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NeoplasmsPhase 2NCT01004393

Methylnaltrexone for Opioid-induced Constipation in Cancer Patients

A Phase 2 study testing Methylnaltrexone bromide in people with Neoplasms and Constipation, run by University of Vermont at 1 site in United States.

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 efficacy of methylnaltrexone in relieving opioid-induced constipation in cancer patients at various stages of disease. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 years and older
Conditions the study is for
Neoplasms, Constipation, Opioid-Related Disorders
What is being tested?
Methylnaltrexone bromide
Type of treatment
Injection or infusion
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
12 participants
Where
1 siteUnited States
Study dates
Oct 2009to Dec 2013
Phase
Phase 2
Are there results?
Yes, posted in the registrySummary in the doctors' view

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

  • Histologically or cytologically confirmed neoplasm
  • 18 years of age or older
  • Have received opioids for analgesia for at least 2 weeks and been on a stable regimen of opioids and laxatives for 3 or more days before study entry
  • Fewer than three laxation during the preceding week and no laxation within 24 hours before study entry, or no laxation within 48 hours before study entry
  • Life expectancy of at least 6 months
  • World Health Organization Performance Status 0-3
Show all 11Show fewer
  • Women of childbearing potential must have a negative pregnancy test
  • Breastfeeding should be discontinued prior to study entry
  • Ability to understand and the willingness to sign a written informed consent document.
  • Laboratory values within a week of study entry:
  • Absolute neutrophil count > 1,500/microliter Hemoglobin > 7 g/dL Platelet count > 100,000/microliter Calculated calcium < 10.5 mg/dL Calculated creatinine clearance > 30 mg.min Alanine aminotransferase < 3 x upper limit of normal (ULN) Aspartate aminotransferase < 3 x ULN Alkaline phosphatase < 2.5 x ULN Bilirubin < 1.5 x ULN

Who cannot join

  • Constipation not primarily caused by opioids, such as mechanical gastrointestinal obstruction or ongoing vinca alkaloid administration
  • Indwelling peritoneal catheter
  • Clinically active diverticular disease
  • Fecal impaction
  • Acute surgical abdomen
  • Fecal ostomy
Show all 10Show fewer
  • Peritoneal carcinomatosis
  • Known hypersensitivity to methylnaltrexone, naltrexone, or naloxone
  • Administration of any investigational drug or experimental product within the previous 30 days
  • Initiation of a new bowel regimen or prokinetic agents within a week of study entry

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

United States1 site
  • Fletcher Allen Health Care

    Burlington, Vermont, 05401

Other trials in United States

About this study

Official title: Phase II Trial of Subcutaneous Methylnaltrexone in the Treatment of Severe Opioid-induced Constipation in Cancer Patients

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of methylnaltrexone in relieving opioid-induced constipation in cancer patients at various stages of disease.

Read the detailed description

Pain is one of the most common and important symptoms of cancer, often requiring opioid analgesics for control. However constipation is one of the most frequent and debilitating side effects of opioids, occurring in 40%-70% of patients being treated for chronic pain. Although laxatives are commonly used to manage opioid-induced constipation, these agents are not always effective or satisfactory. Methylnaltrexone bromide is a peripherally acting antagonist of the mu-opioid receptor. As a quaternary amine, the ability of methylnaltrexone to cross the blood-brain barrier is limited. This allows methylnaltrexone to function as a peripherally-acting antagonist in the gastrointestinal tract without impacting opioid-mediated analgesic effects in the central nervous system. The efficacy and safety of methylnaltrexone in treating opioid-induced constipation in patients with advanced disease receiving palliative care has been demonstrated. However the efficacy of this agent has not been evaluated in more active patients who are earlier in their disease course. The present study will evaluate the efficacy and safety of methylnaltrexone for the relief of severe opioid-induced constipation in this population and will attempt to identify factors predictive of methylnaltrexone response.

