MedPath

The Impact of Pentoxifylline and Vitamin E on Radiotherapy-induced Toxicity in Head & Neck Cancer Patients

Phase 2
Completed
Conditions
Head and Neck Neoplasms
Interventions
Registration Number
NCT02397486
Lead Sponsor
Ain Shams University
Brief Summary

The purpose of this study is to determine whether pentoxifylline and vitamin E are effective in prevention of radiotherapy- induced toxicity in head and neck cancer patients treated with concurrent chemoradiotherapy.

Detailed Description

This is a randomized controlled prospective study of pentoxifylline and vitamin E given on daily basis throughout the period of concurrent chemoradiotherapy to patients with carcinoma of the head and neck. All patients will be followed up to 90 days since the first day of treatment. The incidence and severity of adverse events will be assessed according to the National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 4.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
60
Inclusion Criteria
  • Adult patients
  • Measurable disease
  • Patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck eligible for treatment with concurrent chemo- radiotherapy
  • Able to understand and willing to sign a written informed consent document
Exclusion Criteria
  • Pregnant or lactating women, since imaging cannot be done in this setting.
  • Patients treated with vitamin E and/ or pentoxifylline for any other indication
  • Patients with recent cerebral and/or retinal hemorrhage
  • Patients who have previously exhibited intolerance to pentoxifylline or methylxanthines such as caffeine, theophylline, and theobromine.
  • Patients treated with oral anticoagulants.
  • Absolute neutrophil count ≤1.5×109/L
  • Platelets ≤100×109/L
  • AST ≥ 2.5 X institutional upper limit normal (ULN)
  • Serum creatinine ≥ 1.5 mg% for males & 1.4 mg% for females
  • Serum bilirubin ≥ 1.5X institutional upper limit normal (ULN)

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Intervention GroupRadiation therapyPlatinum based concurrent chemoradiotherapy \[cisplatin (100mg/m2) on day 1, 22 and 43 of Radiotherapy (at 2 Gy/ fraction to a dose of 70 Gy over 7 weeks\] . Pentoxifylline 400 mg oral tablets twice daily for 7 weeks. Vitamin E 1000 mg oral capsules once daily for 7 weeks.
Control GroupRadiation therapyPlatinum based concurrent chemoradiotherapy \[cisplatin (100mg/m2) on day 1, 22 and 43 of Radiotherapy (at 2 Gy/ fraction to a dose of 70 Gy over 7 weeks\] .
Intervention GroupCisplatinPlatinum based concurrent chemoradiotherapy \[cisplatin (100mg/m2) on day 1, 22 and 43 of Radiotherapy (at 2 Gy/ fraction to a dose of 70 Gy over 7 weeks\] . Pentoxifylline 400 mg oral tablets twice daily for 7 weeks. Vitamin E 1000 mg oral capsules once daily for 7 weeks.
Intervention GroupPentoxifyllinePlatinum based concurrent chemoradiotherapy \[cisplatin (100mg/m2) on day 1, 22 and 43 of Radiotherapy (at 2 Gy/ fraction to a dose of 70 Gy over 7 weeks\] . Pentoxifylline 400 mg oral tablets twice daily for 7 weeks. Vitamin E 1000 mg oral capsules once daily for 7 weeks.
Intervention GroupVitamin EPlatinum based concurrent chemoradiotherapy \[cisplatin (100mg/m2) on day 1, 22 and 43 of Radiotherapy (at 2 Gy/ fraction to a dose of 70 Gy over 7 weeks\] . Pentoxifylline 400 mg oral tablets twice daily for 7 weeks. Vitamin E 1000 mg oral capsules once daily for 7 weeks.
Control GroupCisplatinPlatinum based concurrent chemoradiotherapy \[cisplatin (100mg/m2) on day 1, 22 and 43 of Radiotherapy (at 2 Gy/ fraction to a dose of 70 Gy over 7 weeks\] .
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Incidence and severity of radiotherapy-induced toxicity90 days since start of treatment

weekly follow-up for recording radiotherapy-induced toxicity occurrence.weekly reported toxicities will be graded according to National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 4.03

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Patients' response to concurrent chemo-radiotherapy (objective response rate)63 days since start of treatment

the effect of pentoxifylline and vitamin E on the

Duration of grade 3 or 4 radiotherapy-induced toxicity90 days since start of treatment
Number of patients with unplanned breaks in radiotherapy49 days since start of treatment
Functional oral intake score90 days since start of treatment
incidence and grade of pentoxifylline and vitamin E- related adverse events (National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 4.03)90 days since start of treatment

Adverse events induced by intervention drugs will be assessed according to National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 4.03

Total dose of opioid analgesics required90 days since start of treatment
Patients' quality of life assessed using the validated Arabic version of the EuroQol-5D-3L questionnaire90 days since start of treatment

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Ain Shams University Hospitals

🇪🇬

Cairo, Egypt

© Copyright 2025. All Rights Reserved by MedPath