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Creatine in Treating Patients With Cancer-Associated Weight Loss
This study is ongoing, but not recruiting participants.
Sponsors and Collaborators: North Central Cancer Treatment Group
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Information provided by: National Cancer Institute (NCI)
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00081250
  Purpose

RATIONALE: It is not yet known whether the supplement creatine is effective in increasing weight and improving appetite and quality of life in patients who have cancer.

PURPOSE: This randomized phase III trial is studying how well creatine works in increasing weight and improving appetite and quality of life in patients with weight loss caused by cancer.


Condition Intervention Phase
Cancer-Related Problem/Condition
Unspecified Adult Solid Tumor, Protocol Specific
Drug: creatine
Drug: placebo
Phase III

MedlinePlus related topics: Cancer Weight Control
Drug Information available for: Creatine
U.S. FDA Resources
Study Type: Interventional
Study Design: Supportive Care, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo Control
Official Title: Phase III Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Randomized Comparison of Creatine for Cancer-Associated Weight Loss

Further study details as provided by National Cancer Institute (NCI):

Primary Outcome Measures:
  • Percentage of patients who gain weight over 1 month [ Designated as safety issue: No ]

Secondary Outcome Measures:
  • Percentage of patients who manifest weight stability (i.e., weight within 5% of baseline) at 1 month [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  • Percentage of patients who manifest stability in appetite [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  • Overall survival [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  • Incidence of treatment-related toxicity [ Designated as safety issue: Yes ]
  • Quality of life [ Designated as safety issue: No ]

Estimated Enrollment: 300
Study Start Date: December 2004
Arms Assigned Interventions
Arm I: Experimental
Patients receive oral creatine daily.
Drug: creatine
Given orally
Arm II: Placebo Comparator
Patients receive oral placebo daily.
Drug: placebo
Given orally

Detailed Description:

OBJECTIVES:

  • Compare weight-gain effects of creatine vs placebo in patients with cancer-associated weight loss and/or anorexia.
  • Determine the effect of these regimens on quality of life in these patients.
  • Compare the toxic effects of these regimens in these patients.
  • Compare survival rates of patients treated with these regimens.

OUTLINE: This is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Patients are stratified according to primary cancer type (lung vs gastrointestinal vs other), weight loss severity (< 10 lbs vs ≥10 lbs), age (< 50 years vs ≥ 50 years), planned concurrent chemotherapy (yes vs no), gender, and prognosis. Patients are randomized to 1 of 2 treatment arms.

  • Arm I: Patients receive oral creatine daily.
  • Arm II: Patients receive oral placebo daily. In both arms, treatment continues in the absence of unacceptable toxicity as long as treatment is considered beneficial.

Patients are followed every 6 months for up to 5 years.

PROJECTED ACCRUAL: A total of 300 patients will be accrued for this study.

  Eligibility

Ages Eligible for Study:   18 Years and older
Genders Eligible for Study:   Both
Accepts Healthy Volunteers:   No
Criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

  • Histologically or cytologically confirmed cancer other than primary brain cancer

    • Considered incurable with available therapies
  • History of weight loss ≥ 5 lbs in 2 months or fewer AND/OR estimated intake of < 20 cal/kg daily
  • Determination by attending physician that weight gain would benefit patient
  • Perception by patient that weight loss is a problem
  • No symptomatic or untreated brain metastases
  • No clinical evidence of ascites

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age

  • 18 and over

Performance status

  • ECOG 0-2

Life expectancy

  • At least 3 months

Hematopoietic

  • Not specified

Hepatic

  • Not specified

Renal

  • Creatinine normal

Cardiovascular

  • No poorly controlled congestive heart failure
  • No poorly controlled hypertension

Other

  • Able to reliably receive oral medication
  • Must be alert and mentally competent
  • No known obstruction of the alimentary tract, malabsorption, or intractable vomiting
  • No diabetes that is controlled by insulin
  • Not pregnant or nursing
  • Negative pregnancy test
  • Fertile patients must use effective contraception

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy

  • Not specified

Chemotherapy

  • Concurrent chemotherapy allowed

Endocrine therapy

  • No other concurrent adrenal corticosteroids, androgens, or progestational agents within 30 days after study entry
  • Concurrent short-term dexamethasone for chemotherapy-associated emesis is allowed
  • Concurrent inhalant, topical, or optical steroids allowed

Radiotherapy

  • No concurrent radiotherapy to the bowel or stomach
  • Other concurrent radiotherapy allowed

Surgery

  • Not specified

Other

  • No prior creatine use
  • No concurrent tube feedings or parenteral nutrition
  Contacts and Locations
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00081250

  Show 223 Study Locations
Sponsors and Collaborators
North Central Cancer Treatment Group
Investigators
Study Chair: Aminah Jatoi, MD Mayo Clinic
Investigator: Charles L. Loprinzi, MD Mayo Clinic
  More Information

Clinical trial summary from the National Cancer Institute's PDQ® database  This link exits the ClinicalTrials.gov site

Study ID Numbers: CDR0000360798, NCCTG-N02C4
Study First Received: April 7, 2004
Last Updated: January 6, 2009
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00081250  
Health Authority: United States: Federal Government

Keywords provided by National Cancer Institute (NCI):
unspecified adult solid tumor, protocol specific
cachexia
anorexia
weight changes

Study placed in the following topic categories:
Body Weight
Signs and Symptoms
Weight Loss
Body Weight Changes
Anorexia
Cachexia

ClinicalTrials.gov processed this record on January 16, 2009