Propranolol Hydrochloride in Treating Patients With Prostate Cancer Undergoing Surgery

January 29, 2025 updated by: Wake Forest University Health Sciences

Evaluating the Effect of ADRB2 Blockers on PKA/BAD/CREB Signaling in Patients Undergoing Prostatectomy

This randomized pilot clinical trial studies how well propranolol hydrochloride works in treating patients with prostate cancer who are undergoing surgery. When stressed, the body makes a molecule that may prevent tumor cells from dying, and propranolol hydrochloride may affect the signals in cells that cause tumor cells survival and death.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Terminated

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

PRIMARY OBJECTIVES:

I. To compare activation of ADRB2/PKA/BAD signaling pathway in the prostate glands of men two hours after taking or not taking propranolol hydrochloride (propranolol) prior to prostatectomy, as indicated by phosphorylated CREB.

SECONDARY OBJECTIVES:

I. To compare activation of ADRB2/PKA/BAD signaling pathway in the prostate glands of men two hours after taking or not taking propranolol prior to prostatectomy as indicated by phosphorylated BAD.

II. To determine the difference in candidate transcript levels associated with ADRB2/PKA activation between individuals two hours after taking propranolol or not taking propranolol prior to prostatectomy.

III. To determine plasma propranolol levels in individuals taking propranolol two hours after administration prior to prostatectomy.

IV. To determine if plasma catecholamine levels in men with prostate cancer can be used as a biomarker to identify patients who show activation of ADRB2 signaling pathway in prostate tumors.

V. To determine perceived stress level differences in men with prostate cancer prior to surgery to examine possible association between perceived stress level and catecholamine levels in blood and activation of ADRB2 pathway in tumors.

VI. To determine perceived distress level differences in men with prostate cancer prior to surgery to examine possible association between distress level and catecholamine levels in blood and activation of ADRB2 pathway tumors.

OUTLINE: Patients are randomized into 1 of 2 groups.

GROUP I: Patients receive propranolol hydrochloride orally (PO) 2 hours prior to standard of care prostatectomy.

GROUP II: Patients receive no treatment prior to standard of care prostatectomy.

After completion of study treatment, patients are followed up for 30 days.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
46

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Phase 2

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • United States
    • North Carolina
      • Winston-Salem, North Carolina, United States, 27157
        • Comprehensive Cancer Center of Wake Forest University

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

19 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Diagnosis of prostate cancer undergoing prostatectomy
  • Individuals able to understand and willing to sign an Institutional Review Board (IRB)-approved informed consent document

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Men taking propranolol on a daily for any reason are excluded
  • Men with baseline systolic blood pressure (SBP) < 110 or heart rate (HR) < 60
  • Men unable to swallow pills
  • History of current or past medical or psychiatric illness that would make participation difficult or not feasible at the discretion of the principal investigator or co-investigators

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: Group I (propranolol hydrochloride)
Patients receive propranolol hydrochloride PO 2 hours prior to standard of care prostatectomy.
Other: Laboratory Biomarker Analysis
Correlative studies
Other: Questionnaire Administration
Ancillary studies
Other: Survey Administration
Ancillary studies
Drug: Propranolol Hydrochloride
Given PO
Other Names:
  • Inderal
  • Innopran XL
Active Comparator: Group II (no treatment)
Patients receive no treatment prior to standard of care prostatectomy.
Other: Laboratory Biomarker Analysis
Correlative studies
Other: Questionnaire Administration
Ancillary studies
Other: Survey Administration
Ancillary studies

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Mean Level of CREB Phosphorylation
Time Frame: 2 hours after taking or not taking propranolol prior to prostatectomy
Determined using western blot in prostate tissue from men. CREB is a type of protein that binds to DNA in very specific places. CREB is related to long-term memory formation in the brain and is important in the formation of spatial memory. Phosphorylation alters the structural conformation of a protein, causing it to become activated, deactivated, or otherwise modifying its function. The level of CREB phosphorylation is an indicator of BAD activity.
2 hours after taking or not taking propranolol prior to prostatectomy

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
BAD Phosphorylation
Time Frame: 2 hours after taking or not taking propranolol prior to prostatectomy
Will be assessed by western blot in prostate tissue from men. BAD is a protein that plays a critical role in cell survival. Phosphorylation alters the structural conformation of a protein, causing it to become activated, deactivated, or otherwise modifying its function. This analysis shows how much phosphorylation of BAD protein is happening in cells.
2 hours after taking or not taking propranolol prior to prostatectomy
Distress Score - National Comprehensive Cancer Network Distress Thermometer Questionnaire
Time Frame: On the day of surgery before taking propranolol, prior to prostatectomy

Will be measured by The Distress Thermometer from men.

The NCCN Distress Thermometer (DT) is a one-item, 11-point Likert scale represented on a visual graphic of a thermometer that ranges from 0 (no distress) to 10 (extreme distress), with which patients indicate their level of distress over the course of the week prior to assessment. Scoring scale ranges from 0 (no distress) to 10 (extreme distress) with higher scores indicating more distress.
On the day of surgery before taking propranolol, prior to prostatectomy
Levels of Transcripts That Reflect ADRB2/PKA Activation
Time Frame: 2 hours after taking or not taking propranolol prior to prostatectomy
Difference in levels of transcripts that reflect ADRB2/PKA activation will be measured by real-time polymerase chain reaction in prostate tissue from men.
2 hours after taking or not taking propranolol prior to prostatectomy
Plasma Catecholamine Levels (Including Epinephrine)
Time Frame: 2 hours after taking or not taking propranolol prior to prostatectomy
Will be measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay from men. 2-sample t-tests will be calculated to compare the groups who were randomized to receive propranolol (yes/no). Descriptive statistics will be calculated for each measure within each group. These statistics include n, mean, standard deviations and 95% confidence intervals.
2 hours after taking or not taking propranolol prior to prostatectomy
Plasma Propranolol Levels
Time Frame: 2 hours after taking or not taking propranolol prior to prostatectomy
Will be measured by fluorometric detection from men. 2-sample t-tests will be calculated to compare the groups who were randomized to receive propranolol (yes/no). Descriptive statistics will be calculated for each measure within each group. These statistics include n, mean, standard deviations and 95% confidence intervals.
2 hours after taking or not taking propranolol prior to prostatectomy
Self-perceived Stress
Time Frame: On the day of surgery before taking propranolol, prior to prostatectomy
Will be measured by The Perceived Stress Questionnaire from men. The perceived stress questionnaire is a set of 4 questions asking participants about their feelings/problems with stress over the last two weeks. Scoring scale ranges from 0 to 16 with higher scores indicating a higher level of stress.
On the day of surgery before taking propranolol, prior to prostatectomy

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Wake Forest University Health Sciences

Collaborators

Collaborators

An organization other than the sponsor that provides support for a clinical study. This support may include activities related to funding, design, implementation, data analysis, or reporting.
National Cancer Institute (NCI)

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Ashok Hemal, Wake Forest University Health Sciences

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
January 15, 2019

Primary Completion (Actual)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
June 15, 2021

Study Completion (Actual)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
February 28, 2023

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
May 9, 2017

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
May 11, 2017

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
May 15, 2017

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
March 25, 2025

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
January 29, 2025

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
December 1, 2024

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • IRB00043227
  • P30CA012197 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)
  • NCI-2017-00788 (Registry Identifier: CTRP (Clinical Trial Reporting Program))
  • CCCWFU 85716 (Other Identifier: Comprehensive Cancer Center of Wake Forest University)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

Yes

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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