Netupitant and Palonosetron Hydrochloride in Preventing Chronic Nausea and Vomiting in Patients With Cancer

Fixed-Dose Netupitant and Palonosetron for Chronic Nausea and Vomiting in Cancer Patients

This randomized phase II/III trial studies how well netupitant and palonosetron hydrochloride works in preventing chronic nausea and vomiting in patients with cancer. Netupitant and palonosetron hydrochloride may reduce nausea and vomiting.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Nausea; Vomiting; Malignant Neoplasm
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Placebo; Other: Questionnaire Administration; Drug: Netupitant; Drug: Palonosetron; Drug: Palonosetron Hydrochloride

Detailed Description

PRIMARY OBJECTIVES:

I. To estimate the efficacy (i.e. change in nausea numeric rating scale [NRS] from baseline between day 5-15) of fixed dose netupitant and palonosetron hydrochloride (palonosetron) (NEPA) for chronic nausea in cancer patients.

SECONDARY OBJECTIVES:

I. To assess the secondary outcomes (e.g. proportion of patients who achieved their personalized nausea goal, antiemetic use, nausea episodes duration/frequency) for NEPA versus (vs.) placebo.

II. To assess the adverse effects associated with NEPA and placebo.

OUTLINE: Patients are randomized to 1 of 2 groups.

GROUP I: Patients receive netupitant orally (PO) and palonosetron hydrochloride PO on days 1, 6, and 11 in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.

GROUP II: Patients receive placebo PO on days 1, 6, and 11.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 53
• Phase: Phase 2; Phase 3

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Texas
    • Houston, Texas, United States, 77030
      • M D Anderson Cancer Center

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Diagnosis of cancer
• Chronic nausea over the past 4 weeks
• Average nausea numeric rating scale >= 4/10 over the past 5 days at screening
• Outpatient at MD Anderson Cancer Center
• Karnofsky performance status >= 50%
• Age 18 or older
• Able to complete study assessments, including keeping a daily diary

Exclusion Criteria:

• Delirium (i.e. Memorial Delirium Rating Scale > 13)
• Clinical evidence of bowel obstruction at the time of study enrollment
• Expected to use other 5HT3 antagonists or NK1 antagonists for prophylaxis during the study
• Continuation of over-the-counter therapies for nausea and/or vomiting during the study
• On cytotoxic chemotherapy in the high/moderate/low emetogenic risk categories or oral antineoplastic agents in the high or moderate emetogenic risk categories according to the latest National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guideline within 2 weeks of study enrollment
• On scheduled potent CYP3A4 inducers at the time of study enrollment (avasimibe, carbamazepine, phenytoin, rifampin, efavirenz, nevirapine, barbiturates, systemic glucocorticoids, modafinil, oxcarbazine, phenobarbital, pioglitazone, rifabutin, St. John's wort, troglitazone)
• On scheduled CYP3A4 substrates with narrow safety range at the time of study enrollment (alfentanil, cyclosporine, dihydroergotamine, ergotamine, pimozide, quinidine, sirolimus, tacrolimus)
• On scheduled strong or moderate CYP3A4 inhibitors (boceprevir, clarithromycin, conivaptan, indinavir, itraconazole, ketoconazole, lopinavir/ritonavir, mibefradil, nefazodone, nelfinavir, posaconazole, ritonavir, saquinavir, telaprevir, telithromycin, voriconazole; amprenavir, aprepitant, atazanavir, ciprofloxacin, darunavir/ritonavir, diltiazem, erythromycin, fluconazole, fosamprenavir, grapefruit juice, imatinib, verapamil) within one week of study enrollment
• Unwilling to provide informed consent

• Severe renal impairment (calculated creatinine clearance =< 29 cc/min)

  • Calculated creatinine clearance can be done within 14 days of study enrollment

• Severe liver impairment (Child-Pugh score > 9)

  • Total (T.) bilirubin, albumin, prothrombin time, and serum creatinine tests can be done within 14 days of study enrollment (only if not performed in the last 14 days)
• Females who are pregnant, lactating, or intend to become pregnant during the participation of the study; childbearing age women who are not on birth control; positive pregnancy test for women of childbearing potential, as defined by intact uterus and ovaries, and no history of menses within the last 12 months; pregnancy test to be performed on the day of enrollment; in cases of women with elevated beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (b-HCG), these candidates will be eligible to participate so long as the level of b-HCG is not consistent with pregnancy and the non-pregnant status is confirmed by a gynecologic examination

