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Cancer PainNCT07421674

Assessing Hydromorphone Sustained-Release Tablets in Elderly Cancer Pain Patients With Renal Insufficiency

An observational study of Cancer Pain and Renal Insufficiency Chronic, run by Taian Cancer Hospital at 1 site in China.

Not yet recruiting

Opening soon. The study is approved but enrolment has not started yet. Sites may already take enquiries.

Sites and contacts
Official record
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Trial summary

This clinical study aims to understand whether domestic hydromorphinone sustained-release tablets are effective and safe in treating moderate to severe cancer pain in elderly patients with renal insufficiency. It will also understand key safety concerns, especially regarding renal function and neurotoxicity. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 65 years and older
Type of treatment
Pill or oral medicine
How many people
62 participants
Where
1 siteChina
Study dates
10 Feb 2026to 31 Dec 2028
How long will I take part?
4 Weeks
Phase
Observational
Are there results?
Not yet: the study is under way

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 65 years and older
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Older adult

Study population: Study participants will be selected from the patient population presenting at the Oncology Department of Taian City Tumor Hospital, a regional tertiary cancer care center in Shandong Province, China. Recruitment will specifically target older adult patients with cancer who are being evaluated for and initiate standardized opioid therapy for moderate-to-severe cancer pain at this institution.

Who may be able to join

  • Age ≥ 65 years.
  • Pathologically or cytologically confirmed malignant tumor.
  • Opioid-naïve patients with moderate-to-severe cancer pain (Numerical Rating Scale score ≥ 4).
  • Renal function meeting one of the following criteria at baseline:
  • 1)Mild-to-moderate renal insufficiency group: 30 mL/min/1.73m² ≤ estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) < 90 mL/min/1.73m².
  • 2)Normal renal function group: eGFR ≥ 90 mL/min/1.73m². 5.Expected survival period ≥ 3 months. 6.Ability to take oral medication and cooperate with study assessments. 7.Willing to participate voluntarily and able to provide signed informed consent.

Who cannot join

  • Severe renal insufficiency (eGFR < 30 mL/min/1.73m²) or requirement for renal replacement therapy.
  • Severe hepatic insufficiency (alanine aminotransferase / aspartate aminotransferase ≥ 2.5 times the upper limit of normal or Child-Pugh Class C).
  • Paralytic ileus.
  • Pain of unclear origin or pain that is solely acute/incident pain.
  • Symptoms or history of diseases such as intracranial hypertension, head injury, cerebral aneurysm, or other central nervous system disorders.
  • Symptoms of prostatic hypertrophy, thyroid dysfunction, or urethral stricture. Symptoms of asthma, respiratory obstruction, or respiratory failure.
Show all 10Show fewer
  • Known allergy or hypersensitivity to hydromorphone or oxycodone.
  • Use of monoamine oxidase inhibitors within 14 days prior to enrollment.
  • Participation in any other clinical trial within 1 month prior to enrollment.
  • Any other condition considered by the investigator as unsuitable for participation in this study.

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.

Junjun Hou contact

+8613583834178

China1 site
  • Tai'an Caner Hospital

    Tai’an, Shandong, 271000

    Xiaomei He, +86 13705383066, yifanmami@126.com

    Junjun Hou

Other trials in China

About this study

Official title: Application Research of Hydromorphinone Sustained-release Tablets in the Treatment of Elderly Patients With Cancer Pain Accompanied by Renal Insufficiency

This clinical study aims to understand whether domestic hydromorphinone sustained-release tablets are effective and safe in treating moderate to severe cancer pain in elderly patients with renal insufficiency.

It will also understand key safety concerns, especially regarding renal function and neurotoxicity.

Read more

The main questions it aims to answer include:1. Can hydromorphinone sustained-release tablets effectively relieve the pain of such patients and improve their quality of life?2. During the treatment period, what effect does this drug have on renal function (measured by eGFR)? 3. In this specific population, what are the occurrence and characteristics of neurotoxicity and other side effects induced by opioids? Researchers will compare elderly cancer pain patients with renal insufficiency with those with normal renal function (both receiving the study drug treatment) to observe whether there are differences in efficacy and safety results.

Participants will:

Receive a standardized treatment plan: First, subcutaneous injection of hydromorphinone injection for dose titration, and then switch to daily oral administration of hydromorphinone sustained-release tablets for 4 weeks.

Visit the clinic for assessment and examination (including renal function tests) during the baseline period, on the 7th day, and at the weekends of the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th days.

Regularly monitor and record the degree of pain, the occurrence of explosive pain, the use of medication, and any side effects.

