Health-related Quality of Life-intervention in Survivors of Breast and Other Cancers Experiencing Cancer-related Fatigue Using Traditional Chinese Medicine: The HERBAL Trial

NCT ID: NCT04104113

Last Updated: 2020-06-16

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

Get a concise snapshot of the trial, including recruitment status, study phase, enrollment targets, and key timeline milestones.

Recruitment Status

UNKNOWN

Clinical Phase

PHASE2

Total Enrollment

80 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2019-10-24

Study Completion Date

2022-06-09

Brief Summary

Review the sponsor-provided synopsis that highlights what the study is about and why it is being conducted.

This study is a phase 2, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a Traditional Chinese Medicine decoction, the modified Xiang Bei Yang Rong Tang, in alleviating cancer related fatigue in cancer survivors.

Detailed Description

Dive into the extended narrative that explains the scientific background, objectives, and procedures in greater depth.

Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) is a distressing, persistent and subjective sense of physical, emotional, or cognitive tiredness related to cancer or its treatment. Currently there is a lack of effective conventional pharmacological intervention for treating this condition. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) could be alternative therapy for managing CRF.

This study is a phase 2, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial to examine the efficacy and safety of a TCM decoction, the modified Xiang Bei Yang Rong Tang (XBYRT) in alleviating CRF in cancer survivors. Study participants recruited from National Cancer Centre Singapore (NCCS) will be randomized to receive either the XBYRT or placebo decoction. Participants will take their assigned decoction daily for a duration of 8 weeks and will be assessed using patient reported outcome (PRO) questionnaires. PROs used are the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC-QLQ 30) for QOL, the Multidimensional Fatigue Symptom Inventory Short Form (MFSI-SF) for fatigue and Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Cognitive Function (FACT-Cog) Version 3 for cognitive abilities. The changes in scores measured by these assessment tools will be compared between the XBYRT intervention and placebo groups. Blood biomarkers such as inflammatory cytokines, mitochondrial DNA and oxidative stress markers will also be evaluated in the study participants. Additionally, adverse events or serious adverse events in participants will be monitored for safety.

Results from this study will provide a better understanding on the role of TCM in managing CRF.

Conditions

See the medical conditions and disease areas that this research is targeting or investigating.

Cancer Fatigue Cognitive Impairment

Study Design

Understand how the trial is structured, including allocation methods, masking strategies, primary purpose, and other design elements.

Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

QUADRUPLE

Participants Caregivers Investigators Outcome Assessors

Study Groups

Review each arm or cohort in the study, along with the interventions and objectives associated with them.

XBYRT decoction

Participants assigned to receive the modifed Xiang Bei Yang Rong Tang granules

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Modified Xiang Bei Yang Rong Tang

Intervention Type OTHER

Modified Xiang Bei Yang Rong Tang is a combination of 15 herbal components and it is available in granules form to be dissolved in hot water for consumption

Placebo

Participants assigned to receive placebo (contains 5% of XBYRT) granules

Group Type PLACEBO_COMPARATOR

Placebo

Intervention Type OTHER

Placebo granules contain 5% XBYRT, colourant, bitterant and 95% starch filler

Interventions

Learn about the drugs, procedures, or behavioral strategies being tested and how they are applied within this trial.

Modified Xiang Bei Yang Rong Tang

Modified Xiang Bei Yang Rong Tang is a combination of 15 herbal components and it is available in granules form to be dissolved in hot water for consumption

Intervention Type OTHER

Placebo

Placebo granules contain 5% XBYRT, colourant, bitterant and 95% starch filler

Intervention Type OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

Check the participation requirements, including inclusion and exclusion rules, age limits, and whether healthy volunteers are accepted.

