Pilocarpine in Preventing Mucositis and Dry Mouth in Patients Receiving Radiation Therapy for Head and Neck Cancer
Recruitment status was Active, not recruiting
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Purpose
RATIONALE: Radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays to damage tumor cells. Drugs such as pilocarpine may protect normal cells from the side effects of radiation therapy. It is not yet known if pilocarpine may be effective in preventing mucositis and dry mouth in patients receiving radiation therapy for head and neck cancer.
PURPOSE: Randomized, double-blinded, phase III trial to study the effectiveness of pilocarpine in preventing mucositis and dry mouth in patients receiving radiation therapy for head and neck cancer.
| Condition | Intervention | Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
Head and Neck Cancer Oral Complications |
Drug: pilocarpine hydrochloride |
Phase 3 |
| Study Type: | Interventional |
| Study Design: | Primary Purpose: Supportive Care |
| Official Title: | A Phase III Study to Test the Efficacy of the Prophylactic Use of Oral Pilocarpine to Reduce Hyposalivation and Mucositis Associated With Curative Radiation Therapy in Head and Neck Cancer Patients |
| Estimated Enrollment: | 244 |
| Study Start Date: | March 1998 |
OBJECTIVES: I. Determine whether prophylactic use of pilocarpine can shelter unstimulated and stimulated whole salivary flow in patients with head and neck cancer. II. Determine whether prophylactic use of pilocarpine can moderate xerostomia in these patients. III. Determine whether prophylactic use of pilocarpine can reduce the grade and duration of radiation induced mucositis in these patients. IV. Evaluate quality of life outcomes between patients receiving pilocarpine versus placebo. V. Evaluate the impact of xerostomia on patients receiving irradiation to the head and neck.
OUTLINE: This is a randomized, double blind study. Patients receive a central axis midplane dose of radiotherapy five days per week over 6 to 7 weeks. Oral pilocarpine or placebo is administered beginning 3 days prior to radiotherapy, one tablet four times per day for three months. A tablet will be taken 45-60 minutes before radiotherapy. After three months, and after a 3-4 day rest period, all patients receive non blinded pilocarpine for an additional three month period. Patients are followed at weeks 4, 13, and 26 after the start of radiotherapy.
PROJECTED ACCRUAL: A total of 244 patients will be accrued (122 per treatment arm).
Eligibility| Ages Eligible for Study: | 18 Years and older |
| Genders Eligible for Study: | Both |
| Accepts Healthy Volunteers: | No |
DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically proven oral cavity and/or oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma Radiation volume to encompass at least 50% of parotid glands and have at least 50 Gy delivered to that volume via external beam No salivary gland malignancies or diseases
PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 18 and over Performance Status: Karnofsky 60-100% Life Expectancy: Not specified Hematopoietic: Not specified Hepatic: Not specified Renal: Not specified Other: Not pregnant or nursing Effective contraceptive method must be used during study No pilocarpine allergy
PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: Not specified Chemotherapy: Not specified Endocrine therapy: Not specified Radiotherapy: No prior radiotherapy to head or neck Surgery: Not specified Other: No concurrent adrenergic antagonists, cholinergic drugs, anti-cholinergics, or tricyclics
Contacts and Locations
Show 232 Study Locations| Study Chair: | Francis G. LeVeque, DDS | Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute |
More Information
Additional Information:
Publications:
| ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: | NCT00003139 History of Changes |
| Other Study ID Numbers: | CDR0000065912, RTOG-9709, NCI-P97-0121 |
| Study First Received: | November 1, 1999 |
| Last Updated: | May 9, 2009 |
| Health Authority: | United States: Federal Government |
Keywords provided by National Cancer Institute (NCI):
|
oral complications lip and oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma |
Additional relevant MeSH terms:
|
Head and Neck Neoplasms Mucositis Neoplasms by Site Neoplasms Gastroenteritis Gastrointestinal Diseases Digestive System Diseases Mouth Diseases Stomatognathic Diseases Pilocarpine |
Miotics Autonomic Agents Peripheral Nervous System Agents Physiological Effects of Drugs Pharmacologic Actions Muscarinic Agonists Cholinergic Agonists Cholinergic Agents Neurotransmitter Agents Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action |
ClinicalTrials.gov processed this record on May 16, 2013