Wisconsin Ginseng for Decreasing Cancer Related Fatigue

NCT ID: NCT06395441

Last Updated: 2025-12-26

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

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Recruitment Status

RECRUITING

Clinical Phase

PHASE3

Total Enrollment

160 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2024-08-01

Study Completion Date

2026-11-30

Brief Summary

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This phase III trial compares the effect of Wisconsin ginseng (panax quinquefolius) to placebo in patients with cancer that suffer from significant fatigue. Fatigue is among the most challenging symptoms to manage in patients with cancer, both on or off active treatment. This symptom complex meaningfully contributes to psychosocial distress, healthcare costs, and it also interferes with the delivery of anticancer therapies. American ginseng (Western ginseng) appears to be a promising appearing agent for treating cancer related fatigue. Western ginseng may reduce cancer-related fatigue.

Detailed Description

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PRIMARY OBJECTIVE:

I. To determine the efficacy of ginseng as assessed by a single item measure of fatigue at 8 weeks.

SECONDARY OBJECTIVES:

I. To estimate changes in fatigue via the single item measure of fatigue from baseline to week 4, the Global Impression of Change at week 4 and 8, and the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Fatigue Scale (FACIT-Fatigue) at week 4 and 8.

II. To evaluate the frequency and severity of toxicity as reported by the patient on the Ginseng Symptom Experience Diary where patients rate (on a 0 to 10 scale) their toxicities experienced while on study.

OUTLINE: Patients are randomized to 1 of 2 groups.

GROUP I: Patients receive Western ginseng orally (PO) twice daily (BID) on days 1-56.

GROUP II: Patients receive placebo PO BID on days 1-56.

Conditions

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Malignant Solid Neoplasm

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

SUPPORTIVE_CARE

Blinding Strategy

DOUBLE

Participants Investigators
Research staff, other than pharmacy, are blinded, and will dispense product to the patient. Option to unblind: At the end of treatment, if, in the judgment of patient or patient's attending clinician, it would be helpful for the future of patient's clinical care, the code may be broken.

Study Groups

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Group I (Western ginseng)

Patients receive Western ginseng PO BID on days 1-56. Treatment continues in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

American Ginseng

Intervention Type DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

Given PO

Questionnaire Administration

Intervention Type OTHER

Ancillary studies

Group II (placebo)

Patients receive placebo PO BID on days 1-56. Treatment continues in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.

Group Type PLACEBO_COMPARATOR

Placebo Administration

Intervention Type DRUG

Given PO

Questionnaire Administration

Intervention Type OTHER

Ancillary studies

Interventions

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American Ginseng

Given PO

Intervention Type DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

Placebo Administration

Given PO

Intervention Type DRUG

Questionnaire Administration

Ancillary studies

Intervention Type OTHER

Other Intervention Names

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Ginseng Ginseng Root Panax quinquifolius

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Age ≥ 18 years
* Has received or is receiving treatment for a solid-organ malignancy (not hematologic)
* History of cancer-related fatigue as defined by an average score ≥ 4 over the past 30 days on the numeric analogue scale. Patients can answer questions orally rather than completing worksheet
* Baseline control of insomnia: Insomnia ≤ 4 on Linear Analogue Scale. Patients can answer questions orally rather than completing worksheet
* Baseline control of pain: Pain ≤ 4 on Linear Analogue Scale. Patients can answer questions orally rather than completing worksheet
* Life expectancy ≥ 6 months
* Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status (PS) 0, 1 or 2
* Hemoglobin ≥ 10.0 g/dL (patients must not have been transfused in the preceding 90 days to meet this criterion) (≤ 180 days prior to registration)
* Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) or aspartate transaminase (AST) ≤ 3 x upper limit normal (ULN) (≤ 180 days prior to registration)
* Creatinine ≤ 1.5 x ULN (≤ 180 days prior to registration)
* No clinical suspicion of hypothyroidism within 180 days prior to registration \[if clinical suspicion of hypothyroidism exists, a documented thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) \< 5 milli-international units per liter (mIU/L) is required\]
* Negative pregnancy test done ≤ 7 days prior to registration, for persons of childbearing potential only
* Ability to complete questionnaire(s) by themselves or with assistance
* Provide informed consent