Inclusion Criteria

1. Age ≥21 years
2. Clinically diagnosed cancer (Stages I-III)
3. Completed surgery/chemotherapy/radiotherapy for at least 1 month
4. At least one month after starting on aromatase inhibitors or ovarian suppression for breast cancer survivors
5. Not expected to receive surgery/chemotherapy/radiotherapy next 10 weeks
6. Fatigue screening score ≥4 for past 7 days
7. Life expectancy ≥3 months
8. Patients satisfy TCM syndrome differentiation as qi and blood deficiency Experience 2 major symptoms coupled with typical tongue and pulse conditions; 2 major symptoms and 1 possible symptom coupled with tongue and pulse conditions; 1 major symptom and at least 2 possible symptoms coupled with tongue and pulse conditions
9. Able to read and understand English or Mandarin

Exclusion Criteria

1. Cancer recurrence and/or metastasis
2. Untreated co-morbidities causing fatigue (e.g. Severe anaemia, thyroid disorder)
3. On medications that cause fatigue (e.g. beta blockers)
4. Patients on warfarin
5. Cancer survivors receiving adjuvant therapy during the study period. Aromatase inhibitors and anti-HER2 monoclonal antibodies are acceptable.
6. Receiving or planning to receive treatment from other TCM practitioners during the study period
7. Breast feeding or intending to conceive/get pregnant during the study treatment period
8. Patients who present with yin deficiency and deficiency syndromes (e.g. phlegm-dampness, blood stasis, toxic-heat and qi stagnation)
Minimum Eligible Age

21 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

80 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

Meet the organizations funding or collaborating on the study and learn about their roles.

National Cancer Centre, Singapore

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

Singapore Thong Chai Medical Institute

UNKNOWN

Sponsor Role collaborator

National University of Singapore

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

Identify the individual or organization who holds primary responsibility for the study information submitted to regulators.

Alexandre Chan

Associate Professor Dr. Alexandre Chan

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Learn about the lead researchers overseeing the trial and their institutional affiliations.

Alexandre Chan, Pharm D

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

National University of Singapore, National Cancer Centre Singapore

Locations

Explore where the study is taking place and check the recruitment status at each participating site.

National Cancer Centre Singapore

Singapore, , Singapore

Site Status RECRUITING

Countries

Review the countries where the study has at least one active or historical site.

Singapore

Central Contacts

Reach out to these primary contacts for questions about participation or study logistics.

Alexandre Chan, Pharm D

Role: CONTACT

6516 2648

Facility Contacts

Find local site contact details for specific facilities participating in the trial.

Alexandre Chan, PharmD

Role: primary

References

Explore related publications, articles, or registry entries linked to this study.

Chan A, Chan D, Ng DQ, Zheng HF, Tan QM, Tan CJ, Toh JHM, Yap NY, Toh YL, Ke Y, Wang ECA, Lim QPN, Ho HK, Chew L, Tan TJ. HEalth-Related Quality of Life-Intervention in Survivors of Breast and Other Cancers Experiencing Cancer-Related Fatigue and Associated Cognitive Symptoms Using TraditionAL Chinese Medicine: The 'HERBAL' Trial. Integr Cancer Ther. 2025 Jan-Dec;24:15347354251314514. doi: 10.1177/15347354251314514.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 39840742 (View on PubMed)

Yap NY, Loo WS, Zheng HF, Tan QM, Tan TK, Quek LYP, Tan CJ, Toh YL, Ng CC, Ang SK, Tan VKM, Ho HK, Chew L, Loh KW, Tan TJY, Chan A. A study protocol for HEalth-Related quality of life-intervention in survivors of Breast and other cancers experiencing cancer-related fatigue using TraditionAL Chinese Medicine: the HERBAL trial. Trials. 2020 Nov 4;21(1):909. doi: 10.1186/s13063-020-04810-4.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 33187543 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

Review additional registry numbers or institutional identifiers associated with this trial.

TCMRG-3-NUS-01

Identifier Type: OTHER_GRANT

Identifier Source: secondary_id

CIRB Ref. No: 2019/2135

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

More Related Trials

Additional clinical trials that may be relevant based on similarity analysis.

Effectiveness of Chinese Herbal Therapy for Asthma
NCT00712296 TERMINATED PHASE1/PHASE2