Dexmedetomidine for Refractory Pain in Palliative Cancer Patients

NCT07885475 | Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: 939758
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 30
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 4

Brief Summary

The goal of this study is to find out whether the medication dexmedetomidine can be a safe and effective additional treatment for cancer patients whose pain is not well controlled by standard pain medicines (such as opioids). The study includes 30 palliative care patients who still have significant pain despite standard pain treatment. All participants will receive dexmedetomidine, and outcomes related to efficacy and safety will be systematically observed.

Conditions

Cancer; Palliative Care, Patient Care; Pain Management; Dexmedetomidine Analgesia; Opioid

Keywords

palliative care; dexmedetomidine; refractory cancer pain; opioid

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Pain intensity

  Change in worst pain intensity past 24 hours (NRS 0-10) on day five.

  5 days

Secondary Outcomes (2)

• Dexmedetomidine dose

  Baseline starting dose, dose day 5, dose alterations during the follow-up period as long at treated with dexmedetomidine. Maximum 6 months.

• Adverse events

  Through study completion, as long as treated with dexmedetomidine Maximum 6 months.

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)
• Sampling Method: Probability Sample

Study Population

Palliative cancer patients about to undergo treatment with dexmedetomidine due to uncontrolled cancer pain.

You may qualify if:

• Adult cancer patients (\>18 years), not receiving curative treatment
• Treated with parenteral opioids for cancer-related pain
• Indication to start dexmedetomidine treatment due to uncontrolled background pain (NRS \> 4 in a numeric rating scale (NRS 0-10)) despite hospitalization and standard pain management.

You may not qualify if:

• Dexmedetomidine hypersensitivity
• Hypotension (systolic blood pressure (BP) \< 90)
• Bradycardia (heart rate (HR) \< 50)
• Serious heart disease or AV block grade 2 or 3 if no pacemaker.
• Severe liver failure (e.g. Child-Pugh-C or similar)
• Acute cerebrovascular disease
• Neuraxial pain management
• Patients unable to comply with trial procedures

Sponsors & Collaborators

• St. Olavs Hospital: lead
• Alesund Hospital: collaborator
• Drammen sykehus: collaborator
• Oslo University Hospital: collaborator
• Universitetssykehuset i Nord-Norge HF: collaborator

Study Sites (4)

Drammen Hospital

Drammen, Norway

NOT YET RECRUITING

Oslo University Hospital

Oslo, Norway

NOT YET RECRUITING

Univsersity Hospital of North Norway

Tromsø, Norway

NOT YET RECRUITING

St.Olavs Hospital, Trondheim Univsersity Hospital

Trondheim, Norway

RECRUITING

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Neoplasms; Agnosia; Cancer Pain

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Perceptual Disorders; Neurobehavioral Manifestations; Neurologic Manifestations; Nervous System Diseases; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Pain

Central Study Contacts

Ragnhild H Habberstad, M.D p.HD

CONTACT

+47 72825840; ragnhild.hansdatter.habberstad@stolav.no

Morten Thronæs, M.D pHD

CONTACT

+47 72825840; Morten.Thrones@stolav.no

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: CASE ONLY
• Time Perspective: PROSPECTIVE
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: June 15, 2026
• First Posted: October 21, 2026
• Study Start: April 10, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): October 1, 2027
• Study Completion (Estimated): December 1, 2027
• Last Updated: October 21, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-10

Locations

NO (4)