Role of Beta-Endorphin in Cancer Therapy Fatigue

Breast Cancer Clinical Trial

Official title: Beta-Endorphin as a Mediator of Cancer Therapy-Induced Fatigue

Status Terminated

Clinical Trial Summary

The investigators aim to test whether beta-endorphin, a substance our bodies make in response to painful and stressful stimuli, plays a causative role in radiation-induced fatigue that cancer patients receiving radiation therapy commonly experience. If this is so, the investigators' hope is to direct efforts at treating radiation-induced fatigue using agents that block the action of beta-endorphin with the aim of improving quality of life for patients undergoing radiation therapy

Clinical Trial Description

Participants will be breast cancer patients receiving radiation therapy at Massachusetts General Hospital. There will be two groups of patients: those receiving adjuvant radiation therapy alone following surgical tumor resection, and those receiving adjuvant chemotherapy and radiation therapy following surgical tumor resection. Patients receiving any radiation regimen detailed below in section 2b are eligible for the study. In this study the investigators will be drawing blood for beta-endorphin measurement prior to, at various times during, and following patients' treatment regimens. In addition, at each blood draw, patients will complete questionnaires that assess fatigue, mood, and pain. These questionnaires have all been validated for use in cancer patients (see "Procedures Involving Human Participants section below), and for our study, the investigators have formatted them onto computer tablets for ease of patient completion and data analysis. This study will progress as follows:

Patients: Patients expected to receive adjuvant radiation therapy at Massachusetts General Hospital will be approached for enrollment onto this study. Two groups of patients, a chemotherapy group and a non-chemotherapy group, will be enrolled as follows:

1. Adjuvant chemotherapy followed by radiation therapy

2. Adjuvant radiation therapy without chemotherapy

The enrollment goal for each group is 50 patients (total of 100 patients for the study). This calculation is based on the approximate number of 30 patients the investigators will need to achieve a sensitivity of β-endorphin changes of 5 pM being statistically significant to a p-value of<0.05 with 95% power. Based in our finding in mice, the investigators expect β-endorphin levels to vary between individuals, and the investigators have increased sample size by 70% from our calculations to account for deviations from our β-endorphin levels estimations. Additionally, the investigators have added patients to account for a number of patient dropping out of the study, since this is a long trial for patients requiring multiple blood draws. ;

Study Design

Observational Model: Case Control, Time Perspective: Prospective

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Breast Cancer
• Fatigue

• NCT number: NCT01113905
• Study type: Observational
• Source: Massachusetts General Hospital
• Status: Terminated
• Phase: N/A
• Start date: December 2009
• Completion date: August 2014