Remaxol® in Patients With Drug-induced Liver Injuries During Cancer Chemotherapy

Non-interventional, Prospective Study of Safety and Efficiency of the Drug Remaxol® (NTFF POLYSAN Ltd., Russia) in Patients With Drug-induced Liver Injuries During Cancer Chemotherapy.

Cancer has moved from the tenth place to the second one over the last 100 years, being inferior to only cardiovascular diseases in morbidity and mortality.

40 % of hepatitis cases in patients older than 40 years and 25 % of cases of fulminant hepatic failure (FHF) are caused by drug hepatic toxicity. Cases of acute drug-induced hepatitis (ADIH) make 15-20 % of patients with fulminant hepatitis in Western Europe.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Cancer; Drug Induced Liver Injury
• Intervention / Treatment: Drug: Remaxol

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Actual): 368

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Russian Federation
  • Krasnoyarsk, Russian Federation
    • State Budget-Funded Health Institution Kryzhanovsky Krasnoyarsk Krai Clinical Cancer Centre
  • Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation
    • North-West Center of Evidence-Based Medicine
  • Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation
    • Pirogov Clinic of High Medical Technologies, St. Petersburg State University
  • St. Petersburg, Russian Federation
    • St. Petersburg State Budget-Funded Health Institution City Clinical Cancer Centre
  • Ufa, Russian Federation
    • Republican Clinical Cancer Centre

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 40 years to 70 years (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Cancer patients with drug-induced liver injuries, during antitumor therapy

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• The study can include all patients who are scheduled, at a physician's discretion, to receive the therapy with the drug Remaxol®, solution for infusions, or Ademethionine, lyophilizate for solution for intravenous and intramuscular injection, according to the approved instruction for the medical use of the drug and established clinical practice of a healthcare facility, and who meet all the following criteria:

  1. Males and females aged from 40 to 70 years inclusive.
  2. Verified diagnosis of neoplasm (morphologically proven).
  3. Receiving the course polychemotherapy (PCT).

  4. PCT regimens with pronounced hepatotoxic effects, which use drugs from the following pharmacologic classes:

     1. Competitive antagonists (5-Fluorouracil, Methotrexate etc.);
     2. Alkylating agents (Cyclophosphamide, Oxaliplatin etc.);
     3. Antitumor antibiotics (Doxorubicin, Bleomycin etc.);
     4. Drugs influencing tubulin (Trabectedin, Paclitaxel etc.);
     5. Topoisomerase inhibitors (Irinotecan, Etoposide etc.).
  1. Contraindications for the continuation of PCT at the time of a visit to a physician for its continuation, because of developed hepatotoxicity.
  2. Stage of the treatment: supporting, hepatoprotective and detoxication therapy to correct hepatotoxicity developed during PCT, to remove it and continue the chemotherapeutic treatment.
  3. A patient is scheduled to receive one of the following infusion therapies with the following regimen, as part of the routine clinical practice:
  4. It is planned to administer the drug Remaxol®, solution for infusions, by intravenous drop infusion in the dose of 400 ml/day, on everyday basis for 12 days.
  5. It is planned to administer the drug Ademethionine, lyophilisate for solution for intravenous and intramuscular injection, by intravenous drop infusion in the dose of 800 mg/day, on everyday basis for 14 days. ECOG performance status score: 1-2 inclusive (Karnofsky score: 50-80 %).
  6. Hepatotoxicity grade according to the classification of the US National Cancer Institute (NCCN, CTC) - 2 and 3.
  7. Scores by selected parameters of CTCAE (National Cancer Institute Common Toxicity Criteria for Adverse Events) scale - I and II.
  8. Patient's written consent for participation in the study according to the current legislation.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Pregnancy, breast-feeding.
2. Mental disorders requiring psychiatric observation.
3. Chronic alcohol abuse and/or substance abuse.
4. HIV-infection, syphilis, virus hepatitis, autoimmune hepatitis, storage diseases, tuberculosis.
5. Administration of monoclonal antibodies, (multi)kinase inhibitors during the PCT session immediately preceding this study.
6. Administration of methionine-, Ademetionine-, malate- and/or succinate-containing medicines during the last month.
7. Prescription of other malate-, succinate, or methionine-containing medicines (mexidol, cytoflavin, etc.).
8. Decompensation of any severe/clinically apparent somatic diseases of the kidneys, liver, cardiovascular system, respiratory system, endocrine system, etc., as decided by the investigating physician.
9. Contraindications mentioned in the approved instructions for use of medicines applied in the study (idiosyncrasy to the product components).
10. Disease or use of medicines, which, in the doctor's opinion, can influence safety, tolerability and efficiency of the study medicines.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Number of groups / cohorts

