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Alpha-Lipoic Acid in Preventing Peripheral Neuropathy in Patients Receiving Chemotherapy for Cancer

Prevention of Cisplatin- or Oxaliplatin-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy With Alpha-Lipoic Acid: A Placebo-Controlled Phase III Trial

Status
Completed
Phases
Phase 3
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT00112996
Enrollment
244
Registered
2005-06-03
Start date
2007-01-31
Completion date
2014-04-30
Last updated
2014-04-08

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Neurotoxicity, Unspecified Adult Solid Tumor, Protocol Specific, Unspecified Childhood Solid Tumor, Protocol Specific

Keywords

neurotoxicity, unspecified adult solid tumor, protocol specific, unspecified childhood solid tumor, protocol specific

Brief summary

RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy work in different ways to stop the growth of cancer cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing. Chemoprotective drugs, such as alpha-lipoic acid, may protect normal cells from the side effects of chemotherapy. Alpha-lipoic acid may also prevent damage to nerves that carry information to and from the brain and spinal cord to the rest of the body. It is not known whether alpha-lipoic acid is more effective than placebo in preventing peripheral neuropathy. PURPOSE: This randomized phase III trial is studying alpha-lipoic acid to see how well it works compared to placebo in preventing peripheral neuropathy in patients receiving chemotherapy for cancer.

Detailed description

OBJECTIVES: Primary * Compare whether treatment with alpha-lipoic acid vs placebo decreases the severity and frequency of peripheral neuropathy in cancer patients receiving a cisplatin- or oxaliplatin-containing chemotherapy regimen. * Compare the protective effect duration of these drugs in these patients. Secondary * Determine large sensory fiber integrity associated with platinum-induced peripheral neuropathy, as measured by three timed functional tests comprising fastening 6-buttons, walking 50 feet, and placing coins in a cup, in patients treated with these drugs. * Compare the number of chemotherapy courses and doses received by patients treated with these drugs. Tertiary * Compare the optimal tumor response (disease progression, stable disease, partial response, or complete response) to chemotherapy in patients treated with these drugs. OUTLINE: This is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter study. Patients are stratified according to prior platinum-containing treatment (yes vs no). Patients who received prior treatment are further stratified according to prior cumulative platinum exposure (cisplatin \< 200 mg/m\^2 or oxaliplatin \< 750 mg/m\^2 vs cisplatin 200-399 mg/m\^2 or oxaliplatin 750-999 mg/m\^2 vs cisplatin \>400 mg/m\^2 or oxaliplatin \> 1,000 mg/m\^2). Patients are randomized to 1 of 2 treatment arms. * Arm I: Patients receive oral alpha-lipoic acid\* three times daily for at least 24 weeks in the absence of unacceptable toxicity. * Arm II: Patients receive oral placebo\* three times daily for at least 24 weeks in the absence of unacceptable toxicity. NOTE: \*In both arms, patients begin taking study drug 4 days after completion of each chemotherapy treatment and continue taking study drug until 2 days before their next scheduled chemotherapy treatment. Patients' symptoms of peripheral neuropathy, pain, and functional tests are assessed at baseline and then at weeks 6-8, 12, 24, 36, and 48. PROJECTED ACCRUAL: A total of 244 patients (122 per treatment arm) will be accrued for this study within 2 years.

Interventions

Oral two 300 mg ALA sustained release tablets initiated 4 days after last dose of platinum and discontinued 2 days before next scheduled platinum dose, continued for 24 weeks.

OTHERplacebo

Given orally two similar color and sized placebo control tablets three times a day continued for 24 weeks.

Sponsors

National Cancer Institute (NCI)
CollaboratorNIH
M.D. Anderson Cancer Center
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
TRIPLE (Subject, Caregiver, Investigator)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Scheduled to receive a cisplatin- or oxaliplatin-containing chemotherapy regimen for cancer * No established clinical neuropathy * No clinically evident CNS metastases, including leptomeningeal metastases PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age * Not specified Performance status * Not specified Life expectancy * Not specified Hematopoietic * Not specified Hepatic * Bilirubin \< 2 mg/dL Renal * Creatinine \< 2 mg/dL OR * Creatinine clearance \> 45 mL/min Other * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective contraception * Must have a normal state of arousal * No confusion or memory or concentration deficit * No history of diabetes mellitus requiring oral medication or insulin treatment * No chronic alcoholism * No other active central nervous system (CNS) disease (e.g., dementia or encephalopathy) PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy * Not specified Chemotherapy * See Disease Characteristics * No carboplatin, vincristine, vinblastine, paclitaxel, or docetaxel for 6 months prior, during, and 6 months after study treatment Endocrine therapy * Not specified Radiotherapy * Not specified Surgery * Not specified Other * Concurrent medications that can modify peripheral neuropathy (e.g., gabapentin, lamotrigine, carbamazepine, phenytoin, or tricyclic antidepressants) are allowed provided there is no dose adjustment within 2 weeks before study entry and during study participation * No concurrent vitamin E (including multivitamins that contain vitamin E) ≥ 100 IU per day * No concurrent physical modality (e.g., anodyne \[monochromatic near-infrared photoenergy, 890 nm\], microcurrent, or transcutaneous electrical neural stimulation) for peripheral neuropathy related symptoms unless physical or occupational therapy for functional training

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Severity of neuropathyUp to 48 weeksSeverity of neuropathy as measured by the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy/Gynecologic Oncology Group-Neurotoxicity Questionnaire total score at baseline and at 6-8, 12, 24, 36, and 48 weeks

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Group Differences in Change scoresUp to 48 weeksGroup differences in change scores from baseline at 6-8, 12, 24, 36, and 48 weeks
Number of courses receivedUp 48 weeks
Optimal tumor responseUp to 48 weeks

Countries

United States

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026