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Dexamethasone in Controlling Dyspnea in Patients With Cancer

Primary Purpose

Dyspnea, Malignant Neoplasm

Status
Active
Phase
Phase 2
Locations
United States
Study Type
Interventional
Intervention
Dexamethasone
Placebo
Questionnaire Administration
Sponsored by
M.D. Anderson Cancer Center
About
Eligibility
Locations
Arms
Outcomes
Full info

About this trial

This is an interventional supportive care trial for Dyspnea

Eligibility Criteria

18 Years - undefined (Adult, Older Adult)All SexesDoes not accept healthy volunteers

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Diagnosis of cancer.
  • Dyspnea with an average intensity >= 4 on the dyspnea NRS (range 0-10) over the past week.
  • Radiologic suspicion of thoracic involvement, such as primary or metastatic lung cancer, lymphangitic carcinomatosis, airway infiltration, lymphadenopathy, pleural or chest wall invasion.
  • Seen at an outpatient clinic at MD Anderson Cancer Center or Lyndon B. Johnson (LBJ) Hospital General Oncology Clinic.
  • Able to communicate in English or Spanish.
  • Karnofsky performance status >= 30%.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Delirium (i.e., score > 13 on the Memorial Delirium Assessment Scale; range 1-30).
  • Oxygen saturation < 90% despite supplemental oxygen > 6 L/minute.
  • Previous allergic reactions to dexamethasone.
  • Diagnosis of diabetes mellitus uncontrolled with oral hypoglycemic agents or insulin.
  • Postsurgical open wound that has not healed at the time of enrollment.
  • Any infection requiring antibiotics at the time of study enrollment.
  • Major surgery within the past 2 weeks.
  • Megestrol use at the time of study enrollment.
  • Neutropenia (absolute neutrophil count < 1.0 x 10^9/L) at the time of study enrollment (bloodwork is not required if patient did not have chemotherapy within past 2 weeks).
  • Currently receiving or expected to start cytotoxic chemotherapy or immunotherapy within 1 week of study enrollment and additional dexamethasone cannot be used concurrently as per attending oncologist.
  • Severe anemia (hemoglobin < 8 g/L) not corrected prior to study enrollment (bloodwork is not required if patient did not have chemotherapy within past 2 weeks).
  • Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbation at the time of study enrollment.
  • Heart failure exacerbation at the time of study enrollment.
  • Expected to undergo therapeutic thoracentesis in the next 2 weeks.
  • High anxiety score (>= 15/21) on the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS).
  • Chronic systemic corticosteroid use (> 14 days) at the time of study enrollment.
  • Any expected corticosteroid use during study enrollment at higher doses than will be used in this study.

Sites / Locations

  • Lyndon B. Johnson Hospital
  • Harris Health System Settegast Health Center
  • M D Anderson Cancer Center

Arms of the Study

Arm 1

Arm 2

Arm Type

Experimental

Active Comparator

Arm Label

Group I (dexamethasone)

Group II (placebo, dexamethasone)

Arm Description

Patients receive dexamethasone PO BID on days 1-28 in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.

Patients receive placebo PO BID on days 1-14 and dexamethasone PO BID on days 15-28 in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.

