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AnemiaPhase 3NCT00270127

Epoetin Alfa for Anemia in Patients With Cancer Receiving Non-platinum Chemotherapy

A Phase 3 study testing Epoetin alfa in people with Anemia and Cancer, run by Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceutical Research & Development, L.L.C..

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
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Trial summary

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of epoetin alfa versus placebo in reducing or preventing the need for transfusions in anemic patients with non-myeloid cancer on non-platinum chemotherapy, and to investigate quality-of-life benefits associated with the use of epoetin alfa. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 years and older
Conditions the study is for
Anemia, Cancer, Neoplasm
What is being tested?
Epoetin alfa
How many people
375 participants
Where
No sites listed yet
Study dates
Aug 1996to Sep 1998
Phase
Phase 3
Are there results?
None posted in the registry

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 years and older
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • Confirmed diagnosis of non-myeloid malignancy
  • undergoing treatment with non-platinum-containing chemotherapy, or non-platinum-containing chemotherapy is imminent
  • Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (which is a scale used by researchers to represent the level of activity that a patient is capable of) score of 0 (fully active, no disease restriction) to 3 (capable of only limited self-care, confined to bed or chair more than 50% of waking hours)
  • life expectancy of at least 6 months
  • baseline hemoglobin <= 10.5 grams per deciliter (or a fall in hemoglobin level >= 1.5 grams per deciliter per cycle or per month since the beginning of the current course of chemotherapy such that it dropped to <= 12 grams per deciliter) and baseline count of <125,000 microliters for developing red cells

Who cannot join

  • Patients having a clinically significant disease other than cancer
  • treated by platinum-containing chemotherapy within 3 months of study start
  • having uncontrolled high blood pressure, a history of seizure, or untreated iron, folate, or Vitamin B12 deficiency
  • received a transfusion or radiotherapy within 2 weeks of study start, or had surgery within 1 week of study start
  • intending to use steroid drugs during the study

About this study

Official title: Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study to Assess the Effect of Early Intervention and/or Treatment With Epoetin Alfa on Anemia in Cancer Patients Receiving Non-Platinum-Containing Chemotherapy

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of epoetin alfa versus placebo in reducing or preventing the need for transfusions in anemic patients with non-myeloid cancer on non-platinum chemotherapy, and to investigate quality-of-life benefits associated with the use of epoetin alfa. Epoetin alfa is a genetically engineered protein that stimulates red blood cell production.

Read the detailed description

Cancer patients often experience anemia due to the disease itself, chemotherapy, or both. Quality of life is also affected, due in part to the fatigue associated with anemia. Previous studies with epoetin alfa have suggested that achieving a higher hemoglobin level may improve quality of life and help patients live longer. This is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter study to assess the effect of treatment with epoetin alfa in reducing or preventing anemia and transfusions in patients receiving non-platinum chemotherapy for non-myeloid cancers. The study also aims to determine whether changes in erythropoietin and hemoglobin levels after 2 weeks, serum ferritin (iron) levels after 2 weeks and changes in hemoglobin and developing red blood cells after either 2 or 4 weeks predict responsiveness to epoetin alfa. There will be 2 treatment groups: one group will receive subcutaneous epoetin alfa injections 3 times per week (starting at 150 units per kilogram, adjusted if needed to a maximum of 300 units per kilogram) and the other group will receive an equal volume of matching subcutaneous placebo. Treatment is to continue for 12 to 24 weeks (3 to 6 chemotherapy cycles), plus 4 weeks post-chemotherapy. Patients in the study will be observed a year after the study ends for survival data. The primary measure of effectiveness will be determined by the number of patients who are transfused, depending on primary tumor type (solid or blood) and level of hemoglobin (above or below 10.5 grams per deciliter). Additional measures of effectiveness include the change in hemoglobin, hematocrit, and developing red blood cells from the start of the study until study completion, and the change in quality of life. Safety evaluations (incidence and severity of adverse events, laboratory tests, vital signs and physical examinations) will be performed throughout the study. The hypothesis of the study is that epoetin alfa will be superior to placebo in reducing the need for transfusions and in improving anemia and quality of life. 150 units per kilogram of epoetin alfa (or placebo) 3 times weekly subcutaneously for 4 weeks, then continuing this dose or 300 units per kilogram, depending on developing red blood cell counts and/or hemoglobin. Study duration is 12 to 24 weeks (3 to 6 cycles) plus 4 weeks post-chemotherapy.

Conditions
Anemia, Cancer, Neoplasm
Being tested
Epoetin alfa
Keywords
Anemia, cancer, quality of life, chemotherapy, hemoglobin, transfusion, epoetin alfa, epoetin, erythropoietin
Medical subject headings
Anemia, Neoplasms

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • Epoetin alfaDrug

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Proportion of patients transfused after one month

Secondary outcomes (1)
  1. Changes in hemoglobin, hematocrit, and developing red blood cells from the start of the study until study completion; Changes in quality-of-life; Safety

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted26 Dec 2005 (estimated)
  2. Study startAug 1996
  3. Study completionSep 1998

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase 3
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Masking
Double blind
Enrolment
375 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT00270127
Sponsor's protocol ID
CR005917
Status last verified
Jan 2011
First submitted
22 Dec 2005
Last updated
18 May 2011
Results posted
No

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A Phase 3 study testing Epoetin alfa in people with Anemia and Cancer, run by Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceutical Research & Development, L.L.C..

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 5 inclusion and 5 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 18 May 2011. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

What does this phase mean?

Phase 3 studies compare the treatment with the current standard treatment or a placebo in a large group, to confirm how well it works and watch for side effects.

Not every study follows the same path, and some studies (observational studies, device studies) have no phase.

Are results available for this study?

The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Proportion of patients transfused after one month. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 18 May 2011.

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