Trial Outcomes & Findings for Breakthrough Dyspnea Fentanyl Study in Cancer Patients (NCT NCT01515566)

NCT ID: NCT01515566

Last Updated: 2014-08-22

Results Overview

Retention rate is defined as the percentage of subjects able to complete the study.

Recruitment status

COMPLETED

Study phase

PHASE1/PHASE2

Target enrollment

26 participants

Primary outcome timeframe

Baseline to study completion, up to 100 minutes.

Results posted on

2014-08-22

Participant Flow

Outpatient participants from the Supportive Care Center at MD Anderson Cancer Center were recruited between July 10, 2012 and December 12, 2012.

Six participants of the 26 recruited were excluded from the trial before assignment to groups due to ineligibility.

Participant milestones

Participant milestones
Measure
Fentanyl
Fentanyl subcutaneous (SQ) dose equivalent to 15-25% of the morphine equivalent daily dose (MEDD) 15 minutes before walk test; 6 minute walk test (6MWT) at baseline and 15 minutes after Fentanyl. Questionnaires completed at baseline and after study visit.
Placebo
Normal saline 0.9% preservative free SQ 15 minutes before walk test; 6 minute walk test (6MWT) at baseline and 15 minutes after Placebo. Questionnaires completed at baseline and after study visit.
Overall Study
STARTED
10
10
Overall Study
COMPLETED
10
10
Overall Study
NOT COMPLETED
0
0

Reasons for withdrawal

Withdrawal data not reported

Baseline Characteristics

Breakthrough Dyspnea Fentanyl Study in Cancer Patients

Baseline characteristics by cohort

Baseline characteristics by cohort
Measure
Fentanyl
n=10 Participants
Fentanyl SQ dose equivalent to 15-25% of the morphine equivalent daily dose (MEDD) 15 minutes before walk test; 6 minute walk test (6MWT) at baseline and 15 minutes after Fentanyl or Placebo. Questionnaires completed at baseline and after study visit.
Placebo
n=10 Participants
Normal saline 0.9% preservative free SQ 15 minutes before walk test; 6MWT at baseline and 15 minutes after Fentanyl or Placebo. Questionnaires completed at baseline and after study visit.
Total
n=20 Participants
Total of all reporting groups
Age, Categorical
<=18 years
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
0 Participants
n=7 Participants
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
Age, Categorical
Between 18 and 65 years
7 Participants
n=5 Participants
8 Participants
n=7 Participants
15 Participants
n=5 Participants
Age, Categorical
>=65 years
3 Participants
n=5 Participants
2 Participants
n=7 Participants
5 Participants
n=5 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
6 Participants
n=5 Participants
5 Participants
n=7 Participants
11 Participants
n=5 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
4 Participants
n=5 Participants
5 Participants
n=7 Participants
9 Participants
n=5 Participants
Region of Enrollment
United States
10 participants
n=5 Participants
10 participants
n=7 Participants
20 participants
n=5 Participants

PRIMARY outcome

Timeframe: Baseline to study completion, up to 100 minutes.

Retention rate is defined as the percentage of subjects able to complete the study.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Fentanyl
n=10 Participants
Fentanyl SQ dose equivalent to 15-25% of MEDD 15 minutes before walk test; 6MWT at baseline and 15 minutes after Fentanyl.
Placebo
n=10 Participants
Normal saline 0.9% preservative free SQ 15 minutes before walk test; 6MWT at baseline and 15 minutes after Placebo.
Retention Rate
100 percentage of participants
100 percentage of participants

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: Baseline to 100 minutes for study participation.