Read the detailed description
  1. The research background and principle of elderly cancer patients are often faced with moderately severe pain, the pain management is particularly complex in this group. The physiological functions of the elderly decline, often accompanied by a decrease in renal function, which significantly limits the safe use of many standard opioid analgesics, such as morphine. The active metabolites of morphine tend to accumulate in patients with renal insufficiency, increasing the risk of neurotoxicity. Another commonly used drug, oxycodone, may cause a relatively high incidence of gastrointestinal adverse reactions. Hydromorphinone is a potent opioid drug, and its pharmacological properties may offer a solution to this predicament. It is mainly metabolized through liver glucoaldehyde acidification, generating inactive metabolites, and does not rely on the complex cytochrome P450 enzyme system. Therefore, the risk of drug interactions is relatively low, and theoretically, it has a smaller impact on kidney function, especially suitable for elderly patients with reduced kidney function. However, although there have been some studies on imported hydromoradone preparations, domestic hydromoradone hydrochloride sustained-release tablets (such as Ruining ®) have lacked prospective and systematic clinical evidence in the cancer pain population characterized by dual risk factors of "old age" and "renal insufficiency" since their launch. This study aims to fill this crucial gap in evidence.
  2. The research design and methodology described in this study using prospective, observational cohort design. Unlike randomized controlled trials, this study aims to observe the natural outcomes of standardized treatment regimens in elderly patients with different renal function statuses under real-world conditions. All eligible patients enrolled in the group will receive a unified analgesic treatment plan based on international authoritative guidelines: Firstly, subcutaneous injection titration of hydromorphinone injection will be performed to quickly determine the individualized dose required for pain control; After the pain stabilized, it was uniformly converted to the same dose of domestic hydromorphinone sustained-release tablets for oral maintenance treatment once daily. The total treatment observation period was 4 weeks. The key to the research lies in "hierarchical comparison". Before treatment, the investigators will naturally divide the patients into two cohorts based on their estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR, a core indicator for evaluating renal function) : the "Elderly with renal insufficiency group" and the "Elderly with normal renal function Group". In this way, the investigators can directly compare the performance differences of the drug in these two types of people with different physiological states. The sample size calculation (planned to include a total of 62 patients) was based on the primary safety endpoint - the change in eGFR values relative to baseline at week 4 of treatment. A clinically significant effect size was preset during the calculation, and sufficient statistical certainty was ensured to guarantee the reliability of the research results.
  3. The core assessment and monitoring framework in addition to conventional pain intensity assessment (NRS) adopting digital grading method, quality of living survey and common adverse reactions, this research established dual core security monitoring system: Dynamic monitoring of renal function: Serum creatinine will be systematically detected and eGFR calculated at five time points before and during treatment. This is not only used to compare the differences between groups, but more importantly, to monitor the dynamic trajectory of each patient's individual renal function and promptly detect any clinically significant signs of deterioration. Active screening for neurotoxicity (OIN) : In response to neurotoxic symptoms such as delirium, drowsiness, and myoclonus that may be caused by opioids, the study will conduct active screening and assessment once a week using a series of standardized scales, for example, using the Confusion Assessment method (CAM) to screen for delirium. This systematic monitoring aims to capture the incidence and characteristics of OIN more precisely.
  4. Data analysis, statistical analysis strategy will use advanced statistical models to cope with the complexity of clinical data. For the primary endpoint (eGFR change), covariance analysis will be used to correct for baseline eGFR differences during statistical analysis, thereby more purer assessing the impact of the treatment itself on renal function. For data such as pain scores that are repeatedly measured at different time points, generalized estimating equations will be used for analysis to effectively utilize all the information of the longitudinal data. Furthermore, if a sufficient number of neurotoxic events are observed in the study, the investigators will conduct an exploratory analysis and attempt to construct a clinical risk prediction tool (nomogram) using a multi-factor regression model to identify high-risk patients with OIN.
  5. The risk control and clinical patient safety is the primary consideration. The research protocol is equipped with clear safety suspension rules: once a patient's eGFR drops by more than 30% from baseline or falls within the range of severe renal failure, the study medication will be immediately suspended and a multidisciplinary consultation will be initiated. For patients with moderate to severe neurotoxicity, there are already pre-established alternative analgesic regimens (such as switching to fentanyl transdermal patches). The entire research was carried out on the "Standardized Cancer Pain Treatment Demonstration Ward" platform of Tai 'an Cancer Hospital. This team has mature cancer pain management and emergency response procedures.
  6. The value of the research and production in this study beyond the simple answer of "analgesia is effective", focus on "in the vulnerable groups is safe" more pressing clinical problem. Its achievements are expected to provide value on three levels:

Direct evidence: It provides the first prospective efficacy and safety data for the application of domestic hydromoradone sustained-release tablets in elderly patients with renal insufficiency.