2

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort	Intervention / Treatment
The control group; Ademethionine, lyophilisate for solution for intravenous and intramuscular injection, by intravenous drop infusion in the dose of 800 mg/day, on everyday basis for 14 days
The test group; Remaxol®, solution for infusions, by intravenous drop infusion in the dose of 400 ml/day, on everyday basis for 12 days	Drug: Remaxol; Remaxol®, solution for infusions, by intravenous drop infusion in the dose of 400 ml/day, on everyday basis for 12 days

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Time Frame
Difference of average ALT values in both of the groups, between the two timepoints: Visit 3 vs. baseline at Visit 1 (before starting therapy with the study medicines).	Baseline, up to 15 days
Difference of average ALP values in both of the groups, between the two timepoints: Visit 3 vs. baseline at Visit 1 (before starting therapy with the study medicines).	Baseline, up to 15 days

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Proportion of patients achieving an ECOG patient status score of 0 from the start of study (Visit1) to Visit 4, measured in both groups	ECOG Scale of Performance Status (Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group) - 0-4 poins 0 points - The patient is fully active, able to perform everything, as before the disease. 4 points - Disabled, completely incapable of self-care, chained to a chair or bed	Baseline, up to 28 days
Proportion of patients who resumed a PCT session (staged session after a period of study medicines administration) within 28 days of the start of hepatotoxicity correction with study medicines (Visit 1), measured in both groups.		Baseline, up to 28 days
Proportion of patients who received a staged PCT session in full (no reduction in chemotherapy doses), measured in both groups.		Baseline, up to 28 days
Proportion of patients with grade 1 of hepatotoxicity according to the CTCAE scale, by at least 3 out of 5 parameters: ALP, ALT, AST, total and direct bilirubin, GGT, from the baseline (Visit 1) to Visit 3, measured in both groups.	Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events v5.0 (CTCAE)	Baseline, up to 15 days
Proportion of patients with grade 1 of hepatotoxicity according to the CTCAE scale, by at least 3 out of 5 parameters: ALP, ALT, AST, total and direct bilirubin, GGT, from the baseline (Visit 1) to Visit 4, measured in both groups.	Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events v5.0 (CTCAE)	Baseline, up to 28 days
Proportion of patients with grade 4 of hepatotoxicity according to the US National Cancer Institute (CTCAE) scale, by any of the parameters from the baseline (Visit 1) to Visit 3, measured in both groups.	Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events v5.0 (CTCAE)	Baseline, up to 15 days
Proportion of patients with grade 4 of hepatotoxicity according to the US National Cancer Institute (CTCAE) scale, by any of the parameters from the baseline (Visit 1) to Visit 4, measured in both groups.	Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events v5.0 (CTCAE)	Baseline, up to 28 days
Difference of average total scores in A.V. Shaposhnikov hepatotoxicity scale measured in both groups between two time points: Visit 3 vs. baseline at Visit 1 (before the therapy with study medicines).	0 degree = 0-3 points; 1 degree = 3-8 points; 2 degree = 9-14 points; 3rd degree = 15-20 points; 4 degree = 21-25 points.	Baseline, up to 15 days
ALT changes during the study period (Visit 2, 3, 4)		Baseline, up to 15 days, up to 28 days
Proportion of patients achieving 90% or more on the Karnofsky scale from the start of the study (Visit 1) to Visit 3, measured in both groups.	the Karnofsky score: 100% - Normal condition, no complaints 90% - Capable of normal activities, minor symptoms or signs of disease 80% - Normal activity with effort, minor symptoms or signs of disease 70% Self-supporting, incapable of normal activities or active work 60% - Sometimes needs help, but is able to satisfy most of his needs. 50% - Needs significant assistance and medical care 40% - Disabled, needs special assistance, including medical 30% - Severe disability, hospitalization is indicated, although death is not directly threatened 20% - Severe patient. Hospitalization and active treatment required 10% - Dying	Baseline, up to 15 days