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Supportive Care
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Double

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Group I (netupitant, palonosetron hydrochloride); Patients receive netupitant orally (PO) and palonosetron hydrochloride PO on days 1, 6, and 11 in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.	Other: Questionnaire Administration; Ancillary studies; Drug: Netupitant; Given PO; Other Names: CID6451149; D05152; RO 67-3189/000; Drug: Palonosetron; Given PO; Drug: Palonosetron Hydrochloride; Given PO; Other Names: Aloxi; RS 25259-197
Placebo Comparator: Group II (placebo); Patients receive placebo PO on days 1, 6, and 11.	Other: Placebo; Given PO; Other Names: placebo therapy; PLCB; sham therapy; Other: Questionnaire Administration; Ancillary studies

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in Nausea Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) Between Day 5 and Day 15	Average intensity of nausea over the past 24 hours was assessed daily using a validated numeric rating scale from 0 to 10, where 0= none and 10= worse possible nausea. The total score ranged from 0-10. We measured the within-group change in nausea intensity from day 5 to day 15. Wilcoxon rank sum test was used for analysis.	Day 5 and Day 15

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Functional Living Index Emesis (FLIE): Nausea Sub-score	FLIE is a questionnaire validated to assess the impact of chemotherapy induced nausea and vomiting on patient's function and quality of life over the past 5 days. It consists of 18 items, with 9 items on nausea and 9 items on vomiting. Each question was rated using a Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) from 1 to 7. The total Nausea sub-score ranges from 9 to 63, where a higher score indicates higher quality of life. We measured the change of nausea sub-score between baseline 5 to day 15. Wilcoxon rank sum test was used for analysis.	Baseline and Day 15
Functional Living Index Emesis (FLIE): Vomiting Sub-score	FLIE is a questionnaire validated to assess the impact of chemotherapy induced nausea and vomiting on patient's function and quality of life over the past 5 days. It consists of 18 items, with 9 items on nausea and 9 items on vomiting. Each question was rated using a Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) from 1 to 7. The total Vomiting sub-score ranges from 9 to 63, where a higher score indicates higher quality of life. We measured the change of vomiting sub-score from baseline to day 15.Wilcoxon rank sum test was used for analysis.	Baseline and Day 15
Index of Nausea, Vomiting and Retching: Total Experience Score	Index of Nausea, Vomiting, and Retching, which consists of 8 items asking about the patient's experience regarding nausea and vomiting over the past 12 hours. Each item included a 5-point Likert scale (0-4 points) with descriptive words. Total experience score ranged from 0-32 with higher score indicates more nausea/vomiting. We measured the change in score between day 5 and day 15. Wilcoxon rank sum test was used for analysis.	Day 5 and Day 15

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: M.D. Anderson Cancer Center
• Collaborators: National Cancer Institute (NCI); Helsinn Healthcare SA
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: David Hui, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Hui D, Puac V, Shelal Z, Liu D, Maddi R, Kaseb A, Javle M, Overman M, Yennurajalingam S, Gallagher C, Bruera E. Fixed-Dose Netupitant and Palonosetron for Chronic Nausea in Cancer Patients: A Double-Blind, Placebo Run-in Pilot Randomized Clinical Trial. J Pain Symptom Manage. 2021 Aug;62(2):223-232.e1. doi: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2020.12.023. Epub 2021 Jan 1.

Helpful Links

• University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center Website

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): May 3, 2017
• Primary Completion (Actual): February 14, 2022
• Study Completion (Actual): February 14, 2022

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: January 31, 2017
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 1, 2017
• First Posted (Estimated): February 2, 2017

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): October 17, 2023
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: September 25, 2023
• Last Verified: September 1, 2023

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Signs and Symptoms, Digestive; Neoplasms; Nausea; Vomiting; Physiological Effects of Drugs; Neurotransmitter Agents; Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action; Autonomic Agents; Peripheral Nervous System Agents; Antiemetics; Gastrointestinal Agents; Serotonin Agents; Serotonin Antagonists; Serotonin 5-HT3 Receptor Antagonists; Palonosetron
• Other Study ID Numbers: 2016-0843 (Other Identifier: M D Anderson Cancer Center); NCI-2017-00599 (Registry Identifier: CTRP (Clinical Trial Reporting Program))

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: Yes
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No