Conditions: Chronic Myeloproliferative Disorders Leukemia Lymphoma Lymphoproliferative Disorder Multiple Myeloma and Plasma Cell Neoplasm Myelodysplastic Syndromes Myelodysplastic/Myeloproliferative Neoplasms Neurotoxicity Pain Unspecified Adult Solid Tumor, Protocol Specific
Allocation: RANDOMIZED | Intervention model: PARALLEL
Enrollment: 208
Healthy volunteers: no

Brief summary:
RATIONALE: Baclofen-amitriptyline-ketamine (BAK) gel may lessen peripheral neuropathy caused by chemotherapy. It is not yet known whether BAK gel is more effective than a placebo in treating peripheral neuropathy caused by chemotherapy .

PURPOSE: This randomized phase III trial is studying BAK gel to see how well it works compared with a placebo in treating peripheral neuropathy caused by chemotherapy in patients with cancer.

Detailed description:
OBJECTIVES Primary

* Compare the effectiveness of baclofen-amitriptyline hydrochloride-ketamine (BAK) gel versus placebo, in terms of improving sensory neuropathy, in cancer patients with chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy\> Secondary\>
* Compare motor and autonomic symptoms and functioning, mood states, pain, and peripheral neuropathy in these patients.
* Assess the adverse event profile of topical BAK gel.
* Explore whether topical BAK gel is absorbed systemically. OUTLINE: Patients are stratified according to neurotoxic chemotherapy (active vs non-active), current use of opioids or oral pain medications (yes vs no), pain rating (4-7 vs 8-10), and prior ineffective pharmacologic treatment for peripheral neuropathy (yes vs no). Patients are randomized to 1 of 2 treatment arms.
* Arm I: Patients apply 1 spoonful of baclofen-amitriptyline hydrochloride-ketamine gel topically to each area of pain, numbness, and/or tingling on the feet and/or hands twice daily for 4 weeks.
* Arm II: Patients apply 1 spoonful of placebo gel topically to each area of pain, numbness, and/or tingling on the feet and/or hands twice daily for 4 weeks.

Some patients in both arms may choose to continue on the active gel or, if on placebo, begin the active gel for an additional 8 weeks off study. Patients complete health, pain, mood, and quality of life questionnaires at baseline and periodically during study. Patients also record adverse symptoms weekly in a Symptom Experience Diary.

Arms:
arm 1: Patients apply 1 spoonful of baclofen-amitriptyline hydrochloride-ketamine gel\> topically to each\> area of pain,\> numbness,\> and/or tingling\> on the\> feet and/or hands twice daily\> for\> 4 weeks. arm 2: Patients apply 1 spoonful of placebo gel topically to each area of pain, numbness, and/or tingling on the feet and/or hands twice daily for 4 weeks.

Interventions: intervention 1: baclofen/amitriptyline/ketamine gel intervention 2: placebo
Intervention descriptions: intervention 1: Applied topically intervention 2: Applied topically

Protocol document: