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Cyproheptadine Hydrochloride and Nutritional Supplementation in Treating Young Patients With Weight Loss With Cancer

An Open Label Randomized Phase II Study of an Appetite Stimulant, Cyproheptadine Hydrochloride, With and Without a Nutritional Supplement, in Children With Cancer/Treatment-Related Weight Loss

Status
Terminated
Phases
Phase 2
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT00949117
Enrollment
9
Registered
2009-07-30
Start date
2009-09-30
Completion date
2011-11-30
Last updated
2014-04-02

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

Conditions

Leukemia, Lymphoma, Malnutrition, Myelodysplastic Syndromes, Unspecified Childhood Solid Tumor, Protocol Specific, Weight Changes

Keywords

malnutrition, weight changes, childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia in remission, recurrent childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia, untreated childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia, childhood acute myeloid leukemia in remission, recurrent childhood acute myeloid leukemia, untreated childhood acute myeloid leukemia, other myeloid malignancies, stage I childhood Hodgkin lymphoma, stage II childhood Hodgkin lymphoma, stage III childhood Hodgkin lymphoma, stage IV childhood Hodgkin lymphoma, recurrent/refractory childhood Hodgkin lymphoma, recurrent childhood anaplastic large cell lymphoma, stage I childhood anaplastic large cell lymphoma, stage II childhood anaplastic large cell lymphoma, stage III childhood anaplastic large cell lymphoma, stage IV childhood anaplastic large cell lymphoma, recurrent childhood grade III lymphomatoid granulomatosis, childhood diffuse large cell lymphoma, childhood immunoblastic large cell lymphoma, recurrent childhood large cell lymphoma, stage I childhood large cell lymphoma, stage II childhood large cell lymphoma, stage III childhood large cell lymphoma, stage IV childhood large cell lymphoma, recurrent childhood lymphoblastic lymphoma, stage I childhood lymphoblastic lymphoma, stage II childhood lymphoblastic lymphoma, stage III childhood lymphoblastic lymphoma, stage IV childhood lymphoblastic lymphoma, childhood nasal type extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma, childhood Burkitt lymphoma, recurrent childhood small noncleaved cell lymphoma, stage I childhood small noncleaved cell lymphoma, stage II childhood small noncleaved cell lymphoma, stage III childhood small noncleaved cell lymphoma, stage IV childhood small noncleaved cell lymphoma, childhood myelodysplastic syndromes, de novo myelodysplastic syndromes, previously treated myelodysplastic syndromes, secondary myelodysplastic syndromes, unspecified childhood solid tumor, protocol specific

Brief summary

RATIONALE: Cyproheptadine hydrochloride may help improve appetite and lessen weight loss caused by cancer or cancer treatment. It is not yet known whether cyproheptadine hydrochloride is more effective with or without nutritional supplementation in improving weight and quality of life of young patients with weight loss caused by cancer or cancer treatment. PURPOSE: This randomized phase II trial is studying cyproheptadine hydrochloride to see how well it works when given together with or without nutritional supplementation in treating young patients with weight loss caused by cancer or cancer treatment.

Detailed description

OBJECTIVES: Primary * To compare the efficacy of an appetite stimulant, cyproheptadine hydrochloride, with vs without a nutritional supplement, PediaSure or Ensure, in improving weight and extending the duration of response in pediatric patients with cancer- or cancer treatment-related weight loss. Secondary * To compare patterns of body composition and weight change in patients treated with these regimens. * To compare the change in the relationship between pre-albumin (biomarker of malnutrition) and weight improvement from baseline to the completion of study treatment. * To compare the change in quality of life as measured by the Pediatric Functional Assessment of Anorexia and Cachexia Therapy (FAACT) questionnaire in patients treated with these regimens. OUTLINE: This is a multicenter study. Patients are stratified according to participating center and steroid use (yes vs no). Patients are randomized to 1 of 2 treatment arms. * Arm I: Patients receive oral cyproheptadine hydrochloride twice daily for up to 24 weeks in the absence of weight loss or unacceptable toxicity. * Arm II: Patients receive oral cyproheptadine hydrochloride twice daily and oral PediaSure (2 to 10 years of age) or Ensure (\> 10 years of age) twice daily for up to 24 weeks in the absence of weight loss or unacceptable toxicity. Patients undergo blood sample collection to assess pre-albumin levels at baseline and at weeks 4 and 24. Patients also undergo assessment of body composition, lean body mass, and percentage of body fat at baseline and at weeks 4 and 24 and assessment of weight and height at baseline and at weeks 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, and 24. Patients also complete a food diary twice a week during study treatment. Patients 7-17 years of age complete a quality-of-life questionnaire at baseline and at weeks 4 and 24.

