Efficacy of Low Analgesic Doses of Ketamine Associated With Opioids in Refractory Cancer Pain Treatment

Brief Summary

Long-term opioid therapy is commonly administered for the management of severe cancer pain. Increasing doses of opioids are titrated against effects until analgesia is achieved or intolerable adverse effects occur. Ketamine, an N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist, has been reported to improve analgesia in patients with uncontrolled pain receiving high doses of opioids. This study aims at determining the effectiveness of ketamine as an adjuvant to opioids in relieving cancer pain.

Intervention / Treatment

  • Ketamine (DRUG)
    Drip continues of ketamine in intravenous injection included posology enters 0,5mg/kg /day and 2mg/kg/day during 4 days
  • NaCl (DRUG)
    Drip continues of NaCl 0,9% in intravenous injection during 4 days

Condition or Disease

  • Pain

Phase

  • Phase 3
  • Study Design

    Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
    Status: Completed
    Study results: No Results Available
    Age: 18 Years and older   (Adult, Older Adult)
    Enrollment: 24 (ACTUAL)
    Funded by: Other
    Allocation: Randomized
    Primary Purpose: Treatment

    Masking

    QUADRUPLE:
    • Participant
    • Care Provider
    • Investigator
    • Outcomes Assessor

    Clinical Trial Dates

    Start date: Jul 01, 2011
    Primary Completion: Feb 01, 2013 ACTUAL
    Completion Date: Jun 01, 2013 ACTUAL
    Study First Posted: Mar 30, 2011 ESTIMATED
    Results First Posted: Aug 31, 2020
    Last Updated: Aug 06, 2013

    Sponsors / Collaborators

    Lead sponsor is responsible party
    Responsible Party: N/A

    Main objective:

    To show that low analgesic doses of ketamine in intravenous infusion during 4 days associated with opioids better relieve refractory cancer pain than opioids without ketamine.

    This study is a prospective study, multicenter (11 centres), consisting of 3 phases:

    * a randomized controlled double blind phase of 5 days with 2 parallel groups of 38 patients each : ketamine (in association with high opioids), in intravenous injection during 4 days, versus placebo (in association with high opioids), in intravenous injection during 4 days ;
    * an open-label phase of maximum 4 days, during which the ketamine Panpharma® is administered in intravenous infusion to the hospitalized patients who are still having uncontrolled pain persisting or recurrent ;
    * an observational phase : starting at the discharge of the patient, of a maximal period of 6 months.The inclusion period is during 18 months, the total duration of the study is 2 years.

    76 patients are expected: 38 will be treated with opioids and ketamine; 38 will be treated with opioids and a placebo.

    Success is defined by a decrease of the daily pain score of 50 % after 4 days. The expected rate of success in the placebo group is 10 % whereas the expected rate of success in the ketamine group is 30 %.

    Primary outcome (pain score on a 11-point numerical scale) will be evaluated everyday as well as secondary outcomes (patient and clinician global impression of change, opioid consumption, adverse reactions, patient satisfaction on pain relief, sleep interference score).

    Vital parameters (cardiac frequency, respiratory frequency and arterial blood pressure) will be checked everyday, many times a day : every hour for the four hours after the beginning of the treatment and then, every four hours ; every hour for the two hours following a dose shift).

    Participant Groups

    • Ketamine PANFARMA

    • NaCl

    Eligibility Criteria

    Sex: All
    Minimum Age: 18
    Age Groups: Adult / Older Adult
    Healthy Volunteers: Yes

    Inclusion Criteria:

    * Hospitalized cancer patients (informed and conscious of the cancer diagnostic)
    * Undergoing opioid treatment for 15 days at least
    * Refractory pain (score higher than 5 on an 10-point numerical pain rating scale)
    * Ability to score pain on a numerical pain rating scale
    * Patient written agreement

    Exclusion Criteria:

    * Ketamine contraindications
    * Methadone or other NMDA-antagonist treatment
    * Karnofsky index under 10
    * Pregnancy

    Primary Outcomes
    • The daily average score of painful intensity being the score of painful intensity of the previous 24 hours, determined by the patient on a digital scale(ladder) validated from 0 to 10

    Secondary Outcomes
    • Patient Global Impression of Change/ Clinical Global Impression of Change 4 days
    • Daily sleep interference score 4 days
    • Patient satisfaction of pain relief 4 days
    • Opioids consumption 4 days
    • Number of Participants with Adverse Events as a Measure of Safety and Tolerability

    More Details

    NCT Number: NCT01326325
    Acronym: KEPAL
    Other IDs: P081242
    Study URL: https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT01326325
    Last updated: Sep 29, 2023