Evaluation of Efficacy and Mechanisms of an Antiinflammatory Intervention for Chemotherapy Related Mucosal Injury

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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This study consisted of two parts: the pilot study and the main study. The purpose of the pilot study is to demonstrate the effectiveness of planned laboratory techniques to assess for TNF-alpha gene expression from unstimulated saliva, plasma, and mucosal epithelial cells in patients who have chemotherapy-related stomatitis. Main Study Description: Stomatitis is defined as inflammation of the mucous membranes of the oral cavity and oropharynx characterized by tissue erythema, edema, and atrophy, often progressing to ulceration. Stomatitis is a biologically complex, multifactorial, cancer treatment-related oral condition experienced by many oncology patients, which often leads to a cascade of negative sequelae including oropharyngeal pain, critical treatment alterations or cessation, and decreased quality of life. The optimal treatment strategies for stomatitis have not been established. There is a critical need to examine the pathogenesis of and to evaluate interventions for stomatitis and related acute oropharyngeal pain in the randomized controlled clinical trial setting using valid and reliable stomatitis assessment tools to both advance the science of cancer treatment-related oral toxicities and improve patient care. Therefore, the purpose of this randomized controlled clinical trial is to elucidate the role of inflammation in stomatitis by testing the effects of a novel tumor necrosis factor (TNF) fusion protein etanercept, (Enbrel, Immunex Corporation, Seattle, WA) on the incidence and severity of stomatitis. The actions of this fusion protein, which binds specifically to TNF preventing its interaction with cellular receptors and altering the inflammatory cascade, may provide insight into the role of inflammation in stomatitis. An etanercept effect is defined as a prevention or amelioration of stomatitis and acute oropharyngeal pain and/or changes in levels of tissue mediators. If stomatitis is primarily a consequence of a mucosal inflammatory response, then we hypothesize that this oral condition will be responsive to binding of TNF(alpha). Elaboration of the role of inflammatory cell signaling associated with stomatitis and the effect of TNF(alpha) may elucidate the mechanisms related to the pathogenesis of stomatitis and to other mucosal conditions. Patients who are scheduled to receive autologous or allogenic peripheral blood stem cell or bone marrow transplant will be invited to participate in this study during a regularly scheduled pre-treatment visit. Written informed consent will be obtained from all participants. Patients will be randomized to receive either etanercept mouthwash or placebo, which will both be administered by protocol schedule. Stomatitis and oropharyngeal pain will be measured at baseline and at specified post-chemotherapy time points corresponding with the predicted stomatitis onset, peak, and healing time course. TNF(alpha) levels in buccal mucosa, analyzed by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction techniques, and blood levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, growth factors, and inflammatory mediators will also be measured at baseline and at specified post-chemotherapy time points corresponding with the predicted stomatitis onset, peak, and healing time course.

