Clinical trial NCT03176693: Preoperative Alpha Blockade for Pheochromocytoma
Official title: Randomized Controlled Trial of Preoperative Alpha Blockade for Pheochromocytoma
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Phase: PHASE3
Conditions: Pheochromocytoma
Paraganglioma
Lead sponsor: University of California, Los Angeles
Sponsor class: OTHER
First posted: 2017-06-05
Enrollment: 39
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 18
Standard ages: ADULT
OLDER_ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: no
Allocation: RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: PARALLEL
Primary purpose: TREATMENT

Brief summary: Pheochromocytoma is a rare, catecholamine (ex. adrenaline) secreting tumor that requires preoperative alpha blockade to minimize intraoperative hemodynamic instability, thereby reducing intra- and postoperative morbidity and mortality. Phenoxybenzamine is a non-selective alpha blocker that is significantly more expensive and is associated with increased adverse effects in comparison with selective alpha blockers such as doxazosin. Retrospective studies show minimal differences in hemodynamic instability and no differences in postoperative morbidity and mortality between selective vs. non-selective alpha blockers. This study is a randomized controlled trial that will compare hemodynamic instability, morbidity, mortality, cost, and quality of life between patients blocked with phenoxybenzamine vs. doxazosin.

Detailed description: Pheochromocytoma is a catecholamine (ex. adrenaline) secreting tumor for which the primary treatment is surgical resection. Due to the hormones secreted by the tumor, alpha receptors on peripheral blood vessels are activated, causing constriction of these blood vessels and dangerously high blood pressure. During resection of the tumor, the source of excess hormone secretion is abruptly removed, which can lead to life-threatening blood pressure fluctuations during surgery.

Alpha blockers are a class of medication that blocks the alpha receptor on blood vessels. Given preoperatively over a few weeks, these medications negate the effects of the excess hormones secreted by the pheochromocytoma, reducing the frequency and severity of dangerous blood pressure fluctuations intraoperatively and postoperatively. Preoperative alpha blockade is therefore critical to safely perform surgery to resect pheochromocytoma.

Phenoxybenzamine, a non-selective alpha blocker, is the most common medication used to alpha block patients prior to pheochromocytoma resection. However, due to increasing drug costs and increased side effects in comparison with selective alpha blockers, there is a renewed interest in studying alternatives to phenoxybenzamine.

Selective alpha blockers such as doxazosin are also commonly used to alpha block patients prior to pheochromocytoma resection. Selective alpha blockers are significantly less expensive and are associated with fewer side effects than phenoxybenzamine. Most retrospective studies comparing phenoxybenzamine with selective alpha blockers show no difference in intraoperative blood pressure fluctuations, morbidity, or mortality in pheochromocytoma resection. However, no prospective, randomized controlled trials comparing phenoxybenzamine to selective alpha blockers have been performed.

The purpose of our study is to analyze preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative outcomes in patients randomized to receive phenoxybenzamine (non-selective) or doxazosin (selective) for alpha blockade prior to pheochromocytoma resection. Outcomes will include postoperative morbidity and mortality, intraoperative hemodynamic instability, quality of life, and cost.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* Adults with pheochromocytoma / paraganglioma undergoing surgical resection

Exclusion Criteria:

* Children \< 18 years

Primary outcomes:
measure: Hemodynamic Instability
timeFrame: Intraoperative, approximately 90 minutes
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Mortality
timeFrame: 30 days postoperatively
measure: Daily Cost of Drug
timeFrame: Preoperative (2-3 weeks prior to surgery)
measure: Quality of Life- Physical Functioning, Role Limitations Due to Physical Problems, Bodily Pain, General Health Perceptions, Vitality, Social Functioning, Role-limitations Due to Emotional Problems, and Mental Health
timeFrame: From date of surgery (-2 to 3 weeks, -1 day, 30 days, 3 months, 6 months, 1 year)
measure: Morbidity as Assessed by Occurrence of Adverse Events
timeFrame: Postoperatively during inpatient stay and during readmissions up to 30 days postoperatively
measure: Participants Admitted to Post-operative Intensive Care Unit (ICU)
timeFrame: up to 30 days post-surgery
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Los Angeles
country: United States
facility: University of California, Los angeles
state: California
Study officials:
affiliation: University of California, Los Angeles
name: Michael Yeh, MD
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
References:
citation: Livingstone M, Duttchen K, Thompson J, Sunderani Z, Hawboldt G, Sarah Rose M, Pasieka J. Hemodynamic Stability During Pheochromocytoma Resection: Lessons Learned Over the Last Two Decades. Ann Surg Oncol. 2015 Dec;22(13):4175-80. doi: 10.1245/s10434-015-4519-y. Epub 2015 Mar 31.
citation: Kesselheim AS, Avorn J, Sarpatwari A. The High Cost of Prescription Drugs in the United States: Origins and Prospects for Reform. JAMA. 2016 Aug 23-30;316(8):858-71. doi: 10.1001/jama.2016.11237.
citation: Randle RW, Balentine CJ, Pitt SC, Schneider DF, Sippel RS. Selective Versus Non-selective alpha-Blockade Prior to Laparoscopic Adrenalectomy for Pheochromocytoma. Ann Surg Oncol. 2017 Jan;24(1):244-250. doi: 10.1245/s10434-016-5514-7. Epub 2016 Aug 25.
citation: Kiernan CM, Du L, Chen X, Broome JT, Shi C, Peters MF, Solorzano CC. Predictors of hemodynamic instability during surgery for pheochromocytoma. Ann Surg Oncol. 2014 Nov;21(12):3865-71. doi: 10.1245/s10434-014-3847-7. Epub 2014 Jun 18.
citation: Brunaud L, Boutami M, Nguyen-Thi PL, Finnerty B, Germain A, Weryha G, Fahey TJ 3rd, Mirallie E, Bresler L, Zarnegar R. Both preoperative alpha and calcium channel blockade impact intraoperative hemodynamic stability similarly in the management of pheochromocytoma. Surgery. 2014 Dec;156(6):1410-7; discussion1417-8. doi: 10.1016/j.surg.2014.08.022. Epub 2014 Nov 11.
citation: Weingarten TN, Cata JP, O'Hara JF, Prybilla DJ, Pike TL, Thompson GB, Grant CS, Warner DO, Bravo E, Sprung J. Comparison of two preoperative medical management strategies for laparoscopic resection of pheochromocytoma. Urology. 2010 Aug;76(2):508.e6-11. doi: 10.1016/j.urology.2010.03.032. Epub 2010 May 23.
citation: Prys-Roberts C, Farndon JR. Efficacy and safety of doxazosin for perioperative management of patients with pheochromocytoma. World J Surg. 2002 Aug;26(8):1037-42. doi: 10.1007/s00268-002-6667-z. Epub 2002 Jun 19.