incidence of clinical and radiological complications (e.g., infection, hematoma, oil cysts, liponecrosis) The crossover design minimizes inter-patient variability by allowing each patient to serve as her own control. Randomization occurs immediately after the first AFT session.

The anticipated duration of participation per subject is approximately 12 to 18 months, and the total study duration is estimated at 3 years (from November 2025 to November 2028).

Being tested
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy, Control
Keywords
breast reconstruction, Irradiation, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, lipofilling

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • Hyperbaric Oxygen TherapyProcedure or surgery

    HBOT will be administered in five sessions (1 on Day 0, 2 on Day 1, 2 on Day 2), beginning immediately after the lipofilling. Each session consists of 100% oxygen inhalation at 2.5 ATA for 90 minutes. Postoperative MRI will be performed six months after each AFT session to assess the volume of retained graft.

  • ControlOther

    Patients in the control group will undergo standard follow-up after the lipofilling without HBOT.

Study groups in NCT07140198
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Sequence ABOtherAFT alone (control) followed by AFT + HBOT (intervention)
Receives: Procedure: Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy; Other: Control
Sequence BAOtherAFT + HBOT followed by AFT alone
Receives: Procedure: Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy; Other: Control

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Percentage of fat graft volume retained

    Fat graft volume retention in % is assessed by comparing preoperative and six-month postoperative MRI measurements.

    Measured: From enrollment until six months after the second lipofilling procedure.

Secondary outcomes (3)
  1. Absolute retention of fat graft volume

    Six months after each lipofilling procedure, an MRI is performed to evaluate the absolute retention of fat graft volume (in mL) by comparing preoperative and postoperative MRI scans.

    Measured: Participants will be followed from enrollment to six months after the second lipofilling procedure.

  2. Clinical and radiological complications of lipofilling

    During follow-up, after each intervention, patients will be assessed for postoperative complications, including infections, hematoma, implant explantation (if applicable), and reoperation. Radiological complications will also be recorded during each MRI, such as the presence of liponecrosis or oil cysts.

    Measured: Outcomes will be assessed from the time of the first lipofilling procedure through six months following the second procedure.

  3. Number of Participants with hyperbaric oxygen therapy Related Adverse Events.

    All adverse events related to hyperbaric oxygen therapy will be recorded to assess its safety in the context of the study.

    Premature cessation of hyperbaric oxygen therapy, along with the reasons for discontinuation, will be recorded to assess its tolerability.

    Measured: Adverse events will be monitored from the initiation of hyperbaric oxygen therapy until six months after the end of the therapy

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted24 Aug 2025
  2. Study start1 Mar 2026
  3. Primary completionNov 2028 (estimated)
  4. Study completionDec 2028 (estimated)

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase N/A
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Crossover
Masking
None (open label)
Enrolment
16 participants (estimated)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT07140198
Sponsor's protocol ID
2025-D0050
Status last verified
Aug 2025
First submitted
18 Aug 2025
Last updated
14 May 2026
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
No: In order to protect patient's privacy and data.

Publications

  • Strong AL, Cederna PS, Rubin JP, Coleman SR, Levi B. The Current State of Fat Grafting: A Review of Harvesting, Processing, and Injection Techniques. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2015 Oct;136(4):897-912. doi: 10.1097/PRS.0000000000001590.

    PubMed 26086386
  • Andre-Levigne D, Modarressi A, Pignel R, Bochaton-Piallat ML, Pittet-Cuenod B. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy promotes wound repair in ischemic and hyperglycemic conditions, increasing tissue perfusion and collagen deposition. Wound Repair Regen. 2016 Nov;24(6):954-965. doi: 10.1111/wrr.12480. Epub 2016 Oct 18.

    PubMed 27684570
  • Moen I, Stuhr LE. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy and cancer--a review. Target Oncol. 2012 Dec;7(4):233-42. doi: 10.1007/s11523-012-0233-x. Epub 2012 Oct 2.

    PubMed 23054400
  • Meier EL, Mink van der Molen DR, Lansdorp CA, Batenburg MCT, van der Leij F, Verkooijen HM, Boonstra O, Hummelink S, Ulrich DJO. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy for local late radiation toxicity in breast cancer patients: A systematic review. Breast. 2023 Feb;67:46-54. doi: 10.1016/j.breast.2022.12.009. Epub 2022 Dec 22.

