A Study of Herbal Supplements in Cancer Survivors With Constipation

Not Applicable

Recruiting

• Conditions: Constipation; Cancer; Functional Constipation

• Registration Number: NCT07091084
• Lead Sponsor: Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Brief Summary

The purpose of this study is to find out whether MZRW is an effective treatment for constipation in cancer survivors. The researchers will compare MZRW with placebo, a pill that looks like MZRW and is given in the same way, but contains no medication. The researchers will also study the effect MZRW has on the gut microbiome. The gut microbiome is a diverse community of microorganisms living in the digestive system, essential for digestion and immune function.

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Status Verified: 2025-07
• Study Start: 2025-07-15
• Study First Submitted: 2025-07-15
• Study First Submitted QC: 2025-07-21
• Last Update Submitted: 2025-07-21
• Study First Posted: 2025-07-29
• Last Update Posted: 2025-07-29
• Primary Completion: 2028-07-15
• Study Completion: 2028-07-15

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: RECRUITING
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 70

Inclusion Criteria

• Age 18 years or greater;

• A diagnosis of cancer with no restrictions placed on type of cancer or stage;

• Completed surgery, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and/or radiotherapy, or an investigational therapy at least one month prior to study initiation. Patients on stable doses of hormone therapy or targeted therapies will not be excluded;

• Karnofsky functional score of ≥ 60;

• Cancer survivors who have met the Rome IV criteria (Table 3) of the symptoms of functional constipation which must include two or more of the following:

  • Straining more than 25% of defecations.
  • Lumpy or hard stools (7-point Bristol stool scale 1 or 2) more than 25% of defecations.
  • Sensation of incomplete evacuation more than one-fourth (25%) of defecations.
  • Sensation of anorectal obstruction/blockage more than one-fourth (25%) of defecations.
  • Manual maneuvers to facilitate more than one-fourth (25%) of defecations.
  • Fewer than three spontaneous bowel movements per week.
  • Loose stools are rarely present without the use of laxatives.
  • Insufficient criteria for irritable bowel syndrome.

• Patient should be able to understand and complete all study assessments on their own

• Patient should be able to understand and provide signed informed consent in English.

Table 3. Rome IV criteria for functional constipation FUNCTIONAL CONSTIPATION Diagnostic criteria*

1. Must include two or more of the following:**
2. Straining during more than ¼ (25%) of defecations
3. Lumpy or hard stools (Bristol Stool Form Scale 1-2) more than ¼ (25%) of defecations
4. Sensation of incomplete evacuation more than ¼ (25%) of defecations
5. Sensation of anorectal obstruction/blockage more than ¼ (25%) of defecations
6. Fewer than three SBM per week
7. Manual maneuvers to facilitate more than ¼ (25%) of defecations (e.g., digital evacuation, support of the pelvic floor)
8. Manual maneuvers to facilitate more than ¼ (25%) of defecations (e.g., digital evacuation, support of the pelvic floor)
9. Loose stools are rarely present without the use of laxatives
10. Insufficient criteria for irritable bowel syndrome Note *Criteria fulfilled for the last 3 months with symptom onset at least 6 months prior to diagnosis

Exclusion Criteria

• Patients who have allergic history to herbs or Chinese medicine;
• Clinically significant abnormal liver (2 times the ULN for ALT or AST) and kidney disfunction(eGFR between 59 mL/min/1.73m² ) from recent laboratory test recorded in the medical record (within 1 month);
• Patients who have any signs of bowel obstruction, or have high risk of bowel obstruction assessed by their treating physician, including factors such as tumor invasion into abdominal organs, recent abdominal surgery, and prior abdominal radiation therapy;
• Patients who are prescribed opioid antagonists including methylnaltrexone, naloxegol and naldemedine for opioid induced constipation and required not to stop the medication;
• Women who are pregnant, lactating, or not practicing proper contraception by patient report.Patient's should follow proper contraception guidelines for at least 30 days following last dose of the study drug.

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Difference of spontaneous bowel movements (SBMs) from baseline to week 2	2 weeks	To evaluate the efficacy of a 2-week regimen of oral MZRW vs. placebo on spontaneous bowel movements (SBMs), in terms of SBM therapeutic response (primary efficacy endpoint), among cancer survivors with chronic constipation. SBM response is defined at week 2 as having an increase of ≥ 1 SBM/week from baseline.

Trial Locations

Locations (7)

Memorial Sloan Kettering Basking Ridge (All Protocol Activities); 🇺🇸 Basking Ridge, New Jersey, United States

Memorial Sloan Kettering Monmouth (All Protocol Activities); 🇺🇸 Middletown, New Jersey, United States

Memorial Sloan Kettering Bergen (All Protocol Activities); 🇺🇸 Montvale, New Jersey, United States

Memorial Sloan Kettering Suffolk- Commack (All Protocol Activities); 🇺🇸 Commack, New York, United States

Memorial Sloan Kettering Westchester (All Protocol Activities); 🇺🇸 Harrison, New York, United States

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (All Protocol Activities); 🇺🇸 New York, New York, United States

Memorial Sloan Kettering Nassau (All Protocol Activities); 🇺🇸 Rockville Centre, New York, United States