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Improvement of Quality of Life by Cannabinoids in Oncologic Patients

Phase 2
Recruiting
Conditions
Quality of Life
Cannabinoids
Medical Oncology
Palliative Care
Interventions
Drug: Cannabisextrakt Avextra 10/10 Lösung
Registration Number
NCT06097533
Lead Sponsor
University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein
Brief Summary

The goal is to explore whether the application of cannabis extract Avextra 10/10 solution is suitable to contribute to an improvement in the symptom burden and well-being of oncological palliative care patients. The primary objective of the study is to demonstrate the improvement in global symptom burden in the intervention arm compared to the placebo control group over a period of 12±2 days, as measured by a percentage change in the value of the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System total symptom distress score (ESAS TSDS) at baseline and after 12±2 days.

Detailed Description

170 oncological patients in palliative treatment will be randomized 1:1 to an THC:CBD-interventional arm and an placebo-arm. At the timepoints baseline, 12±2 days, 18±3 days, four weeks and eight weeks, the global burden of symptoms (ESAS TSDS), quality of life (EORTC QLQ C15 PAL) and other parameter will be measured and the intraindividual difference in comparison with the baseline will be compared between the groups. This study is intended to provide a significant contribution to Evidence-based medicine (EbM) of CAM in palliative medicine as well as for elderly and severely ill subjects (resp.) in general.

The following gain of knowledge is expected:

* substancial and reliable effects of CAM in elderly subjects being in a multimorbid and psychologically very stressful situation of illness and life (resp.).

* substancial and reliable effects of CAM in aduld subjects being in a oncologically and palliative situation of illness and life (resp.).

* compatibility of a CAM-therapy in multimorbid patients with polypharmacotherapy.

* importance of CAM for the very frequent psychovegetative disturbance and comorbidities of many illnesses like sleepnesness, loss of appetite, nausea, fear and affective disturbance.

* possible reduction of costs and improved economics through CAM

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
RECRUITING
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
170
Inclusion Criteria
  • ≥25 years old and legally competent

  • Palliative oncological therapy

  • ECOG status 1, 2 or 3, incapacitated for work

  • ESAS TSDS > or equals 16

  • Nutritional Risk Screening > or equals 3

  • Pain numerical rating scale > or equals 4

  • informed consent

  • for WOCBP:

    • Negative pregnancy test
    • Reliable contraception (Pearl Index < 1%)
Exclusion Criteria
  • nausea > or equals grade 3 (CTCAE) or vomiting > or equals grade 2 (CTCAE) in the preceding week
  • Inability to understand and complete the questionnaires
  • Cannabis use in the last 6 weeks
  • Alcohol addiction
  • Pregnancy/lactation
  • Contraindications or intolerance to the study medication (esp. psychosis)
  • Simultaneous participation in other clinical studies (sumulataneous participation in non-interventional studies (i.e. biomarker-studies, registries) is allowed, if the study-aim does not interfere with measures of the second study)
  • Any other condition as judged by the investigator, e.g. non-compliance

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Cannabisextrakt Avextra 10/10 LösungCannabisextrakt Avextra 10/10 LösungSolution with tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol
PlaceboCannabisextrakt Avextra 10/10 LösungSesame oil, Ph.Eur. Linseed oil, Ph.Eur
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
ESAS-TSDS score12 days

Symptom change as percentage change in ESAS-TSDS score after 12±2 days compared to baseline between intervention group and placebo control group.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Global Patient's Assessment12 days, 4 weeks, 8 weeks

Scale to evaluate the absolute severity and the change in comparison with the preceding measurement

opioid dose as morphine equivalent12 days, 4 weeks, 8 weeks
defined daily dosages (DDD) of neuropharmaceuticals12 days, 4 weeks, 8 weeks
ESAS-TSDS score4 weeks, 8 weeks

Edmonton Symptom Assessment System

inappetence12 days, 4 weeks, 8 weeks
NCCN distress thermometer12 days, 4 weeks, 8 weeks
pain as VAS12 days, 4 weeks, 8 weeks
sleep quality (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, PSQI)12 days, 4 weeks, 8 weeks

contains 19 self-rated questions and 5 questions rated by the bed partner or roommate (if one is available)

EORTC QLQ-C15 PAL12 days, 4 weeks, 8 weeks

European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Palliative

Adverse events (AE)up to 8 weeks

Adverse events (AE) incidence, frequency and severity coded according to the Medical Dictionary for Regulatory Activities (MedDRA) and scored according to the NCI Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE)

C-reactive protein (CRP)12 days, 4 weeks, 8 weeks
all endpoints stratified by stage of oncological disease (ICD-10), treatment modalities, gender, weight, high/low dose, renal function and age whereever possible and meaningful12 days, 4 weeks, 8 weeks

Trial Locations

Locations (2)

University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein

🇩🇪

Lübeck, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany

Hubertus Wald Tumorzentrum Universitäres Cancer Center Hamburg (UCCH)

🇩🇪

Hamburg, Germany

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