Prevalence Study of Adrenal Suppression After Corticosteroids During Chemotherapy

Adrenal Suppression Clinical Trial

Official title: A Prevalence Study of Adrenal Suppression After Adjuvant Corticosteroid Administration During Gynecologic Cancer Chemotherapy

Status Completed

Clinical Trial Summary

Gynecologic Oncology patients have several different chemotherapy regimens, and dexamethasone is now routinely given to prevent allergic reactions to the chemotherapeutic agents. The most common chemotherapeutic agents used are paclitaxel and carboplatin. This combination regimen is given every three weeks for a total of 5-6 doses. Each dose is given after administration of 20 mg dexamethasone twelve hours prior to and the morning of chemotherapy. Dexamethasone is used for its antiemetic effects, but also to minimize the potentially fatal hypersensitivity reaction that can occur with paclitaxel. Another commonly used chemotherapy regimens is weekly cisplatin given with one dose of dexamethasone for cervical cancer. Chronic steroids are known to cause adrenal suppression, but it is not known if the amount of dexamethasone given with the gynecologic cancer chemotherapy regimens described above causes adrenal insufficiency in these patients. The investigators hypothesis is that some women receiving steroids with their chemotherapy may have adrenal insufficiency, and that they will have greater than normal chemotherapy-related fatigue.

Clinical Trial Description

This is a non-blinded, non-randomized, non-interventional prospective cohort study to evaluate the prevalence of adrenal suppression in gynecologic cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy regimens requiring concurrent dexamethasone. Women with gynecologic cancers (including cervical, endometrial, ovarian, fallopian tube, or primary peritoneal cancers) who are scheduled to begin chemotherapy with any of the standard chemotherapy regimens that also receive dexamethasone. After informed consent is obtained, they will have peripheral blood samples drawn at the time of routine blood draw for (ideally a fasting morning) cortisol level at three different times in their routine care. Patients will also answer a quality of life questionnaire at the times of these blood draws to assess for symptoms associated with treatment (nausea, vomiting, fatigue). A total of 80 subjects will be recruited to participate. 40 subjects will be given chemotherapy regimens receiving dexamethasone with three chemotherapy treatments in a three week cycle. 40 subjects will be given chemotherapy regimens receiving dexamethasone with one chemotherapy treatment in a three week cycle. ;

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Adrenal Suppression
• Vision Disorders

• NCT number: NCT01209507
• Study type: Observational
• Source: University of Colorado, Denver
• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Start date: February 2010
• Completion date: November 2015