Proportion of patients with full normalisation of ALT, AST by 2, 3, 4 Visits, measured in both groups.		Baseline, up to 7 days, up to 15 days, up to 28 days
Proportion of patients with full normalisation of ALP by 2, 3, 4 Visits, measured in both groups.		Baseline, up to 7 days, up to 15 days, up to 28 days
Proportion of patients with full normalisation of GGT by 2, 3, 4 Visits, measured in both groups.		Baseline, up to 7 days, up to 15 days, up to 28 days
Proportion of patients with full normalisation of total and direct bilirubin by 2, 3, 4 Visits, measured in both groups.		Baseline, up to 7 days, up to 15 days, up to 28 days
Changes in the patient's condition according to the Karnofsky score during the study (Visits 2, 3, 4) compared to the study initiation (Visit 1), expressed as a % of the baseline	the Karnofsky score: 100% - Normal condition, no complaints 90% - Capable of normal activities, minor symptoms or signs of disease 80% - Normal activity with effort, minor symptoms or signs of disease 70% Self-supporting, incapable of normal activities or active work 60% - Sometimes needs help, but is able to satisfy most of his needs. 50% - Needs significant assistance and medical care 40% - Disabled, needs special assistance, including medical 30% - Severe disability, hospitalization is indicated, although death is not directly threatened 20% - Severe patient. Hospitalization and active treatment required 10% - Dying	Baseline, up to 7 days, up to 15 days, up to 28 days
Changes in the patient's condition according to the ECOG Scale, during the study period (Visits 2, 3, 4) as compared to the study initiation (Visit 1), expressed as a score and as a % of the baseline	ECOG Scale of Performance Status (Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group) - 0-4 poins 0 points - The patient is fully active, able to perform everything, as before the disease. 4 points - Disabled, completely incapable of self-care, chained to a chair or bed	Baseline, up to 7 days, up to 15 days, up to 28 days
Proportion of patients with detected toxic damage to at least one system or organ (by selected parameters), according to the criteria of common toxicity grade III of the CTCAE scale, from the baseline (Visit 1) to Visit 3, measured in both groups.	Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events v5.0 (CTCAE)	Baseline, up to 15 days
Proportion of patients with detected toxic damage to at least one system or organ (by selected parameters), according to the criteria of common toxicity grade III of the CTCAE scale, from the baseline (Visit 1) to Visit 4, measured in both groups.	Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events v5.0 (CTCAE)	Baseline, up to 28 days

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: POLYSAN Scientific & Technological Pharmaceutical Company

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): May 12, 2022
• Primary Completion (Actual): November 1, 2024
• Study Completion (Actual): December 16, 2024

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: March 16, 2023
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 16, 2023
• First Posted (Actual): March 29, 2023

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): August 13, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: August 8, 2025
• Last Verified: June 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: cancer; drug induced liver injury; remaxol
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Digestive System Diseases; Liver Diseases; Chemically-Induced Disorders; Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions; Poisoning; Wounds and Injuries; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury
• Other Study ID Numbers: Remaxol\2022\03

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: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No