NCT05254639

Brief Summary

The use of oxaliplatin in the treatment of colorectal or pancreas cancer induces (\>75% of patients) severe sensorimotor neuropathy decreasing the quality of life of cancer survivors. Today, no treatment remains univocal for these peripheral neuropathies. But preclinical works have demonstrated that donepezil (acetylcholinesterase inhibitor use for Alzheimer's disease) was able to prevent and treat neuropathic symptoms in oxaliplatin-treated rats. Present study aims to assess the therapeutic efficacy of donepezil on oxaliplatin-induced peripheral neuropathy (OIPN) in cancer survivors. Bibliographic data suggests an antineuropathic effect of donepezil in human and animal models. In clinic, a study have shown in healthy volunteers that donepezil (associated with gabapentin) reduced the pain threshold (better than gabapentin alone) caused by stimulation of the sural nerve, without severe adverse effect. Similarly, two studies in patients with neuropathic pain demonstrated that donepezil increases analgesic effect of gabapentin. Finally, a case report demonstrated an analgesic effect of donepezil in painful Alzheimer's disease patients. In animals, several studies demonstrated that donepezil induces analgesic and neuroprotective effects. Recently, a preclinical study demonstrated that donepezil induced antineuropathic effect in diabetic mice with neuropathic pain. Research unit INSERM U1107 (partner of the DONEPEZOX study) demonstrated the antineuropathic effects of donepezil in several animal models of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathies, and very recently, a study have confirmed these results with oxaliplatin and cisplatin. These clinical and preclinical data have thus highlighted the potential beneficial effect of donepezil on neuropathic symptoms, without any significant adverse effects. Therefore the hypothesis is that the use of donepezil could reduce the symptoms of OIPN, limit the decrease in quality of life and the appearance of comorbidities (anxiety/depression) in cancer survivors. For this purpose, the investigators propose here a proof of concept, multicentre, phase II, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical study. The primary objective will be the curative efficacy of donepezil on the severity of OIPN in patients who have completed oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy for the treatment of colorectal or pancreas cancer and have peripheral neuropathy of grade ≥2. This will be assessed using the EORTC QLQ-CIPN20 sensory scale. Our methodological choice to use the QLQ-CIPN20 as the primary endpoint will allow us to more accurately (and in a standardized manner) characterize neuropathic symptoms and assess the therapeutic effect of donepezil on these symptoms. In addition, as secondary objectives, we will study the effect of donepezil on neuropathic pain, the intensity of neuropathic symptoms, health-related quality of life, and the tolerance of donepezil. The 80 patients required will be randomized (1:1) to receive either placebo or donepezil (5 mg daily for 4 weeks and then 10 mg daily for 12 weeks as a single dose and according to tolerance and efficacy). Patients will be followed for 1 month after the end of treatment to assess the OIPN. As a proof of concept study, responder rate will be assessed only for Donepezil arm (primary objective) and compared between each treatment arm (secondary objective) after a minimum of 12 weeks of treatment. A responder will be defined as a patient with a decrease of neuropathic grade according to CIPN20 sensory score compraed to baseline.

Trial Health

87
On Track

Trial Health Score

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

Enrollment
77

participants targeted

Target at P50-P75 for phase_2

Timeline
Completed

Started Jun 2022

Geographic Reach
1 country

34 active sites

Status
completed

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

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

February 4, 2022

Completed
20 days until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

February 24, 2022

Completed
3 months until next milestone

Study Start

First participant enrolled

June 2, 2022

Completed
1.6 years until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

January 24, 2024

Completed
Same day until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

January 24, 2024

Completed
Last Updated

April 5, 2024

Status Verified

April 1, 2024

Enrollment Period

1.6 years

First QC Date

February 4, 2022

Last Update Submit

April 4, 2024

Conditions

Keywords

PharmacologyChronic PainOxaliplatinChemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathyDonepezil

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

  • Quality of Life Questionnaire-Chemotherapy Induced Peripheral Neuropathy 20 (QLQ-CIPN20)

    A self-reported questionnaire, consisting of 20 questions which assess the symptoms and functional limitations of CIPN from the patients' perspective. The questionnaire is divided in 3 subscales: sensory, motor, and autonomic and gives a comprehensive picture of the nature, frequency, and severity of CIPN. For each subscale and for the entire questionnaire, a score from 0 to 100 is generated. The higher the score, the more severe the neuropathic symptoms.

    through study completion, an average of 4 months.

Secondary Outcomes (6)

  • 11-point pain Numeric Rating Scale (NRS)

    through study completion, an average of 4 months

  • Douleur Neuropathique-4 (DN4) interview

    At inclusion

  • Neuropathic Pain Symptoms Inventory (NPSI)

    through study completion, an average of 4 months.

  • Quality of Life Questionnaire-Cancer 30 (QLQ-C30)

    through study completion, an average of 4 months.

  • Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale (HADS)

    through study completion, an average of 4 months.

  • +1 more secondary outcomes

Study Arms (2)

Donepezil

EXPERIMENTAL

5 mg/day for 4 weeks then 10 mg/day for 12 weeks

Drug: DONEPEZIL

Placebo

PLACEBO COMPARATOR

5 mg/day for 4 weeks then 10 mg/day for 12 weeks

Drug: PLACEBO

Interventions

5 mg daily for 4 weeks + 10 mg daily for 12 weeks according to tolerance or efficacy

Donepezil

5 mg daily for 4 weeks + 10 mg daily for 12 weeks according to tolerance or efficacy

Placebo

Eligibility Criteria

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

You may qualify if:

  • Patient who received chemotherapy with oxaliplatin for all stage of colorectal or pancreas cancer,
  • QLQ-CIPN20 sensory score ≥30,
  • Diagnosis of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy treated or not by stable antineuropathic/analgesic treatment (opioids, pregabalin, gabapentin, duloxetine and other antidepressants or anticonvulsants) for at least 1 month,
  • Chemotherapy completed for at least 6 months,
  • Patients affiliated to the French national health insurance,
  • Written informed consent,
  • French language comprehension.