    PubMed 36587606
  • De Wolde SD, Hulskes RH, Weenink RP, Hollmann MW, Van Hulst RA. The Effects of Hyperbaric Oxygenation on Oxidative Stress, Inflammation and Angiogenesis. Biomolecules. 2021 Aug 14;11(8):1210. doi: 10.3390/biom11081210.

    PubMed 34439876
  • Liang J, Sun X, Yi L, Lv J. Effect of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy on the Survival Rate of Autologous Fat Transplantation. Aesthetic Plast Surg. 2023 Feb;47(1):423-429. doi: 10.1007/s00266-022-03096-y. Epub 2022 Sep 27.

    PubMed 36168069
  • El-Sabawi B, Carey JN, Hagopian TM, Sbitany H, Patel KM. Radiation and breast reconstruction: Algorithmic approach and evidence-based outcomes. J Surg Oncol. 2016 Jun;113(8):906-12. doi: 10.1002/jso.24143. Epub 2016 Jan 11.

    PubMed 26750435
  • Pu LL. Mechanisms of Fat Graft Survival. Ann Plast Surg. 2016 Feb;77 Suppl 1:S84-6. doi: 10.1097/SAP.0000000000000730.

    PubMed 26808753
  • Herly M, Orholt M, Larsen A, Pipper CB, Bredgaard R, Gramkow CS, Katz AJ, Drzewiecki KT, Vester-Glowinski PV. Efficacy of breast reconstruction with fat grafting: A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg. 2018 Dec;71(12):1740-1750. doi: 10.1016/j.bjps.2018.08.024. Epub 2018 Sep 4.

    PubMed 30245019
  • Shim YH, Zhang RH. Literature Review to Optimize the Autologous Fat Transplantation Procedure and Recent Technologies to Improve Graft Viability and Overall Outcome: A Systematic and Retrospective Analytic Approach. Aesthetic Plast Surg. 2017 Aug;41(4):815-831. doi: 10.1007/s00266-017-0793-3. Epub 2017 Feb 7.

    PubMed 28175966
  • Gentilucci M, Mazzocchi M, Alfano C. Effects of Prophylactic Lipofilling After Radiotherapy Compared to Non-Fat Injected Breasts: A Randomized, Objective Study. Aesthet Surg J. 2020 Sep 14;40(10):NP597-NP607. doi: 10.1093/asj/sjaa182.

    PubMed 32598447
  • Batenburg MCT, Maarse W, van der Leij F, Baas IO, Boonstra O, Lansdorp N, Doeksen A, van den Bongard DHJG, Verkooijen HM. The impact of hyperbaric oxygen therapy on late radiation toxicity and quality of life in breast cancer patients. Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2021 Sep;189(2):425-433. doi: 10.1007/s10549-021-06332-2. Epub 2021 Jul 19.

    PubMed 34279734
  • Mink van der Molen DR, Batenburg MCT, Maarse W, van den Bongard DHJG, Doeksen A, de Lange MY, van der Pol CC, Evers DJ, Lansdorp CA, van der Laan J, van de Ven PM, van der Leij F, Verkooijen HM. Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy and Late Local Toxic Effects in Patients With Irradiated Breast Cancer: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Oncol. 2024 Apr 1;10(4):464-474. doi: 10.1001/jamaoncol.2023.6776.

    PubMed 38329746
  • Pandey K, Teguh DN, van Hulst RA. Effect of hyperbaric oxygen treatment on skin elasticity in irradiated patients. Diving Hyperb Med. 2022 Sep 30;52(3):208-212. doi: 10.28920/dhm52.3.208-212.

    PubMed 36100932

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy in people with Breast Reconstruction and Lipofilling, run by University Hospital, Geneva at 1 site in Switzerland.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 2 inclusion and 29 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 14 May 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in Switzerland. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

Contact Dominik André-Lévigne, MD, PhD (+41 (0)22 372 79 97, dlev@hug.ch), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Percentage of fat graft volume retained (time frame: From enrollment until six months after the second lipofilling procedure.). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT07140198, which also lists 14 linked publications.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 14 May 2026; AzTrials last refreshed its copy on 7 Nov 2026.

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