A Study to Evaluate the Safety and Effectiveness of Fentanyl-TTS Compared to Weak Opioids in Patients With Moderate to Severe Chronic Cancer Pain Previously Treated With NSAIDS (Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs).
May 18, 2011 updated by: Janssen-Cilag, S.A.
Randomised Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of Fentanyl-TTS Versus Weak Opioids in Patients With Moderate to Severe Chronic Cancer Pain Previously Treated With NSAIDs (Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs).
To show, using the analgesic WHO scale, that fentanyl-TTS may be directly used for treating moderate to severe cancer pain in patients treated with NSAIDs, acetaminophen, or metamizole (first step drugs) avoiding the second step, and may be at least as effective and safe as currently used second step drugs, minor opioids.
Study Overview
Detailed Description
This study is a multicenter, randomized(study drug assigned by chance), open-label, nationwide study.
Patients with moderate to severe chronic pain due to the oncological disease (VAS>5) meeting the inclusion and exclusion criteria were randomized to treatment with fentanyl-TTS (transdermal patches, initial dosage: 25µg/h patch every 3 days, experimental drug) or with minor opioids (Tramadol, initial dosage of 200mg/day and Dihydrocodeine initial dosage of 120mg/day, control arm).
The follow-up and drug administration was two months, during which controls were performed every 7 days, except for the first that was on Day 4. If pain was not controlled (VAS<3), the investigator could increase the dose of the relevant drug (according to data sheet).
The primary endpoint has been the control of pain during treatment.
Pain was assessed by the visual analogue scale.
Pain severity was assessed at each follow-up visit.
The secondary endpoint was to assess the advantages of using fentanyl-TTS after the first step of the WHO analgesic ladder as compared to minor opioids.
These advantages were assessed based on the incidence of side effects associated with treatment with opioids during treatment where the following was assessed by a table with the most common side effects: nausea, vomiting, constipation and drowsiness (WHO) and their severity, the quantity of support drugs required by the patients to cope with the side effects occurring, adverse events related to the study drug, and the percentage of patients discontinuing or switching treatment due to side effects.
Fentanyl, dosage forms: 25µg/h, 50µg/h and 100µg/h.
Transdermal patches (initial dosage: 25µg/h patch every 3 days).
Tramadol, dosage forms: 100mg, 150mg and 200mg, (initial dosage: 200mg/day).
Dihydrocodeine, dosage forms: 60mg, 90mg and 120mg, (initial dosage: 120mg/day).
If pain was not controlled (VAS<3), the investigator could increase the dose of the relevant drug.
The follow-up and drug administration was two months, during which controls were performed every 7 days.
Study Type
Interventional
Enrollment (Actual)
19
Phase
- Phase 4
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
Ages Eligible for Study
18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
No
Genders Eligible for Study
All
Description
Inclusion Criteria:
- Patients with moderate to severe chronic pain due to the oncological condition, defined as VAS => 5, treated with first step drugs, either NSAIDs or acetaminophen or metamizole (the dose of first step drugs requiring a switch in treatment is left to the physician's discretion)
- Patients with a documented histological diagnosis of cancer.
Exclusion Criteria:
- Patients whose pain has some neuropathic component
- Patients who have been treated with opioids during the 2 months prior to study entry
- Patients with dermatological disease, a history of allergy or hypersensitivity to fentanyl or to adhesive components preventing use of patches
- Patients with a history of cardiac, CNS, or respiratory disease that prevents their participation in the study in the investigator's judgment
- Patients with kidney or liver failure contraindicating use of opioids based on medical criterion
- Pregnant women or women of childbearing age who do not use an effective contraceptive method throughout the study
- Patients in whom surgery is planned during the study
- Patients who are participating at the same time in another trial.
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)
What is the study measuring?
Primary Outcome Measures
Outcome Measure |
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The primary endpoint was the control of pain during treatment. Pain was assessed by the visual analogue scale. Pain severity was assessed at each follow-up visit.
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Secondary Outcome Measures
Outcome Measure |
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The secondary endpoint was to assess the advantages of using fentanyl-TTS after the first step of the WHO analgesic ladder as compared to minor opioids.
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Collaborators and Investigators
This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.
Sponsor
Publications and helpful links
The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.
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
October 1, 2003
Study Completion (Actual)
March 1, 2005
Study Registration Dates
First Submitted
December 14, 2007
First Submitted That Met QC Criteria
December 14, 2007
First Posted (Estimate)
December 18, 2007
Study Record Updates
Last Update Posted (Estimate)
May 19, 2011
Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria
May 18, 2011
Last Verified
April 1, 2010
More Information
Terms related to this study
Additional Relevant MeSH Terms
Other Study ID Numbers
- CR003526
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