Interventions

DIETARY_SUPPLEMENTEnsure

Given orally

DIETARY_SUPPLEMENTPediaSure

Given orally

Sponsors

National Cancer Institute (NCI)
CollaboratorNIH
University of South Florida
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
NONE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
2 Years to 17 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* ≥ 2 years and \< 18 years of age at the time of admission to the study * Meets one of the following criteria: * documented history of unintended weight loss \> 5% presumed secondary to cancer/treatment-related therapy within three months * BMI for age less than the 5th percentile * Diagnosed with cancer of any type * Concomitant cancer treatment (surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy) guidelines: * Patients who will complete concomitant cancer treatment during this study's 4-week intervention are not eligible * If patients are receiving concomitant cancer treatment, they should be scheduled to get at least another 4 weeks of treatment in order to reach the primary endpoint * If patients have already completed cancer treatment, they need to be enrolled within 8 weeks of completing therapy. * Predicted life expectancy of at least 6 months

Exclusion criteria

* Currently taking any of the study agents (cyproheptadine hydrochloride (CH), PediaSure, or Ensure) or have taken any of the study agents during the past 3 weeks * History of anorexia nervosa or bulimia * Initiation of other appetite enhancing agents including steroids prescribed for the intent of weight gain, i.e. Megace, is not allowed during this study * Children receiving steroids as part of their daily cancer treatment regimen are excluded from participation. However, intermittent steroid use in an antiemetic regimen or in other pulse steroid therapy is allowed during the study. * Use of other forms of nutrition therapies, e.g. total parenteral nutrition (TPN) or enteral tube feedings within 3 weeks of study entry or during study * Receiving monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors, procarbazine, fluoxetine (SSRI), or paroxetine (SSRI) * Taking dronabinol (Marinol) or other appetite-stimulating medications during the past 3 weeks * Diagnosed with glaucoma, cystic fibrosis, inflammatory bowel disease or GI or genitourinary (GU) obstruction * Allergy to study agents * Hypersensitivity to specific milk proteins * Pregnant or lactating. Females of childbearing potential are required to use effective contraception while on study agent.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Difference Between Measures of Weight at Baseline and at Week 2424 weeksDifference in measure of weight in kilograms of subject at baseline and at week 24 after continuing on study treatment for the entire 24 week period.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Body Mass Index as Assessed at Baseline and 24 Weeks24 weeksChange in Body Mass Index (BMI) in subjects from Baseline visit to 24 week visit.
Effect of Cyproheptadine Hydrochloride on Pre-albumin and Body Composition24 weeks
Quality of Life as Assessed by Peds-FAACT Questionnaire at Baseline and at Weeks 4 and 2424 weeks
Change in Weight for Age Z-score From Baseline Through 24 WeeksBaseline and 24 weeksChange in weight for age Z-score from Baseline through 24 weeks while on study treatment. Weight for age Z-score calculated using the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) weight-for-age Z score data tables.

Participant flow

Participants by arm

ArmCount
Arm I- Cyproheptadine Hydrochloride
Patients receive oral cyproheptadine hydrochloride twice daily for up to 24 weeks in the absence of weight loss or unacceptable toxicity.
4
Arm II Cyproheptadine HCl and PediaSure or Ensure
Patients receive oral cyproheptadine hydrochloride twice daily and oral PediaSure (2 to 10 years of age) or Ensure (\> 10 years of age) twice daily for up to 24 weeks in the absence of weight loss or unacceptable toxicity.
5
Total9

Withdrawals & dropouts

PeriodReasonFG000FG001
Overall StudyAdverse Event01
Overall StudyLack of Efficacy23
Overall StudyProtocol Violation11

Baseline characteristics

CharacteristicArm II Cyproheptadine HCl and PediaSure or EnsureArm I- Cyproheptadine HydrochlorideTotal
Age, Categorical
<=18 years
5 Participants4 Participants9 Participants
Age, Categorical
>=65 years
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Age, Categorical
Between 18 and 65 years
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Age, Continuous13.3 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 5.1
9.1 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 5.5
11.4 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 5.1
Region of Enrollment
United States
5 participants4 participants9 participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
0 Participants2 Participants2 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
5 Participants2 Participants7 Participants

Adverse events

Event typeEG000
affected / at risk
EG001
affected / at risk
deaths
Total, all-cause mortality
— / —— / —
other
Total, other adverse events
1 / 42 / 5
serious
Total, serious adverse events
0 / 40 / 5

Outcome results

Primary

Difference Between Measures of Weight at Baseline and at Week 24

Difference in measure of weight in kilograms of subject at baseline and at week 24 after continuing on study treatment for the entire 24 week period.

Time frame: 24 weeks

ArmMeasureValue (MEAN)
Arm I- Cyproheptadine HydrochlorideDifference Between Measures of Weight at Baseline and at Week 244.3 kilograms
Secondary

Body Mass Index as Assessed at Baseline and 24 Weeks

Change in Body Mass Index (BMI) in subjects from Baseline visit to 24 week visit.

Time frame: 24 weeks

ArmMeasureValue (MEAN)
Arm I- Cyproheptadine HydrochlorideBody Mass Index as Assessed at Baseline and 24 Weeks1.9 kg/m^2
Secondary

Change in Weight for Age Z-score From Baseline Through 24 Weeks

Change in weight for age Z-score from Baseline through 24 weeks while on study treatment. Weight for age Z-score calculated using the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) weight-for-age Z score data tables.

Time frame: Baseline and 24 weeks

ArmMeasureValue (MEAN)Dispersion
Arm I- Cyproheptadine HydrochlorideChange in Weight for Age Z-score From Baseline Through 24 Weeks1.47 z scoreStandard Deviation 0
Secondary

Effect of Cyproheptadine Hydrochloride on Pre-albumin and Body Composition

Time frame: 24 weeks

Population: Outcome not assessed as the one subject that completed the protocol did not have the prealbumin lab drawn at the 24 week visit and body composition tests assessed.

Secondary

Quality of Life as Assessed by Peds-FAACT Questionnaire at Baseline and at Weeks 4 and 24

Time frame: 24 weeks

Population: Outcome not assessed as the one subject that completed the protocol was too young to complete the PedsFAACT quality of life assessment.

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