Guarana for reducing fatigue in people with neuroendocrine or gynecologic cancers

The Use of Guarana to Treat Fatigue in Patients With Neuroendocrine Tumors and Gynecologic Cancers

We will test whether taking guarana can help reduce fatigue in adults with neuroendocrine tumors or gynecologic cancers.

Quick facts

• Phase: Phase 2
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 86 (estimated)
• Ages: 18 Years and up
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: University of Utah (Academic / other)
• Drugs / interventions: chemotherapy, radiation
• Locations: 1 site (Salt Lake City, Utah)
• Trial ID: NCT07151391 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This Phase 2 interventional study compares guarana to a placebo in adults who report significant cancer-related fatigue and meet specific neuroendocrine tumor or gynecologic cancer criteria. Participants will be assigned to receive either guarana or placebo and their fatigue symptoms will be tracked over time using standard patient-reported measures. The trial enrolls two cohorts: patients with well-differentiated, locally advanced or metastatic neuroendocrine tumors (on watchful waiting or somatostatin analogs) and patients with certain early-stage ovarian/fallopian-tube or specified endometrial cancer categories in surveillance or receiving specific adjuvant/local therapy. Safety, tolerability, and changes in fatigue scores are the primary focuses of the study.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Adults (≥18 years) with either unresected locally advanced or metastatic well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumors (on watchful waiting or somatostatin analogs) or selected early-stage ovarian/fallopian-tube or specified endometrial cancer patients in surveillance or receiving defined adjuvant/brachytherapy, with ECOG ≤2 and an NCCN fatigue screening score of 4 or higher are eligible.

Not a fit: Patients without significant fatigue (NCCN screening score below 4), those with other cancer types outside the listed cohorts, or those who cannot participate at the single study site are unlikely to benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If effective, guarana could offer a simple, oral option to lessen cancer-related fatigue and improve quality of life.

How similar studies have performed: Small trials of caffeine-containing supplements have shown modest improvements in fatigue in non-cancer populations, but guarana use specifically for cancer-related fatigue is largely untested.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

* Subjects aged ≥ 18 years.
* Cohort A (Neuroendocrine Tumor) Only:

  ---Subjects with unresected locally advanced or metastatic well differentiated neuroendocrine tumors who are either on a watch- and-wait approach or receiving treatment with somatostatin analog(s). Patient who received and completed another active treatment but are on a "break" from treatment will be allowed to enroll (e.g., patients that had completed PRRT).
* Cohort B (Gynecological Cancer) Only:

  ---Subjects with early-stage (I or II) ovarian/fallopian-tube cancer in surveillance who have completed all treatment or are receiving adjuvant treatment.
* Or

  ---Subjects with endometrial cancer which is low risk, low-intermediate risk in surveillance, or high-intermediate risk receiving brachytherapy. Risk category is based on GOG criteria.
* ECOG Performance Status ≤ 2.
* Documentation of a score of 4 or higher when answering either of the NCCN-recommended screening questions ("How exhausted do you feel on a scale of 0 to 10?" or "How impaired do you feel by this fatigue on a scale of 0 to 10?") within 4 weeks prior to randomization
* Adequate organ function as defined as:

  * Hematologic:

    * Hemoglobin ≥ 9 g/dL
  * Hepatic:

    * Total Bilirubin ≤ 1.5x institutional upper limit of normal (ULN) or ≤3 x ULN with documented liver involvement and/or Gilbert's disease
    * AST(SGOT)/ALT(SGPT) ≤ 3 × institutional ULN ----Subjects with liver metastases will be allowed to enroll with AST and ALT levels ≤ 5 x ULN.
  * Renal:

    ---Estimated creatinine clearance ≥ 30 mL/min by Cockcroft-Gault formula
  * For female subjects: Negative pregnancy test or evidence of post-menopausal status. The post-menopausal status will be defined as having been amenorrheic for 12 months without an alternative medical cause. The following age-specific requirements apply:

    * Women \< 50 years of age:

      ----Amenorrheic for ≥ 12 months following cessation of exogenous hormonal treatments; and luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone levels in the post-menopausal range for the institution; or