Outcomes

Primary Outcome Measures

Change in Dyspnea Numeric Score Over the Past 24 Hours for Baseline and Day 7 Average Intensity
The average dyspnea intensity over the past 24 hours was assessed daily using a validated numeric rating scale from 0 to 10. The total score ranged from 0-10 where higher scores indicate worse dyspnea. The change in Dyspnea scores between Baseline and Day 7 were measured. Linear model analysis was used for analysis.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Change in Dyspnea Numeric Score Over the Past 24 Hours for Baseline and Day 14 Average Intensity
The average dyspnea intensity over the past 24 hours was assessed daily using a validated numeric rating scale from 0 to 10. The total score ranged from 0-10 where higher scores indicate worse dyspnea. The change in Dyspnea scores between Baseline and Day 14 were measured. Linear model analysis was used for analysis.
Change in Dyspnea Numeric Score Over the Past 24 Hours for Baseline and Day 7 Average Unpleasantness
The average dyspnea unpleasantness over the past 24 hours was assessed daily using a validated numeric rating scale from 0 to 10. The total score ranged from 0-10 where higher scores indicate worse dyspnea. The change in Dyspnea unpleasantness scores between Baseline and Day 7 were measured. Linear model analysis was used for analysis.
Change in Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale (ESAS) Dyspnea Score Between Baseline and Day 7
ESAS (Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale) is a validated scale ranging from 0 (not at all) to 10 (very much) used to assess 10 symptoms commonly experienced by cancer patients during the previous 24 hours: pain, fatigue, nausea, depression, anxiety, drowsiness, dyspnea, anorexia, sleep and feeling of well being. The change in ESAS fatigue score between Baseline and Day 7 were measured. Total ESAS fatigue score ranged from 0-10, with a higher score indicating higher fatigue. Linear model analysis was used for analysis.
Change in European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer-Quality of Life (EORTC QLQ-C30) Dyspnea Score Between Baseline and Day 7
European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30) is a well-validated quality-of-life assessment for patients with cancer, consisting of 30 questions that encompass three symptom scales (pain, fatigue, and nausea/vomiting) and six questions about single symptoms, as well as five functional scales (physical, cognitive, role, emotional, and social) and one scale assessing global health status/quality of life. Each single symptoms have four response categories (1=not at all, and 4=very much). The change in EORTC fatigue score between Baseline and Day 7 were measured. Total scores using a complex scoring procedures ranges from 0 to 100 with a higher scores indicating higher fatigue. Linear model analysis was used for analysis.
Change in Dyspnea Numeric Score Over the Past 24 Hours for Baseline and Day 14 Average Unpleasantness
The average dyspnea unpleasantness over the past 24 hours was assessed daily using a validated numeric rating scale from 0 to 10. The total score ranged from 0-10 where higher scores indicate worse dyspnea. The change in Dyspnea unpleasantness scores between Baseline and Day 14 were measured. Linear model analysis was used for analysis.
Change in Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale (ESAS) Dyspnea Score Between Baseline and Day 14
ESAS (Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale) is a validated scale ranging from 0 (not at all) to 10 (very much) used to assess 10 symptoms commonly experienced by cancer patients during the previous 24 hours: pain, fatigue, nausea, depression, anxiety, drowsiness, dyspnea, anorexia, sleep and feeling of well being. The change in ESAS fatigue score between Baseline and Day 14 were measured. Total ESAS fatigue score ranged from 0-10, with a higher score indicating higher fatigue. Linear model analysis was used for analysis.
Change in European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life (EORTC) Dyspnea Score Between Baseline and Day 14
European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30) is a well-validated quality-of-life assessment for patients with cancer, consisting of 30 questions that encompass three symptom scales (pain, fatigue, and nausea/vomiting) and six questions about single symptoms, as well as five functional scales (physical, cognitive, role, emotional, and social) and one scale assessing global health status/quality of life. Each single symptoms have four response categories (1=not at all, and 4=very much). The change in EORTC fatigue score between Baseline and Day 14 were measured. Total scores using a complex scoring procedures ranges from 0 to 100 with a higher scores indicating higher fatigue. Linear model analysis was used for analysis.

Full Information

First Posted
December 4, 2017
Last Updated
October 12, 2023
Sponsor
M.D. Anderson Cancer Center
Collaborators
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
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1. Study Identification

Unique Protocol Identification Number
NCT03367156
Brief Title
Dexamethasone in Controlling Dyspnea in Patients With Cancer
Official Title
A Randomized Controlled Trial of Dexamethasone for Dyspnea in Cancer Patients
Study Type
Interventional

2. Study Status

Record Verification Date
October 2023
Overall Recruitment Status
Active, not recruiting
Study Start Date
December 4, 2017 (Actual)
Primary Completion Date
May 5, 2021 (Actual)
Study Completion Date
December 31, 2025 (Anticipated)