Exclusion Criteria

* Any known hypersensitivity to ginseng
* Currently using any other pharmacologic agents to specifically treat fatigue including psychostimulants or antidepressants. Note: Antidepressants used to treat items other than fatigue (such as hot flashes or depression) are allowed if the patient has been on a stable dose for ≥ 30 days and plan to continue such for 8 weeks. Exercise is allowed
* Psychiatric disorder such as poorly controlled depression, manic depressive disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, or schizophrenia (defined per medical history)
* Use of erythropoietic agents ≤ 6 months
* Uncontrolled hypertension on more than three occasions (diastolic blood pressure ≥ 100, systolic ≥ 160) measured ≤ 180 days prior to randomization
* Surgery that required general anesthetic ≤ 30 days prior to randomization
* Malnutrition, active infection, severe depression, or significant pulmonary disease and cardiovascular disease (as determined by the attending clinician), as they could impact fatigue
* Use of any over the counter herbal/dietary supplement marketed for fatigue or energy (for example, products containing any type of ginseng, Rhodiola rosea, guarana, or anything called an "adaptogen")
* Currently using an antidiabetic drug, warfarin or monamine oxide inhibitor
* Treating provider anticipates a change to the anti-cancer treatment program in the next 8 weeks (i.e., the intervention period)
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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Mayo Clinic

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Responsibility Role SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

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Daniel S. Childs, MD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Mayo Clinic in Rochester

Locations

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Mayo Clinic Health System in Albert Lea

Albert Lea, Minnesota, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

Sanford Joe Lueken Cancer Center

Bemidji, Minnesota, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

Essentia Health Saint Joseph's Medical Center

Brainerd, Minnesota, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

Essentia Health Deer River Clinic

Deer River, Minnesota, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

Essentia Health St. Mary's Detroit Lakes Clinic

Detroit Lakes, Minnesota, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

Essentia Health Cancer Center

Duluth, Minnesota, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

Essentia Health Fosston

Fosston, Minnesota, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

Essentia Health Hibbing Clinic

Hibbing, Minnesota, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

Mayo Clinic Health System-Mankato

Mankato, Minnesota, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

MMCORC CentraCare Monticello Cancer Center

Monticello, Minnesota, United States

Site Status COMPLETED

Mayo Clinic in Rochester

Rochester, Minnesota, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

Essentia Health Sandstone

Sandstone, Minnesota, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

Sanford Thief River Falls Medical Center

Thief River Falls, Minnesota, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

Essentia Health Virginia Clinic

Virginia, Minnesota, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

Sanford Worthington Medical Center

Worthington, Minnesota, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

Countries

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United States

Central Contacts

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Clinical Trials Referral Office

Role: CONTACT

Phone: 855-776-0015

Email: [email protected]

Facility Contacts

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Clinical Trials Referral Office

Role: primary

Danielle Mutschler

Role: backup

Jarrett Failing, MD

Role: primary

Bret Friday, MD

Role: primary

Bret Friday, MD

Role: primary

Bret Friday, MD

Role: primary

Bret Friday, MD

Role: primary

Bret Friday, MD

Role: primary

Bret Friday, MD

Role: primary

Clinical Trials Referral Office

Role: primary

Jenna Ziegler

Role: backup

Clinical Trials Referral Office

Role: primary

Bret Friday, MD

Role: primary

Amit Panwalkar, MD

Role: primary

Bret Friday, MD

Role: primary

Jonathan Bleeker, MD

Role: primary

Related Links

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Other Identifiers

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NCI-2024-03375

Identifier Type: REGISTRY

Identifier Source: secondary_id

23-012122

Identifier Type: OTHER

Identifier Source: secondary_id

MC231004

Identifier Type: OTHER

Identifier Source: secondary_id

MNCCTN037

Identifier Type: OTHER

Identifier Source: secondary_id

MC231004

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id