Being tested
Methylnaltrexone bromide
Keywords
Methylnaltrexone, Constipation, Narcotic Antagonists, Analgesics, Opioid, Neoplasms
Medical subject headings
Neoplasms, Constipation, Opioid-Related Disorders

What participants receive

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

  • Methylnaltrexone bromideDrug

    Also called Relistor

    Methylnaltrexone bromide, dosage based on weight (0.15 mg/kg (round dose up to nearest 0.1 mL of volume) for weight less than 38 kg or greater than 114 kg; 8 mg (0.4 mL) for weight 38 kg to less than 62 kg; and 12 mg (0.6 mL) for weight 62 kg to 114 kg), single dose

Study groups in NCT01004393
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Methylnaltrexone bromideExperimentalA single dose of methylnaltrexone will be administered subcutaneously to eligible subjects based on weight at the study entry. Since we will include subjects at all stages of cancer management, administering this study drug is considered experimental. We will use the dose approved by FDA, i.e., 0.15 mg/kg (round dose up to nearest 0.1 mL of volume) for weight less than 38 kg or greater than 114 kg; 8 mg (0.4 mL) for weight 38 kg to less than 62 kg; and 12 mg (0.6 mL) for weight 62 kg to 114 kg.
Receives: Drug: Methylnaltrexone bromide

What is being measured

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

  1. Rescue-free Laxation After Administration of Subcutaneous Methylnaltrexone

    Measured: 4 hours after the dose of subcutaneous methylnaltrexone

Secondary outcomes (7)
  1. Laxation After Administration of Subcutaneous Methylnaltrexone

    Measured: 24 and 48 hours after the dose of subcutaneous methylnaltrexone

  2. Time to Laxation After Administration of Subcutaneous Methylnaltrexone

    Measured: 48 hours after the dose of subcutaneous methylnaltrexone

  3. Overall Pain Scores (0-10; 0=no Pain, 10=Worst Pain) After Administration of Subcutaneous Methylnaltrexone

    Measured: 48 hours after the dose of subcutaneous methylnaltrexone

  4. Symptoms of Opioid Withdrawal (Modified Himmelsbach Withdrawal Scales (Ranging 7-28 in Total; 1=None - 4=Severe for 7 Items)) After Administration of Subcutaneous Methylnaltrexone

    Measured: 48 hours after the dose of subcutaneous methylnaltrexone

  5. Bowel Movement Assessment (Frequency, Consistency and Difficulty) After Administration of Subcutaneous Methylnaltrexone

    Measured: 48 hours after the dose of subcutaneous methylnaltrexone

  6. Constipation Assessment (Severity and Distress) After Administration of Subcutaneous Methylnaltrexone

    Measured: 48 hours after the dose of subcutaneous methylnaltrexone

  7. Patient Satisfaction With the Study Medication After Administration of Subcutaneous Methylnaltrexone

    Measured: 48 hours after the dose of subcutaneous methylnaltrexone

Timeline

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

  1. First posted29 Oct 2009 (estimated)
  2. Study startOct 2009
  3. Primary completionDec 2013
  4. Study completionDec 2013

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 2
Primary purpose
Supportive care
Allocation
Not applicable
Intervention model
Single group
Masking
None (open label)
Enrolment
12 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT01004393
Sponsor's protocol ID
VCC 0911
Other IDs
VCC 0911
Status last verified
Dec 2015
First submitted
28 Oct 2009
Last updated
2 Feb 2016
Data monitoring committee
Yes

Publications

  • Mori M, Ji Y, Kumar S, Ashikaga T, Ades S. Phase II trial of subcutaneous methylnaltrexone in the treatment of severe opioid-induced constipation (OIC) in cancer patients: an exploratory study. Int J Clin Oncol. 2017 Apr;22(2):397-404. doi: 10.1007/s10147-016-1041-6. Epub 2016 Sep 15.

    PubMed 27628064

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A Phase 2 study testing Methylnaltrexone bromide in people with Neoplasms and Constipation, run by University of Vermont at 1 site in United States.

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 11 inclusion and 10 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 2 Feb 2016. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

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 2 studies give the treatment to a larger group to see whether it has the intended effect and to keep checking safety.

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

Are results available for this study?

Yes. Results are posted in the registry (first posted 2 Feb 2016). A summary is in the For doctors view, and the full results are on ClinicalTrials.gov.

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?

Rescue-free Laxation After Administration of Subcutaneous Methylnaltrexone (time frame: 4 hours after the dose of subcutaneous methylnaltrexone). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT01004393, which also lists 1 linked publication.

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 2 Feb 2016.

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