Clinical guidance: Clarify the adverse reaction spectrum of this drug in this population, especially its specific effects on renal function and the nervous system, to provide a basis for clinical dose adjustment and risk early warning.

Methodological demonstration: Demonstrate how to answer practical questions about medication safety for specific high-risk populations through rigorous observational studies and advanced statistical methods.

Through this research, the investigators hope to provide decision support based on localized drugs and high-level evidence for clinicians when treating this complex and vulnerable patient group, ultimately promoting the precision and safety improvement of cancer pain management in the elderly.

Keywords
Cancer Pain, Renal Insufficiency, Aged, Hydromorphone, Opioid-Induced Neurotoxicity
Medical subject headings
Cancer Pain, Renal Insufficiency, Chronic, Renal Insufficiency

What participants receive

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

Study groups in NCT07421674
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Hydromorphone - Renal Insufficiency GroupElder cancer pain patients with mild to moderate renal insufficiency at enrollment, defined by an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) range of 30 ≤ eGFR < 90 mL/min/1.73m². They receive standardized Hydromorphone Sustained-Release Tablet treatment.
Hydromorphone - Normal Renal Function GroupElder cancer pain patients with normal renal function at enrollment, defined by an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of eGFR ≥ 90 mL/min/1.73m². They receive the identical standardized Hydromorphone Sustained-Release Tablet treatment as Cohort 1, serving as the reference comparison group.

What is being measured

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

  1. The changes in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) from baseline at the end of the 4th week of treatmentDetailed

    The estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) is a validated indicator of kidney function. It is calculated from serum creatinine using the Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI) equation, which incorporates the patient's age and sex. All values are normalized to body surface area and expressed as mL/min/1.73m². On this scale, higher eGFR values indicate better kidney function, while lower values indicate impaired kidney function.

    The change in eGFR is defined as the value measured at week 4 minus the value measured at baseline (immediately prior to treatment initiation).

    A negative change value indicates a decrease in eGFR from baseline, representing a decline in kidney function.

    A positive change value indicates an increase in eGFR from baseline, representing an improvement in kidney function.

    eGFR is measured from venous blood samples collected at baseline and at week 4.

    Measured: From the start of maintenance treatment with hydromorphinone sustained-release tablets until the end of the fourth week of treatment.

Timeline

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

  1. First posted19 Feb 2026
  2. Study start10 Feb 2026 (estimated)
  3. Primary completion31 Dec 2028 (estimated)
  4. Study completion31 Dec 2028 (estimated)

Resources

More details

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

Study design
Study type
Observational
Observational model
Cohort
Time perspective
Prospective
Enrolment
62 participants (estimated)
Target duration
4 Weeks
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT07421674
Sponsor's protocol ID
2025022
Other IDs
YXH2025JS126
Status last verified
Feb 2026
First submitted
6 Feb 2026
Last updated
25 Feb 2026
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
Yes: De-identified individual participant data that underlie the results reported in the primary publication (including demographics, baseline clinical characteristics, serial eGFR measurements, pain scores, and safety outcomes) will be shared. Supporting documents like the study protocol and statistical analysis plan will also be provided. Data will become available 12 months after article publication to researchers who submit a methodologically sound proposal and sign a data use agreement.

Publications

  • Zheng MD, Li YX, Wang ZY, Ma H, Wang Y, Qiao TT, Krasovitsky MS, Tatar C, Karlekar M, Yan J. Patient-controlled analgesia with hydromorphone treatment for advanced colon cancer with severe pain in an older adult patient: a case report and literature review. J Gastrointest Oncol. 2024 Oct 31;15(5):2330-2337. doi: 10.21037/jgo-24-713. Epub 2024 Oct 29.

    PubMed 39554558
  • Lin R, Lin S, Feng S, Wu Q, Fu J, Wang F, Li H, Li X, Zhang G, Yao Y, Xin M, Lai T, Lv X, Chen Y, Yang S, Lin Y, Hong L, Cai Z, Wang J, Lin G, Lin S, Zhao S, Zhu J, Huang C. Comparing Patient-Controlled Analgesia Versus Non-PCA Hydromorphone Titration for Severe Cancer Pain: A Randomized Phase III Trial. J Natl Compr Canc Netw. 2021 Aug 3;19(10):1148-1155. doi: 10.6004/jnccn.2020.7699.

    PubMed 34343968
  • Hanna M, Thipphawong J; 118 Study Group. A randomized, double-blind comparison of OROS(R) hydromorphone and controlled-release morphine for the control of chronic cancer pain. BMC Palliat Care. 2008 Oct 31;7:17. doi: 10.1186/1472-684X-7-17.

