Mood Disorders in Head and Neck Cancer Patients

Head and Neck Cancer Clinical Trial

Official title:

Serotonin-Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors for the Prevention and Treatment of Pain, Depression, and Anxiety in Patients With Head & Neck Cancer

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Not yet recruiting

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT04977271
• Other study ID #: IRB-300007057
• Status: Not yet recruiting
• Phase: Phase 4
• Start date: July 28, 2024
• Est. completion date: September 2028

Study information

• Verified date: January 2024
• Source: University of Alabama at Birmingham
• Contact: Jessica Grayson, MD
• Phone: (205) 801-7864
• Email: jgrayson[@]uabmc.edu
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Study type: Interventional

Clinical Trial Summary

The purpose of this research study is to initiate a pharmacotherapy protocol for at-risk patients with newly diagnosed head and neck cancer in order to decrease the incidence of anxiety, depression, and uncontrolled pain during cancer treatment.

Description:

Patients requiring treatment of his or her newly diagnosed mucosal or cutaneous head and neck cancer per standard of care guidelines that meet all enrollment criteria will be identified and enrolled after obtaining informed consent. This will occur in the clinic setting, and subsequent screening and work up will be performed.

Enrolled patients will be randomized into one of the two study groups (Treatment v Control) via a computer-based program.

Treatment Group: Participants will be prescribed a starting dose of venlafaxine immediate release (IR) 37.5 mg twice daily. The IR formulation was selected due to its ability to be crushed for those patients who rely on parenteral administration of medications. The dosing will be increased at a rate of 75mg per week, to reach a desired dose of 300mg, divided into 150mg BID dosing. This dosing was selected due to the need for at least 150mg to see noradrenergic effects. For patients with hepatic impairment, severe renal impairment, or end-stage kidney disease, the starting dose is 37.5 mg once daily, and the dose is increased by increments of 37.5 mg per day, to a maximum of 187.5 mg per day, given in two divided doses.

Control Group: Participants will not receive any pharmacological treatment.

Patients in the Treatment Group will meet with a dedicated research collaborator via telephone on a weekly visit (for a maximum of 3 visits) as the medication is being titrated up to ensure tolerability. If at any point there are side effects or concerns regarding tolerability of medication, a collaborating psychiatrist who specializes in treatment of depression is available for consultation.

Patients in both groups will follow up 6-8 weeks after beginning their chosen treatment regimen for their HNC as determined for them by their standard of care evaluation. They will complete all of the study questionnaires at this visit. Vital signs will be collected at this visit as well as concomitant medications and any adverse events they may be experiencing.

Follow-up visits will continue every three months following this visit per the patient's standard of care return to clinic visits. It is anticipated that participants will be seen in clinic during Months 6, 9, and 12 as follow up for their standard of care treatment regimen. Vital signs, concomitant medications, adverse events, and responses to questionnaires will be collected at these visits.

Participant duration will be up to one year. If at any point, patients meet criteria for MDD, they will be referred to a mental health counselor.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Not yet recruiting
• Enrollment: 205
• Est. completion date: September 2028
• Est. primary completion date: September 2026
• Accepts healthy volunteers: No
• Gender: All
• Age group: 18 Years and older

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Provision of signed and dated informed consent form

2. Stated willingness to comply with all study procedures and availability for the duration of the study

3. Male or female, aged 18 years or older

4. Ability to speak and understand English

5. Have a recently diagnosed cutaneous or mucosal malignancy

6. Scheduled to undergo treatment for their malignancy (surgical or nonsurgical) with curative intent

7. Ability to take medication (by mouth or via parenteral route)

8. Willing to adhere to the study drug's dosing protocol

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Age less than 18 years

2. Inability to speak or understand English

3. Primary malignancy of thyroid or parathyroid origin

4. Currently meet diagnostic criteria for psychosis, schizophrenia, or moderate/severe major depressive disorder (MDD)

5. Currently receiving medication as treatment for depression or anxiety

6. Known allergic reaction to components of study drug

7. Have uncontrolled pain or chronic pain disorder

8. Treatment with another investigational drug or other intervention within 30 days

9. Females of child-bearing age who are pregnant or nursing

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Depressive Disorder
• Head and Neck Cancer
• Head and Neck Neoplasms

Intervention

Drug:
• Venlafaxine
The Immediate Release generic formulation of this drug will be used due to its ability to be crushed for those patients who rely on parenteral administration of medications.

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
United States	University of Alabama at Birmingham	Birmingham	Alabama

Sponsors (1)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
University of Alabama at Birmingham

Country where clinical trial is conducted

United States, 

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	The rate of depression in patients undergoing treatment for head and neck cancer (HNC)	The degree of depression in patients who currently do not show signs of depression at the beginning of undergoing HNC treatment. This will be assessed using the following validated questionnaires: Patient-Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) and the Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology (QIDS SR-16). For both questionnaires, an increase in score is considered to show a higher degree of depression.	Baseline to 12 months