Qutenza Versus Duloxetine in Chemotherapy-induced Peripheral Neuropathy (CIPN)

The primary objective is to determine whether in patients with CIPN pain, treatment with Qutenza has the same effect as treatment with duloxetine 60 mg daily.

Rationale: Painful polyneuropathy occurs in approximately 20-40% of patients after the chemotherapy treatment and has a negative influence on quality of life. To our knowledge, no previous randomized study examined Qutenza in patients with CIPN, and no study compared Qutenza to duloxetine. We hypothesize that the effect of Qutenza on the severity of pain and its impact on functioning is the same as that of duloxetine in patients with CIPN, as measured by the numeric rating scale (NRS).

Objective: The primary objective is to determine whether in patients with CIPN pain, treatment with Qutenza has the same effect as treatment with duloxetine 60 mg daily.

Study design: The study is a pragmatic randomized controlled trial.

Study population: Patients who have been treated with chemotherapy in the last 5 years to 3 months and with CIPN grade 1 or higher according to the NCIC-CTC (National Cancer Institute of Canada-Common Toxicity Criteria). The patients are ≥ 18 years of age and have to experience painful neuropathy longer than 3 months with mean (1 week) pain score of ≥4.

Intervention: The affected extremity or extremities will be treated with Qutenza (179mg) according to normal procedures of the hospital and as recommended by the manufacturer.

Patients randomized to duloxetine will start with duloxetine 30 mg per day. After 1 week the dose of duloxetine will be increased, if tolerated, to 60 mg per day for a period of 12 weeks.

Main study parameters/endpoints: The primary endpoint will be average pain reduction at week 12 after start of treatment as measured by the NRS (Numeric Rating Scale). Furthermore secondary objectives will be: pain interference as measured by the BPI (Brief Pain Inventory), side effect profile, quality of life, patient satisfaction, pain at 6 weeks after the start of treatment.

Nature and extent of the burden and risks associated with participation, benefit and group relatedness: Patients will visit the research location for a screening visit to determine whether the patient fits the in- and exclusion criteria. After the baseline visit patients will be randomized to either receive Qutenza or duloxetine.

All patients will fill in questionnaires (either digital or on paper) before starting treatment with Qutenza or duloxetine (T=0), after 6 weeks of treatment (T=6) and after 12 weeks of treatment (T=12) to obtain the primary and secondary endpoints. All patients will be followed for a total period of 12 weeks. In the first week of treatment patients fill in a questionnaire with side effect profile on a daily basis after 2 weeks patients will fill in a questionnaire on a weekly base. Castor will be used to send the 'side effect questionnaire'.

Since both treatments are commonly used in the treatment of neuropathic pain and are both registered for that indication, no serious complications and no additional burden other than normal treatment are expected.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

* Age ≥ 18 years of age
* Presence of CIPN grade 1 or higher according to the NCIC-CTC
* Mean pain (1 week) score of ≥ 4
* Treatment with chemotherapy in the last 5 years
* Able to give oral and written informed consent
* Painful neuropathy longer than three months

Exclusion Criteria:

* Peripheral neuropathy from other causes (e.g. carpal/tarsal tunnel syndrome, radiculopathy, spinal stenosis, brachial plexopathy)
* Leptomeningeal carcinomatosis
* Severe depression or use of anti-depressant medication
* Psychiatric disorders which can interfere with cooperation
* Abnormal renal (\< GFR 30) or liver function tests (\> 2 times normal value)
* Severe heart failure as determined by the cardiologist
* Allergy for duloxetine or capsaicin
* Skin diseases in hands and/or feet, damaged skin
* The presence of uncontrolled/untreated hypertension
* Concomitant use of medication that may interact with duloxetine such as fluvoxamine, ciprofloxacin and enoxacin
* Active cancer treatment (such as radiotherapy or chemotherapy)
* Active cancer
* Previous treatment with Qutenza or duloxetine for CIPN
* Any condition that by the judgement of the investigator might interfere with the investigation