NCT05037123

Brief Summary

The study utilizes a 3-arm placebo-controlled RCT to study the effectiveness of ketamine in reducing chronic post-mastectomy pain. Participants randomized to the first arm will receive a 0.35 mg/kg dose after induction, followed by a 0.25 mg/kg/hr infusion during surgery (up to a maximum of 6 hours) and continued for 2 hours postoperatively. Participants in the second arm will receive a single dose of 0.6 mg/kg of ketamine in the post-anesthesia care unit, and the final group will serve as the control group and receive saline (no ketamine).

Trial Health

75
On Track

Trial Health Score

Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach

Enrollment
765

participants targeted

Target at P75+ for phase_3

Timeline
4mo left

Started Jan 2022

Longer than P75 for phase_3

Geographic Reach
1 country

14 active sites

Status
active not recruiting

Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.

Trial Relationships

Click on a node to explore related trials.

Study Timeline

Key milestones and dates

Study Progress93%
Jan 2022Aug 2026

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

August 31, 2021

Completed
8 days until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

September 8, 2021

Completed
4 months until next milestone

Study Start

First participant enrolled

January 4, 2022

Completed
3.4 years until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

May 28, 2025

Completed
1.3 years until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

August 31, 2026

Expected
Last Updated

May 6, 2026

Status Verified

May 1, 2026

Enrollment Period

3.4 years

First QC Date

August 31, 2021

Last Update Submit

May 4, 2026

Conditions

Keywords

MastectomyPost-MastectomyKetamine

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

  • BPI pain severity subscale score

    The Brief Pain Inventory short form (BPI) pain severity subscale assesses pain at its worst, least, average, and current in the past 24 hours. The score ranges from 0 to 10 for each item. The average of the four items will be used. The BPI scale defines pain as follows: Worst Pain Score: 1 - 4 = Mild Pain. Worst Pain Score: 5 - 6 = Moderate Pain. Worst Pain Score: 7 - 10 = Severe Pain.

    3 months

Secondary Outcomes (4)

  • BPI pain severity and pain interference subscales score

    Baseline, 1 and 7 days and 1, 3*, 6, and 12 months after surgery

  • Incidence of PMS: BPI average pain score

    Baseline, 3, 6, and 12 months after surgery

  • Pain in the surgical site (chest wall, axilla, and/or arm): BCPQ Score

    7 days and 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after surgery

  • PROMIS Depression and Anxiety Short Form Scores

    Baseline, 7 days and 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after surgery

Study Arms (3)

Arm 1 Continuous ketamine infusion group

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Continuous ketamine infusion (0.35 mg/kg after induction, followed by 0.25 mg/kg/hr until 2 hours after surgery) plus saline IV dose in post-anesthesia care unit

Drug: Continuous ketamine infusion

Arm 2 Ketamine + Saline group

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Saline dose and infusion intraoperatively, then single-dose IV ketamine (0.60 mg/kg) in post-anesthesia care unit plus 2 hours of saline administration after surgery

Drug: Ketamine + Saline

Arm 3 Placebo group

PLACEBO COMPARATOR

Placebo, Saline dose and infusion intraoperatively, then saline IV dose in post-anesthesia care unit plus 2 hours of saline administration after surgery

Other: Placebo

Interventions

Continuous ketamine infusion (0.35 mg/kg after induction, followed by 0.25 mg/kg/hr until 2 hours after surgery) plus saline IV dose in post-anesthesia care unit

Arm 1 Continuous ketamine infusion group

Saline dose and infusion intraoperatively, then single-dose IV ketamine (0.60 mg/kg) in post-anesthesia care unit plus 2 hours of saline administration after surgery

Arm 2 Ketamine + Saline group
PlaceboOTHER

Placebo, Saline dose and infusion intraoperatively, then saline IV dose in post-anesthesia care unit plus 2 hours of saline administration after surgery

Arm 3 Placebo group

Eligibility Criteria

Age18 Years+
Sexfemale
Healthy VolunteersNo
Age GroupsAdult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

  • Woman 18 years of age or older
  • Undergoing elective breast surgery for oncologic indication as follows: unilateral or bilateral mastectomy, prophylacticmastectomy, +/- lymph node dissection, +/- immediate or delayed reconstruction.
  • No distant metastases

You may not qualify if:

