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Last Modified: 1/30/2009     First Published: 12/21/2002  
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Phase III Randomized Study of Juven® Versus a Non-Juven® Supplement in the Treatment of Cachexia in Patients With Unspecified Solid Tumors or Lymphoma With No Leukemic Aspect

Alternate Title
Basic Trial Information
Objectives
Entry Criteria
Expected Enrollment
Outline
Published Results
Trial Contact Information
Registry Information

Alternate Title

Comparison of Nutritional Supplements in Preventing Weight Loss in Patients With Cancer

Basic Trial Information

PhaseTypeStatusAgeSponsorProtocol IDs
Phase IIISupportive careCompleted17 and overNCIRTOG-0122
RTOG 0122, NCT00053053

Objectives

  1. Compare the change in lean body mass of patients treated with Juven® vs a non-Juven® supplement.
  2. Compare the change in fatigue and quality of life of patients treated with these supplements.
  3. Compare the results of plethysmography, bioimpedance, and skinfold measurement in patients treated with these supplements.
  4. Compare the weight change in patients treated with these supplements.

Entry Criteria

Disease Characteristics:

  • Histologically or cytologically confirmed solid tumor or lymphoma with no leukemic aspect
    • Stage III or IV or any other stage associated with current metastatic disease at presentation
    • No primary or metastatic brain tumors


  • Weight loss of at least 2% but no more than 10% within the past 3 months


  • No ascites


Prior/Concurrent Therapy:

Biologic therapy

  • Not specified

Chemotherapy

  • Concurrent chemotherapy allowed

Endocrine therapy

  • No dexamethasone as an appetite stimulant
  • Intermittent dexamethasone during concurrent chemotherapy allowed

Radiotherapy

  • Concurrent radiotherapy allowed

Surgery

  • At least 1 week since prior minor surgery
  • At least 3 weeks since prior major surgery

Other

  • At least 30 days since prior total parenteral nutrition
  • No concurrent parenteral feedings
  • No concurrent known appetite stimulants (e.g., megestrol or dronabinol)
  • No concurrent omega 3 fatty acids or their congeners (e.g., ProSure™)
  • No concurrent amino acid supplements
  • Concurrent use of other dietary supplements (e.g., Ensure® or Boost) is allowed
  • Concurrent enteral feedings via PEG or nasogastric tube are allowed

Patient Characteristics:

Age

  • 17 and over

Performance status

  • Zubrod 0-2

Life expectancy

  • At least 3 months

Hematopoietic

  • Not specified

Hepatic

  • Not specified

Renal

  • No hypercalcemia

Cardiovascular

  • No persistent moderate or severe peripheral edema
  • No uncontrolled congestive heart failure

Gastrointestinal

  • No enteric fistula
  • No concurrent intestinal obstruction
    • Prior intestinal obstruction allowed

Other

  • Not pregnant or nursing
  • Negative pregnancy test
  • No uncontrolled infections
  • No other serious medical illness
  • No metabolic disorder

Expected Enrollment

A total of 468 patients (234 per treatment arm) will be accrued for this study within 16 months.

Outline

This is a randomized, double-blind, multicenter study. Patients are stratified according to primary disease site (lung vs others), concurrent chemotherapy (yes vs no), evidence of metastases (yes vs no), and degree of weight loss (2-5% vs 6-10%). Patients are randomized to 1 of 2 treatment arms.

  • Arm I: Patients receive oral Juven® supplement twice daily for 8 weeks.


  • Arm II: Patients receive oral non-Juven® supplement twice daily for 8 weeks.


All patients undergo lean body mass measurement (to include multiple body composition and weight change) and fatigue and quality of life assessments at baseline and then at 4 and 8 weeks.

Published Results

Berk L, James J, Schwartz A, et al.: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of a beta-hydroxyl beta-methyl butyrate, glutamine, and arginine mixture for the treatment of cancer cachexia (RTOG 0122). Support Care Cancer 16 (10): 1179-88, 2008.[PUBMED Abstract]

Trial Contact Information

Trial Lead Organizations

Radiation Therapy Oncology Group

Lawrence Berk, MD, PhD, Protocol chair(Contact information may not be current)
Ph: 614-448-2118

Registry Information
Official Title A Double-Blind Study Of Nutritional Intervention For The Treatment Of Cancer Cachexia Using Juven® Nutritional Supplement
Trial Start Date 2002-12-06
Trial Completion Date 2008-10-01
Registered in ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00053053
Date Submitted to PDQ 2002-11-14
Information Last Verified 2006-09-07

Note: The purpose of most clinical trials listed in this database is to test new cancer treatments, or new methods of diagnosing, screening, or preventing cancer. Because all potentially harmful side effects are not known before a trial is conducted, dose and schedule modifications may be required for participants if they develop side effects from the treatment or test. The therapy or test described in this clinical trial is intended for use by clinical oncologists in carefully structured settings, and may not prove to be more effective than standard treatment. A responsible investigator associated with this clinical trial should be consulted before using this protocol.

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