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A Double-blinded Pilot Study of Glutamine for the Prevention of Paclitaxel-Induced Myalgias and Arthralgias


N/A
18 Years
N/A
Not Enrolling
Both
Pain, Unspecified Adult Solid Tumor, Protocol Specific

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Trial Information

A Double-blinded Pilot Study of Glutamine for the Prevention of Paclitaxel-Induced Myalgias and Arthralgias


OBJECTIVES:

Primary

- Compare the efficacy of glutamine supplementation vs placebo, in terms of prevention of
paclitaxel-induced myalgia and/or arthralgia, in patients with cancer.

Secondary

- Compare the attenuation of myalgia and/or arthralgia in patients who experience myalgia
and/or arthralgia treated with these regimens.

OUTLINE: This is a randomized, double-blind, crossover, pilot study. Patients are randomized
to 1 of 2 treatment arms.

- Arm I: Beginning on day 2 of course 1 of paclitaxel administration, patients receive
oral glutamine three times daily for 4 days.

- Arm II: Beginning on day 2 of course 1 of paclitaxel administration, patients receive
oral placebo three times daily for 4 days.

Both arms crossover during course 2. In both arms, treatment continues in the absence of
unacceptable toxicity.

After completion of study treatment, patients are followed for 7-10 days.

PROJECTED ACCRUAL: A total of 40 patients will be accrued for this study.

Inclusion Criteria


Inclusion Criteria.

- Signed informed patient consent

- Adult patients (Age > 18 years old) with a neoplastic disorder requiring paclitaxel
as part of therapy, whether curative or palliative intent.

- Patients must have > 2 additional planned courses of paclitaxel.

- Patients may be out-patient or in-patient at the time of enrollment.

- Patient must have had myalgias and/or arthralgias with the most recent course(s) of
paclitaxel. Paclitaxel must be being administered over 3 hours or less for each
infusion.

- Patients may have chronic pain but they must be able to differentiate it from either
myalgias or arthralgias and be on a stable medication regimen for pain management.

- Eastern Cooperative Group (ECOG) Performance status score < 3

- If consenting for the laboratory portion of the study the participant must have
normal creatinine phosphokinase within 14 days of study entry.

- The patient, if sexually active, must be willing to agree to use an approved form of
birth control.

Exclusion criteria.

- The patient has received another investigational drug within the past 30 days.

- No myalgias or arthralgias in prior paclitaxel courses.

- The patient has uncontrolled (over the last 30 days), clinically significant
confounding medical conditions such as rheumatoid disease, fibromyalgia, or chronic
fatigue syndrome. Also if the patient has a viral infection, cold symptoms, fever (>
38 C -degrees celsius) or influenza.

- Patients with existing neuropathies or neurologic disorders which would prevent them
from accurately assessing the onset or extent of myalgias and arthralgias.

- The patient has had significant medical intervention in the last 30 days

- The patient is pregnant or lactating.

- Patients who are unable to take oral medications or with medical conditions that
might inhibit their ability to absorb protein from the gastrointestinal tract.

- Patients who are unwilling to abstain from additional protein supplements of any kind
other than that obtained through "normal" dietary intake.

- Patients required to take nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents (NSAIDS), antioxidant
vitamins, and unable or unwilling to abstain from them for 1 week prior to and during
glutamine/placebo therapy.

- Patients with metabolic errors or abnormalities of protein metabolism.

- Patients with a history of blood urea nitrogen level > 2 times normal with a normal
serum creatinine.

Type of Study:

Interventional

Study Design:

Allocation: Randomized, Endpoint Classification: Efficacy Study, Intervention Model: Crossover Assignment, Masking: Double Blind (Subject, Investigator), Primary Purpose: Supportive Care

Outcome Measure:

Number of Participants With Response From Glutamine Preventing Paclitaxel Induced Myalgias or Arthralgias After 2 Courses of Chemotherapy

Outcome Description:

Complete Response (CR): Complete absence of myalgias or arthralgias Partial Response (PR): Myalgias and/or arthralgias occur but are attenuated in the cycle in which they receive active therapy by > 50% Stable Disease (SD): Less than 25% change in incidence, duration, or severity of myalgias/arthralgias Progressive Disease (PD): Symptoms worsen by >25% from baseline scores

Outcome Time Frame:

2 courses of chemotherapy (6 weeks)

Safety Issue:

No

Principal Investigator

Joseph Bubalo, PharmD, BCPS, BCOP

Investigator Role:

Study Chair

Investigator Affiliation:

OHSU Knight Cancer Institute

Authority:

United States: Federal Government

Study ID:

CDR0000446073

NCT ID:

NCT00217724

Start Date:

July 1999

Completion Date:

March 2009

Related Keywords:

  • Pain
  • Unspecified Adult Solid Tumor, Protocol Specific
  • unspecified adult solid tumor, protocol specific
  • pain
  • Arthralgia

Name

Location

OHSU Knight Cancer Institute Portland, Oregon  97239