  • History of cognitive impairment or clinical signs of altered mental status (AMS) that may interfere with adherence to study procedures and/or participant safety. Clinical signs of AMS may include but are not limited to: confusion, amnesia, disorientation, fluctuating levels of alertness, etc.
  • Past ketamine or phencyclidine misuse or abuse
  • Schizophrenia or history of psychosis
  • History of post-traumatic stress disorder
  • Known sensitivity or allergy to ketamine
  • Liver or renal insufficiency
  • History of uncontrolled hypertension, chest pain, cardiac arrhythmia, stroke, head trauma, intracranial mass or hemorrhage, glaucoma, porphyria, uncontrolled thyroid disease, or other contraindication to ketamine
  • Lamotrigine, alfentanil, physostigmine, or 4-aminopyridine use
  • Currently Pregnant
  • Body mass index (BMI) equal to or greater than 41
  • Non-English or non-Spanish speaker
  • Currently participating in another pain interventional trial
  • Unwilling to comply with all study procedures and be available for the duration of the study
  • Patient is American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status 4, 5, or 6
  • Patient has started or undergone hormone therapy for gender transition into male.
  • +1 more criteria

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (14)

University of Alabama at Birmingham

Birmingham, Alabama, 35233, United States

Location

University of Arkansas

Little Rock, Arkansas, 72205, United States

Location

Rush University Medical Center

Chicago, Illinois, 60612, United States

Location

Brigham and Women's Hospital - Harvard University

Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, 02467, United States

Location

Mayo Clinic

Rochester, Minnesota, 55905, United States

Location

Washington University at St. Louis Medical Center

St Louis, Missouri, 63110, United States

Location

NYU Langone Health (Tisch Hospital, Kimmel Pavilion)

New York, New York, 10016, United States

Location

New York Presbyterian Columbia University Irving Medical Center

New York, New York, 10032, United States

Location

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

New York, New York, 10065, United States

Location

Montefiore Medical Center - Albert Einstein College of Medicine

The Bronx, New York, 10467, United States

Location

University of Pittsburgh - Magee Women's Hospital

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15213, United States

Location

University of Texas - Southwestern Medical Center

Dallas, Texas, 75390, United States

Location

University of Texas - MD Anderson Cancer Center

Houston, Texas, 77030, United States

Location

University of Washington Medical Center

Seattle, Washington, 98195, United States

Location

Related Publications (1)

  • Wang J, Doan LV, Axelrod D, Rotrosen J, Wang B, Park HG, Edwards RR, Curatolo M, Jackman C, Perez R; NCATS Trial Innovation Network. Optimizing the use of ketamine to reduce chronic postsurgical pain in women undergoing mastectomy for oncologic indication: study protocol for the KALPAS multicenter randomized controlled trial. Trials. 2024 Jan 19;25(1):67. doi: 10.1186/s13063-023-07884-y.

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Pain, Postoperative

Interventions

KetamineSodium Chloride

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Postoperative ComplicationsPathologic ProcessesPathological Conditions, Signs and SymptomsPainNeurologic ManifestationsSigns and Symptoms

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

CyclohexanesCycloparaffinsHydrocarbons, AlicyclicHydrocarbons, CyclicHydrocarbonsOrganic ChemicalsChloridesHydrochloric AcidChlorine CompoundsInorganic ChemicalsSodium Compounds

Study Officials

  • Jing Wang, MD, PhD

    NYU Langone Health

    PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
  • Lisa Doan, MD

    NYU Langone Health

    PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

Study Type
interventional
Phase
phase 3
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Masking
TRIPLE
Who Masked
PARTICIPANT, CARE PROVIDER, INVESTIGATOR
Masking Details
Participants, study members, and treating clinicians will be blinded to intervention.
Purpose
SUPPORTIVE CARE
Intervention Model
PARALLEL
Sponsor Type
OTHER
Responsible Party
SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

August 31, 2021

First Posted

September 8, 2021

Study Start

January 4, 2022

Primary Completion

May 28, 2025

Study Completion (Estimated)

August 31, 2026

Last Updated

May 6, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-05

Data Sharing

IPD Sharing
Will share

The de-identified participant data from the final research dataset used in the published manuscript will be shared upon reasonable request beginning 9 months and ending 36 months following article publication or as required by a condition of awards and agreements supporting the research provided the investigator who proposes to use the data executes a data use agreement with NYU Langone Health. Requests may be directed to the PI. The protocol and statistical analysis plan will be made available on Clinicaltrials.gov only as required by federal regulation or as a condition of awards and agreements supporting the research.

Shared Documents
STUDY PROTOCOL, SAP
Time Frame
Beginning 9 months and ending 36 months following article publication or as required by a condition of awards and agreements supporting the research.
Access Criteria
Requests should be directed to Jing.Wang2@nyulangone.org. To gain access, data requestors will need to sign a data access agreement.

Locations