Detailed Description
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This study consisted of two parts: the pilot study and the main study. The purpose of the pilot study is to demonstrate the effectiveness of planned laboratory techniques to assess for TNF-alpha gene expression from unstimulated saliva, plasma, and mucosal epithelial cells in patients who have chemotherapy-related stomatitis. Main Study Description: Stomatitis is defined as inflammation of the mucous membranes of the oral cavity and oropharynx characterized by tissue erythema, edema, and atrophy, often progressing to ulceration. Stomatitis is a biologically complex, multifactorial, cancer treatment-related oral condition experienced by many oncology patients, which often leads to a cascade of negative sequelae including oropharyngeal pain, critical treatment alterations or cessation, and decreased quality of life. The optimal treatment strategies for stomatitis have not been established. There is a critical need to examine the pathogenesis of and to evaluate interventions for stomatitis and related acute oropharyngeal pain in the randomized controlled clinical trial setting using valid and reliable stomatitis assessment tools to both advance the science of cancer treatment-related oral toxicities and improve patient care. Therefore, the purpose of this randomized controlled clinical trial is to elucidate the role of inflammation in stomatitis by testing the effects of a novel tumor necrosis factor (TNF) fusion protein etanercept, (Enbrel) (Registered Trademark), Immunex Corporation, Seattle, WA) on the incidence and severity of stomatitis. The actions of this fusion protein, which binds specifically to TNF preventing its interaction with cellular receptors and altering the inflammatory cascade, may provide insight into the role of inflammation in stomatitis. An etanercept effect is defined as a prevention or amelioration of stomatitis and acute oropharyngeal pain and/or changes in levels of tissue mediators. If stomatitis is primarily a consequence of a mucosal inflammatory response, then we hypothesize that this oral condition will be responsive to binding of TNFa. Elaboration of the role of inflammatory cell signaling associated with stomatitis and the effect of TNFa may elucidate the mechanisms related to the pathogenesis of stomatitis and to other mucosal conditions. Patients who are scheduled to receive autologous or allogeneic peripheral blood stem cell or bone marrow transplant will be invited to participate in this study during a regularly scheduled pre-treatment visit. Written informed consent will be obtained from all participants. Patients will be randomized to receive either etanercept 2.5mg in 20cc mouthwash or placebo 20cc mouthwash, which will both be administered by protocol schedule. Stomatitis and oropharyngeal pain will be measured at baseline and at specified post-chemotherapy time points corresponding with the predicted stomatitis onset, peak, and healing time course. TNFa levels in buccal mucosa, analyzed by real time polymerase chain reaction techniques, and blood levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, growth factors, and inflammatory mediators will also be measured at baseline and at specified post-chemotherapy time points corresponding with the predicted stomatitis onset, peak, and healing time course.

Official Title
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Evaluation of Efficacy and Mechanisms of an Anti-Inflammatory Intervention for Chemotherapy Related Mucosal Injury

Conditions
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Stomatitis

Intervention / Treatment
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* Drug: Etanercept
* Drug: Placebo


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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INCLUSION CRITERIA: Male or female oncology patients who are enrolled in participating stomatogenic autologous or allogeneic PBSCT/BMT protocols, and are willing to participate in this study concurrently Able to understand and sign protocol consent or assent Age 16 years or older EXCLUSION CRITERIA: Pregnant or lactating females Unable to follow oral rinsing directions Intubation Chronic use of medications confounding assessment of the inflammatory response (non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs, antihistamines, and steroids- with the exception of decadron that is commonly used as an antiemetic in the PBSCT/BMT setting) Pre-existing oral infection or upper respiratory infection that might maximize the possibility of an infection or sepsis contributing to a drug-related adverse event Known hypersensitivity or allergic reaction to etanercept

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 16 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Triple


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Main Study: Etanercept Mouthwash<br>Etanercept 2.5 mg in 20cc mouthwash is swished and spit by the participant every 6 hours. The experimental mouthwash starts one day before conditioning chemotherapy is administered to the participant and continues until oral pain intensity and stomatitis severity scores are both 0, or by bone marrow transplant (BMT) Day +14, whichever occurs first. | Drug: Etanercept<br> <br> * Other names: Enbrel;|
| Placebo Comparator: Main Study: Placebo Mouthwash<br>Placebo 20cc mouthwash is swished and spit by the participant every 6 hours. The placebo mouthwash starts one day before conditioning chemotherapy is administered to the participant and continues until oral pain intensity and stomatitis severity scores are both 0, or by bone marrow transplant day (BMT) Day +14, whichever occurs first. | Drug: Placebo<br> <br> |
| No Intervention: Pilot Study<br>Participants were enrolled in the pilot study to collect descriptive data about pain perception and laboratory techniques. | |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| What is the Clinical Efficacy of an Etanercept Mouthwash Used for the Treatment of Autologous or Allogeneic Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplant or Bone Marrow Transplant Treatment-related Stomatitis? | Clinical efficacy will be determined by measurement of stomatitis grade and oropharyngeal pain. | 2 years | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| What is the Toxicity of an Etanercept Mouthwash Used for the Treatment of Autologous or Allogeneic Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplant or Bone Marrow Transplant Treatment -Related Stomatitis? | Toxicity will be measured by the incidence of adverse events. | 2 years | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Stomatitis, Oropharyngeal pain, TNF, Etanercept, Bone marrow transplantation, Chemotherapy, Cancer, Oral cavity, Oral mucous membranes, Randomized controlled clinical trial, Inflammation