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Last Modified: 5/12/2007     First Published: 1/16/2007  
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Randomized Pilot Study of Nicotine for "Hunger Pain" in Patients With Malignant Bowel Obstruction Due to Incurable Cancer

Alternate Title
Basic Trial Information
Objectives
Entry Criteria
Expected Enrollment
Outcomes
Outline
Trial Contact Information
Registry Information

Alternate Title

Nicotine in Treating "Hunger Pain" in Patients With Malignant Bowel Obstruction Caused By Cancer

Basic Trial Information

Phase
Type
Status
Age
Sponsor
Protocol IDs

No phase specified


Supportive care


Closed


18 and over


NCI


MAYO-MC03C2
NCT00425906

Objectives

  1. Determine whether patients with malignant bowel obstruction due to incurable cancer utilize a potential therapy for "hunger pain."
  2. Determine, preliminarily, the efficacy and toxicity of nicotine in treating "hunger pain" in these patients.
  3. Determine whether nicotine results in a decline in circulating ghrelin (for patients enrolled at the Mayo Rochester Clinic only).
  4. Evaluate hormonal changes in patients treated with nicotine (for patients enrolled at the Mayo Rochester Clinic only).

Entry Criteria

Disease Characteristics:

  • Diagnosis of any incurable malignancy


  • Presence of malignant bowel obstruction


  • Must be on strict "nothing per os" (NPO) status over the next 48 hours
    • Ice chips allowed


  • Acknowledges that "hunger pain" is a problem


Prior/Concurrent Therapy:

  • Concurrent short-term use of dexamethasone or other hormonal therapy or symptom control strategy allowed

Patient Characteristics:

  • Mentally competent
  • No history of life-threatening arrhythmia
  • No severe or worsening angina
  • No accelerated hypertension
  • No known hypersensitivity to nicotine
  • Not pregnant or nursing
  • Negative pregnancy test

Expected Enrollment

20

A total of 20 patients will be accrued for this study.

Outcomes

Primary Outcome(s)

Determination of whether ≥ 50% of patients utilize nicotine for treating "hunger pain" ≥ 2 times over a 48-hour period

Secondary Outcome(s)

Toxicity as measured by CTCAE v 2.0
Global quality of life
Hunger assessment
Change in circulating hormonal concentrations (for patients enrolled at the Mayo Rochester Clinic only)

Outline

This is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter, pilot study. Patients are stratified according to vomiting status within the past 24 hours (yes vs no) and use of narcotics (yes vs no). Patients are randomized to 1 of 2 treatment arms.

  • Arm I: Patients receive a nicotine inhaler to use as needed for "hunger pain." Treatment continues for up to 48 hours in the absence of unacceptable toxicity .


  • Arm II: Patients receive a placebo inhaler to use as needed for "hunger pain." Treatment continues for up to 48 hours in the absence of unacceptable toxicity.


After 48 hours, patients in arm I may continue nicotine therapy off study. Patients in arm II who are not surgical candidates may cross over to treatment with the nicotine inhaler off study.

Blood and spot urine samples are collected at baseline and after 48 hours from patients enrolled at the Mayo Rochester Clinic. Blood samples are analyzed to evaluate circulating hormone (e.g., ghrelin, leptin) concentrations. Urine samples are analyzed to evaluate nicotine and nicotine metabolite concentrations.

Global quality of life is assessed at baseline and after 48 hours. "Hunger pain" is assessed at baseline.

Trial Contact Information

Trial Lead Organizations

Mayo Clinic Cancer Center

Aminah Jatoi, MD, Protocol chair
Ph: 507-538-7623
Email: cancerclinicaltrials@mayo.edu
Gerardo Colon-Otero, MD, Protocol co-chair
Ph: 507-538-7623
Email: cancerclinicaltrials@mayo.edu
Lynn Hartmann, MD, Protocol co-chair
Ph: 507-538-7623
Email: cancerclinicaltrials@mayo.edu
Bobbie Gostout, MD, Protocol co-chair
Ph: 507-538-7623
Email: cancerclinicaltrials@mayo.edu
Richard Hurt, MD, Protocol co-chair
Ph: 507-538-7623
Email: cancerclinicaltrials@mayo.edu
Lorraine Fitzpatrick, MD, Protocol co-chair
Ph: 507-538-7623
Email: cancerclinicaltrials@mayo.edu
Tom Moyer, PhD, Protocol co-chair
Ph: 507-538-7623
Email: cancerclinicaltrials@mayo.edu

Registry Information
Official Title A Pilot Study of Nicotine for "Hunger Pain" in Patients with Bowel Obstruction from Incurable Cancer
Trial Start Date 2003-12-15
Registered in ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00425906
Date Submitted to PDQ 2006-11-30
Information Last Verified 2007-06-05
NCI Grant/Contract Number CA15083

Note: The purpose of most clinical trials listed in this database is to test new cancer treatments, or new methods of diagnosing, screening, or preventing cancer. Because all potentially harmful side effects are not known before a trial is conducted, dose and schedule modifications may be required for participants if they develop side effects from the treatment or test. The therapy or test described in this clinical trial is intended for use by clinical oncologists in carefully structured settings, and may not prove to be more effective than standard treatment. A responsible investigator associated with this clinical trial should be consulted before using this protocol.

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