    PubMed 18976472
  • van Ojik AL, Jansen PA, Brouwers JR, van Roon EN. Treatment of chronic pain in older people: evidence-based choice of strong-acting opioids. Drugs Aging. 2012 Aug 1;29(8):615-25. doi: 10.2165/11632620-000000000-00000.

    PubMed 22765848
  • Kullgren J, Le V, Wheeler W. Incidence of hydromorphone-induced neuroexcitation in hospice patients. J Palliat Med. 2013 Oct;16(10):1205-9. doi: 10.1089/jpm.2012.0467. Epub 2013 Aug 9.

    PubMed 23930920
  • Carter NJ, Keating GM. OROS hydromorphone prolonged release: a review of its use in the management of chronic, moderate to severe pain. CNS Drugs. 2010 Apr;24(4):337-61. doi: 10.2165/11202580-000000000-00000.

    PubMed 20297858
  • Odoma VA, Pitliya A, AlEdani E, Bhangu J, Javed K, Manshahia PK, Nahar S, Kanda S, Chatha U, Mohammed L. Opioid Prescription in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease: A Systematic Review of Comparing Safety and Efficacy of Opioid Use in Chronic Kidney Disease Patients. Cureus. 2023 Sep 18;15(9):e45485. doi: 10.7759/cureus.45485. eCollection 2023 Sep.

    PubMed 37727840
  • Liu L, Xu M, Wang J, Hu Y, Huang Z. Research Progress of Hydromorphone in Clinical Application. Physiol Res. 2025 Mar 21;74(1):41-48. doi: 10.33549/physiolres.935354.

    PubMed 40116549
  • Lim KH, Nguyen NN, Qian Y, Williams JL, Lui DD, Bruera E, Yennurajalingam S. Frequency, Outcomes, and Associated Factors for Opioid-Induced Neurotoxicity in Patients with Advanced Cancer Receiving Opioids in Inpatient Palliative Care. J Palliat Med. 2018 Dec;21(12):1698-1704. doi: 10.1089/jpm.2018.0169. Epub 2018 Sep 27.

    PubMed 30260731
  • Kim YS, Kim WY. Reversible decorrelation method for progressive transmission of 3-D medical image. IEEE Trans Med Imaging. 1998 Jun;17(3):383-94. doi: 10.1109/42.712128.

    PubMed 9735902
  • Owsiany MT, Hawley CE, Triantafylidis LK, Paik JM. Opioid Management in Older Adults with Chronic Kidney Disease: A Review. Am J Med. 2019 Dec;132(12):1386-1393. doi: 10.1016/j.amjmed.2019.06.014. Epub 2019 Jul 8.

    PubMed 31295441
  • Kimmel PL, Fwu CW, Abbott KC, Eggers AW, Kline PP, Eggers PW. Opioid Prescription, Morbidity, and Mortality in United States Dialysis Patients. J Am Soc Nephrol. 2017 Dec;28(12):3658-3670. doi: 10.1681/ASN.2017010098. Epub 2017 Sep 21.

    PubMed 28935654
  • Roy PJ, Weltman M, Dember LM, Liebschutz J, Jhamb M; HOPE Consortium. Pain management in patients with chronic kidney disease and end-stage kidney disease. Curr Opin Nephrol Hypertens. 2020 Nov;29(6):671-680. doi: 10.1097/MNH.0000000000000646.

    PubMed 32941189
  • Mullins S, Hosseini F, Gibson W, Thake M. Physiological changes from ageing regarding pain perception and its impact on pain management for older adults. Clin Med (Lond). 2022 Jul;22(4):307-310. doi: 10.7861/clinmed.22.4.phys.

    PubMed 35882493
  • Domenichiello AF, Ramsden CE. The silent epidemic of chronic pain in older adults. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry. 2019 Jul 13;93:284-290. doi: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2019.04.006. Epub 2019 Apr 17.

    PubMed 31004724

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

An observational study of Cancer Pain and Renal Insufficiency Chronic, run by Taian Cancer Hospital at 1 site in China.

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 6 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: opening soon, as of the sponsor's last update on 25 Feb 2026. 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 China. 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.

Are results available for this study?

This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.

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

Contact Xian'guo Wang (+8613562898761, wangxianguo1111@163.com), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

The changes in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) from baseline at the end of the 4th week of treatmentDetailed (time frame: From the start of maintenance treatment with hydromorphinone sustained-release tablets until the end of the fourth week of treatment.). 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 NCT07421674, which also lists 18 linked publications.

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 25 Feb 2026.

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