3. Sponsor/Collaborators

Responsible Party, by Official Title
Sponsor
Name of the Sponsor
M.D. Anderson Cancer Center
Collaborators
National Cancer Institute (NCI)

4. Oversight

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Drug Product
Yes
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Device Product
No
Data Monitoring Committee
Yes

5. Study Description

Brief Summary
This phase II trial studies how well dexamethasone works in controlling dyspnea in patients with cancer. Dexamethasone may help control dyspnea (shortness of breath) and improve lung function and quality of life in cancer patients.
Detailed Description
PRIMARY OBJECTIVES: I. Compare the intensity of dyspnea (numeric rating scale [NRS]) in the dexamethasone arm with that in the placebo arm at week 1. SECONDARY OBJECTIVES: I. Compare the effects of dexamethasone with those of placebo in terms of personalized dyspnea response (based on a personalized dyspnea goal), unpleasantness of dyspnea, other symptoms, health-related quality of life, respiratory physiologic function, and adverse effects at week 1 and week 2, as well as the intensity of dyspnea at week 2. II. Identify predictive markers of dyspnea response to dexamethasone. OUTLINE: Patients are randomized to 1 of 2 groups. GROUP I: Patients receive dexamethasone orally (PO) twice daily (BID) on days 1-28 in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. GROUP II: Patients receive placebo PO BID on days 1-14 and dexamethasone PO BID on days 15-28 in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. After completion of study treatment, patients are followed up at days 28 and 42.

6. Conditions and Keywords

Primary Disease or Condition Being Studied in the Trial, or the Focus of the Study
Dyspnea, Malignant Neoplasm

7. Study Design

Primary Purpose
Supportive Care
Study Phase
Phase 2
Interventional Study Model
Parallel Assignment
Masking
ParticipantInvestigator
Allocation
Randomized
Enrollment
135 (Actual)