You may not qualify if:

  • Cancer relapse or secondary cancer,
  • Lack of effective contraception in patients (female) of childbearing age, pregnant or breastfeeding women, women of childbearing age who have not taken a pregnancy test,
  • Patient with a chronic progressive disease with associated chronic pain (excluding oxaliplatin-induced peripheral neuropathy),
  • Diabetic patient (excluding non-insulin- or insulin-treated diabetes less than 5 years old) or presence of proven diabetic neuropathy,
  • Other types of neuropathies,
  • ALT / AST elevated more than 3 times the normal values,
  • Severe cardiovascular disease (as determined by clinician), bradycardia (\< 55 bpm), cardiac conduction disorders such as sinus disease or other supraventricular conduction abnormalities such as sino-auricular or atrioventricular block (assessed by electrocardiogram),
  • History of peptic ulcer disease or active peptic ulcer disease,
  • Asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease,
  • Known allergy to donepezil or piperidine derivatives,
  • Known galactose intolerance, known Lapp lactase deficiency or known glucose or galactose malabsorption syndrome (rare hereditary diseases),
  • Drug interactions: CYP3A4 inhibitors (ketoconazole, itraconazole and erythromycin); CYP2D6 inhibitors (fluoxetine, quinidine) and enzymatic inducers (rifampicin, phenytoin, carbamazepine),
  • Known dependence on alcohol and/or drugs,
  • Known psychotic disorders, patient under antipsychotics,
  • Planned surgery during the trial,
  • +2 more criteria

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (34)

Hôpital privé d'Antony

Antony, France

Location

CH d'Argenteuil

Argenteuil, France

Location

CHU de Besançon

Besançon, France

Location

Polyclinique Bordeaux Nord Aquitaine

Bordeaux, France

Location

Centre Hospitalier du Cotentin

Cherbourg, France

Location

Centre Hospitalier Public du Cotentin

Cherbourg, France

Location

CH de Cholet

Cholet, France

Location

CHU clermont-ferrand

Clermont-Ferrand, France

Location

Centre Hospitalier Compiègne-Noyon

Compiègne, France

Location

Clinique de Flandre

Coudekerque-Branche, France

Location

CHU de Dijon Bourgogne

Dijon, France

Location

Institut de Cancérologie de Bourgogne - GRReCC

Dijon, France

Location

CHD de Vendée

La Roche-sur-Yon, France

Location

CH Le puy

Le Puy-en-Velay, France

Location

Hôpital Franco-Britanique

Levallois-Perret, France

Location

chu de Limoges

Limoges, France

Location

CH Saint Joseph Saint Luc

Lyon, France

Location

Clinique de la sauvegarde

Lyon, France

Location

Hôpital privé Jean Mermoz

Lyon, France

Location

Hopital Saint Joseph de Marseille

Marseille, France

Location

Hôpital Européen de Marseille

Marseille, France

Location

Groupe Hospitalier des Portes de Provence

Montélimar, France

Location

Hôpital Saint-Louis - AP-HP

Paris, France

Location

Hôpital Privé des Cotes d'Armor

Plérin, France

Location

CHU de Poitiers

Poitiers, France

Location

Clinique La Croix du Sud

Quint-Fonsegrives, France

Location

CHU de Reims

Reims, France

Location

Institut Godinot

Reims, France

Location

CHU de Saint-Etienne

Saint-Etienne, France

Location

Institut de Cancérologie Paris Nord

Sarcelles, France

Location

Groupe Hospitalier Saint Vincent - Clinique Saint Anne

Strasbourg, France

Location

CHU de Bordeaux

Talence, France

Location

Hôpital d'Instruction des Armées Sainte-Anne

Toulon, France

Location

CH de Valence

Valence, France

Location

Related Publications (1)

  • Kerckhove N, Tougeron D, Lepage C, Pezet D, Le Malicot K, Pelkowski M, Pereira B, Balayssac D. Efficacy of donepezil for the treatment of oxaliplatin-induced peripheral neuropathy: DONEPEZOX, a protocol of a proof of concept, randomised, triple-blinded and multicentre trial. BMC Cancer. 2022 Jul 7;22(1):742. doi: 10.1186/s12885-022-09806-8.

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Chronic Pain

Interventions

Donepezil

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

PainNeurologic ManifestationsSigns and SymptomsPathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

IndansIndenesPolycyclic Aromatic HydrocarbonsHydrocarbons, AromaticHydrocarbons, CyclicHydrocarbonsOrganic ChemicalsPiperidinesHeterocyclic Compounds, 1-RingHeterocyclic CompoundsPolycyclic Compounds

Study Officials

  • Denis PEZET

    University Hospital, Clermont-Ferrand

    PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

Study Type
interventional
Phase
phase 2
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Masking
QUADRUPLE
Who Masked
PARTICIPANT, CARE PROVIDER, INVESTIGATOR, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
Purpose
TREATMENT
Intervention Model
PARALLEL
Sponsor Type
OTHER
Responsible Party
SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

February 4, 2022

First Posted

February 24, 2022

Study Start

June 2, 2022

Primary Completion

January 24, 2024

Study Completion

January 24, 2024

Last Updated

April 5, 2024

Record last verified: 2024-04

Locations