Participants receive either Fentanyl subcutaneous (SQ) 15 minutes before walking test, or Placebo (SQ) 15 minutes before walking test. During the study, trained research staff perform study assessments and monitor participant carefully throughout the study period. Six-minute walk tests were carried out following guidelines from the American Thoracic Society. The intensity of dyspnea at 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 minute of each walk test were assessed using a validated numeric rating scale (NRS) ranging from 0 ("no shortness of breath") to 10 ("worst possible shortness of breath") and every 5 minutes during the rest period.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Fentanyl
n=10 Participants
Fentanyl SQ dose equivalent to 15-25% of MEDD 15 minutes before walk test; 6MWT at baseline and 15 minutes after Fentanyl.
Placebo
n=10 Participants
Normal saline 0.9% preservative free SQ 15 minutes before walk test; 6MWT at baseline and 15 minutes after Placebo.
Effect of Fentanyl Versus Placebo for Exercise-Induced and Breakthrough Dyspnea
Dyspnea at 0 minutes (Baseline walk test)
2 units on a scale
Standard Deviation 1 • Interval 1.8 to 0.4
3 units on a scale
Standard Deviation 3 • Interval 1.5 to 0.1
Effect of Fentanyl Versus Placebo for Exercise-Induced and Breakthrough Dyspnea
Dyspnea at 6 minutes (Baseline walk test)
6 units on a scale
Standard Deviation 1 • Interval 3.2 to 0.4
7 units on a scale
Standard Deviation 3 • Interval 4.0 to 0.02
Effect of Fentanyl Versus Placebo for Exercise-Induced and Breakthrough Dyspnea
Dyspnea at 0 minutes (Second walk test)
1 units on a scale
Standard Deviation 1 • Interval 1.8 to 0.04
2 units on a scale
Standard Deviation 2 • Interval 1.5 to 0.1
Effect of Fentanyl Versus Placebo for Exercise-Induced and Breakthrough Dyspnea
Dyspnea at 6 minutes (Second walk test)
4 units on a scale
Standard Deviation 1 • Interval 3.2 to 0.4
5 units on a scale
Standard Deviation 3 • Interval 4.0 to 0.02

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: Baseline 6 minute walk test (6MWT) to second 6MWT, up to 100 minutes for study participation.

Ambulatory patients with breakthrough dyspnea performed a baseline 6 minute walk test (6MWT), and then received either subcutaneous fentanyl or placebo 15 minutes before a second 6MWT. The change in walk distance was documented between the first and second 6MWT.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Fentanyl
n=10 Participants
Fentanyl SQ dose equivalent to 15-25% of MEDD 15 minutes before walk test; 6MWT at baseline and 15 minutes after Fentanyl.
Placebo
n=10 Participants
Normal saline 0.9% preservative free SQ 15 minutes before walk test; 6MWT at baseline and 15 minutes after Placebo.
Effect of Fentanyl on Walk Distance
Walk Distance (Second Walk Test)
434.9 feet
Standard Deviation 95.4
417.9 feet
Standard Deviation 89.3
Effect of Fentanyl on Walk Distance
Walk Distance (Baseline Walk Test)
397.7 feet
Standard Deviation 98.1
399 feet
Standard Deviation 86.4

Adverse Events

Fentanyl

Serious events: 0 serious events
Other events: 2 other events
Deaths: 0 deaths

Placebo

Serious events: 0 serious events
Other events: 0 other events
Deaths: 0 deaths

Serious adverse events

Adverse event data not reported

Other adverse events

Other adverse events
Measure
Fentanyl
n=10 participants at risk
Fentanyl SQ dose equivalent to 15-25% of the morphine equivalent daily dose (MEDD) 15 minutes before walk test. 6 minute walk test at baseline and 15 minutes after Fentanyl.
Placebo
n=10 participants at risk
Normal saline 0.9% preservative free SQ 15 minutes before walk test. 6 minute walk test at baseline and 15 minutes after Placebo.
General disorders
Pain with subcutaneous injection
20.0%
2/10 • Number of events 2 • Adverse effect collection from baseline up to 100 minutes for study participation.
0.00%
0/10 • Adverse effect collection from baseline up to 100 minutes for study participation.

Additional Information

David Hui, MD, MSc, FRCPC / Asst. Professor, Palliative Care and Rehabilitation Medicine

University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

Phone: 713-792-6085

Results disclosure agreements

  • Principal investigator is a sponsor employee
  • Publication restrictions are in place