8. Arms, Groups, and Interventions

Arm Title
Group I (dexamethasone)
Arm Type
Experimental
Arm Description
Patients receive dexamethasone PO BID on days 1-28 in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.
Arm Title
Group II (placebo, dexamethasone)
Arm Type
Active Comparator
Arm Description
Patients receive placebo PO BID on days 1-14 and dexamethasone PO BID on days 15-28 in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.
Intervention Type
Drug
Intervention Name(s)
Dexamethasone
Other Intervention Name(s)
Aacidexam, Adexone, Aknichthol Dexa, Alba-Dex, Alin, Alin Depot, Alin Oftalmico, Amplidermis, Anemul mono, Auricularum, Auxiloson, Baycadron, Baycuten, Baycuten N, Cortidexason, Cortisumman, Decacort, Decadrol, Decadron, Decadron DP, Decalix, Decameth, Decasone R.p., Dectancyl, Dekacort, Deltafluorene, Deronil, Desamethasone, Desameton, Dexa-Mamallet, Dexa-Rhinosan, Dexa-Scheroson, Dexa-sine, Dexacortal, Dexacortin, Dexafarma, Dexafluorene, Dexalocal, Dexamecortin, Dexameth, Dexamethasone Intensol, Dexamethasonum, Dexamonozon, Dexapos, Dexinoral, Dexone, Dinormon, Fluorodelta, Fortecortin, Gammacorten, Hexadecadrol, Hexadrol, Lokalison-F, Loverine, Methylfluorprednisolone, Millicorten, Mymethasone, Orgadrone, Spersadex, TaperDex, Visumetazone, ZoDex
Intervention Description
Given PO
Intervention Type
Other
Intervention Name(s)
Placebo
Other Intervention Name(s)
placebo therapy, PLCB, sham therapy
Intervention Description
Given PO
Intervention Type
Other
Intervention Name(s)
Questionnaire Administration
Intervention Description
Ancillary studies
Primary Outcome Measure Information:
Title
Change in Dyspnea Numeric Score Over the Past 24 Hours for Baseline and Day 7 Average Intensity
Description
The average dyspnea intensity over the past 24 hours was assessed daily using a validated numeric rating scale from 0 to 10. The total score ranged from 0-10 where higher scores indicate worse dyspnea. The change in Dyspnea scores between Baseline and Day 7 were measured. Linear model analysis was used for analysis.
Time Frame
Baseline and Day 7
Secondary Outcome Measure Information:
Title
Change in Dyspnea Numeric Score Over the Past 24 Hours for Baseline and Day 14 Average Intensity
Description
The average dyspnea intensity over the past 24 hours was assessed daily using a validated numeric rating scale from 0 to 10. The total score ranged from 0-10 where higher scores indicate worse dyspnea. The change in Dyspnea scores between Baseline and Day 14 were measured. Linear model analysis was used for analysis.
Time Frame
Baseline and Day 14
Title
Change in Dyspnea Numeric Score Over the Past 24 Hours for Baseline and Day 7 Average Unpleasantness
Description
The average dyspnea unpleasantness over the past 24 hours was assessed daily using a validated numeric rating scale from 0 to 10. The total score ranged from 0-10 where higher scores indicate worse dyspnea. The change in Dyspnea unpleasantness scores between Baseline and Day 7 were measured. Linear model analysis was used for analysis.
Time Frame
Baseline and Day 7
Title
Change in Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale (ESAS) Dyspnea Score Between Baseline and Day 7
Description
ESAS (Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale) is a validated scale ranging from 0 (not at all) to 10 (very much) used to assess 10 symptoms commonly experienced by cancer patients during the previous 24 hours: pain, fatigue, nausea, depression, anxiety, drowsiness, dyspnea, anorexia, sleep and feeling of well being. The change in ESAS fatigue score between Baseline and Day 7 were measured. Total ESAS fatigue score ranged from 0-10, with a higher score indicating higher fatigue. Linear model analysis was used for analysis.
Time Frame
Baseline and Day 7
Title
Change in European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer-Quality of Life (EORTC QLQ-C30) Dyspnea Score Between Baseline and Day 7
Description
European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30) is a well-validated quality-of-life assessment for patients with cancer, consisting of 30 questions that encompass three symptom scales (pain, fatigue, and nausea/vomiting) and six questions about single symptoms, as well as five functional scales (physical, cognitive, role, emotional, and social) and one scale assessing global health status/quality of life. Each single symptoms have four response categories (1=not at all, and 4=very much). The change in EORTC fatigue score between Baseline and Day 7 were measured. Total scores using a complex scoring procedures ranges from 0 to 100 with a higher scores indicating higher fatigue. Linear model analysis was used for analysis.
Time Frame
Baseline and Day 7
Title
Change in Dyspnea Numeric Score Over the Past 24 Hours for Baseline and Day 14 Average Unpleasantness
Description
The average dyspnea unpleasantness over the past 24 hours was assessed daily using a validated numeric rating scale from 0 to 10. The total score ranged from 0-10 where higher scores indicate worse dyspnea. The change in Dyspnea unpleasantness scores between Baseline and Day 14 were measured. Linear model analysis was used for analysis.
Time Frame
Baseline and Day 14
Title
Change in Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale (ESAS) Dyspnea Score Between Baseline and Day 14
Description
ESAS (Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale) is a validated scale ranging from 0 (not at all) to 10 (very much) used to assess 10 symptoms commonly experienced by cancer patients during the previous 24 hours: pain, fatigue, nausea, depression, anxiety, drowsiness, dyspnea, anorexia, sleep and feeling of well being. The change in ESAS fatigue score between Baseline and Day 14 were measured. Total ESAS fatigue score ranged from 0-10, with a higher score indicating higher fatigue. Linear model analysis was used for analysis.
Time Frame
Baseline and Day 14
Title
Change in European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life (EORTC) Dyspnea Score Between Baseline and Day 14
Description
European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30) is a well-validated quality-of-life assessment for patients with cancer, consisting of 30 questions that encompass three symptom scales (pain, fatigue, and nausea/vomiting) and six questions about single symptoms, as well as five functional scales (physical, cognitive, role, emotional, and social) and one scale assessing global health status/quality of life. Each single symptoms have four response categories (1=not at all, and 4=very much). The change in EORTC fatigue score between Baseline and Day 14 were measured. Total scores using a complex scoring procedures ranges from 0 to 100 with a higher scores indicating higher fatigue. Linear model analysis was used for analysis.
Time Frame
Baseline and Day 14

10. Eligibility

Sex
All
Minimum Age & Unit of Time
18 Years
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
No
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria: Diagnosis of cancer. Dyspnea with an average intensity >= 4 on the dyspnea NRS (range 0-10) over the past week. Radiologic suspicion of thoracic involvement, such as primary or metastatic lung cancer, lymphangitic carcinomatosis, airway infiltration, lymphadenopathy, pleural or chest wall invasion. Seen at an outpatient clinic at MD Anderson Cancer Center or Lyndon B. Johnson (LBJ) Hospital General Oncology Clinic. Able to communicate in English or Spanish. Karnofsky performance status >= 30%. Exclusion Criteria: Delirium (i.e., score > 13 on the Memorial Delirium Assessment Scale; range 1-30). Oxygen saturation < 90% despite supplemental oxygen > 6 L/minute. Previous allergic reactions to dexamethasone. Diagnosis of diabetes mellitus uncontrolled with oral hypoglycemic agents or insulin. Postsurgical open wound that has not healed at the time of enrollment. Any infection requiring antibiotics at the time of study enrollment. Major surgery within the past 2 weeks. Megestrol use at the time of study enrollment. Neutropenia (absolute neutrophil count < 1.0 x 10^9/L) at the time of study enrollment (bloodwork is not required if patient did not have chemotherapy within past 2 weeks). Currently receiving or expected to start cytotoxic chemotherapy or immunotherapy within 1 week of study enrollment and additional dexamethasone cannot be used concurrently as per attending oncologist. Severe anemia (hemoglobin < 8 g/L) not corrected prior to study enrollment (bloodwork is not required if patient did not have chemotherapy within past 2 weeks). Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbation at the time of study enrollment. Heart failure exacerbation at the time of study enrollment. Expected to undergo therapeutic thoracentesis in the next 2 weeks. High anxiety score (>= 15/21) on the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Chronic systemic corticosteroid use (> 14 days) at the time of study enrollment. Any expected corticosteroid use during study enrollment at higher doses than will be used in this study.
Overall Study Officials:
First Name & Middle Initial & Last Name & Degree
David Hui
Organizational Affiliation
M.D. Anderson Cancer Center
Official's Role
Principal Investigator
Facility Information:
Facility Name
Lyndon B. Johnson Hospital
City
Houston
State/Province
Texas
ZIP/Postal Code
77026
Country
United States
Facility Name
Harris Health System Settegast Health Center
City
Houston
State/Province
Texas
ZIP/Postal Code
77028
Country
United States
Facility Name
M D Anderson Cancer Center
City
Houston
State/Province
Texas
ZIP/Postal Code
77030
Country
United States

12. IPD Sharing Statement

Citations:
PubMed Identifier
36087590
Citation
Hui D, Puac V, Shelal Z, Dev R, Hanneman SK, Jennings K, Ma H, Urbauer DL, Shete S, Fossella F, Liao Z, Blumenschein G Jr, Chang JY, O'Reilly M, Gandhi SJ, Tsao A, Mahler DA, Bruera E. Effect of dexamethasone on dyspnoea in patients with cancer (ABCD): a parallel-group, double-blind, randomised, controlled trial. Lancet Oncol. 2022 Oct;23(10):1321-1331. doi: 10.1016/S1470-2045(22)00508-3. Epub 2022 Sep 7.
Results Reference
derived
Links:
URL
http://www.mdanderson.org
Description
University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center Website

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Dexamethasone in Controlling Dyspnea in Patients With Cancer

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