      ----Underwent surgical sterilization (bilateral oophorectomy or hysterectomy).
    * Women ≥ 50 years of age:

      * Amenorrheic for 12 months or more following cessation of all exogenous hormonal treatments and luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone levels in the post-menopausal range for the institution; or Amenorrhea for 24 months following cessation of all exogenous hormonal treatments, if applicable; or
      * Had radiation-induced menopause with last menses \>1 year ago; or
      * Had chemotherapy-induced menopause with last menses \>1 year ago; or
      * Underwent surgical sterilization (bilateral oophorectomy, bilateral salpingectomy, or hysterectomy).
  * Female subjects of childbearing potential and male subjects with a sexual partner of childbearing potential must agree to use a highly effective method of contraception.
  * Able to provide informed consent and willing to sign an approved consent form that conforms to federal and institutional guidelines.

Exclusion Criteria:

* For the Neuroendocrine Tumor cohort: Receiving treatment with Cytotoxic Chemotherapy, Radiation Therapy, PRRT or TKIs within 6 weeks prior to the first dose of study treatment.
* For the Gynecological Cancer cohort: Receiving any systemic treatment besides those listed in Inclusion 3-Cohort B (Gyn only) within 6 weeks prior to the first dose of study treatment.
* Untreated or uncontrolled endocrinopathy which is likely to significantly impact study participation.
* History of significant autoimmune disease in the opinion of the investigator that is likely to significantly impact study participation.
* Prior use of guarana supplements within two months of consent.
* Self-reported "caffeine sensitivity" defined as excessive unwanted feelings of anxiousness, jitteriness, difficulty sleeping, or anxiety after caffeine exposure, which in the opinion of the Investigator is likely to negatively impact study participation.
* Concurrent use of psychostimulants (e.g., lisdexamfetamine, methylphenidate).
* Major surgery within 4 weeks prior to starting study therapy or subjects who have not fully recovered from major surgery.
* The diagnosis of another malignancy which, in the opinion of the investigator, is likely to negatively impact subject safety or study aims.
* Known brain metastases or cranial epidural disease.

  --Note: Subjects with brain metastases or cranial epidural disease adequately treated with radiotherapy and/or surgery and stable for at least 4 weeks before the first dose of study treatment will be allowed on trial. Subjects must be neurologically asymptomatic and without corticosteroid treatment at the time of the first dose of study treatment.
* Current evidence of uncontrolled, significant intercurrent illness including, but not limited to, the following conditions:

  --Cardiovascular disorders:
  * Significant symptomatic carcinoid heart disease in the opinion of the investigator
  * Congestive heart failure New York Heart Association Class III or IV, unstable angina pectoris, serious cardiac arrhythmias.
  * Stroke (including transient ischemic attack \[TIA\]), myocardial infarction (MI), or other ischemic events) within 3 months before the first dose.
  * Thromboembolic events (eg, deep venous thrombosis, pulmonary embolism) within 1 month before the first dose.
  * QTc prolongation defined as a QTcF \> 500 ms.
  * Known congenital long QT.
  * Uncontrolled hypertension per investigator assessment or grade 3 hypertension per CTCAE v.5.0
  * Any other condition that would, in the Investigator's judgment, contraindicate the subject's participation in the clinical study due to safety concerns or compliance with clinical study procedures (e.g., infection/inflammation, intestinal obstruction, unable to swallow medication, \[subjects may not receive the therapy through a feeding tube\], social/ psychological issues, etc.)
* Known HIV infection with a detectable viral load within 6 months of the anticipated start of treatment.

  --Note: Subjects on effective antiretroviral therapy with an undetectable viral load within 6 months of the anticipated start of treatment are eligible for this trial.
* Known active infection including tuberculosis (clinical evaluation that includes clinical history, physical examination, radiographic findings, and TB testing in line with local practice), hepatitis B (known positive HBV surface antigen (HBsAg) result), or hepatitis C.

  --Note: Subjects with a past or resolved HBV infection (defined as the presence of hepatitis B core antibody \[anti-HBc\] and absence of HBsAg) are eligible. Subjects positive for hepatitis C (HCV) antibody are eligible only if polymerase chain reaction is negative for HCV RNA.
* Medical, psychiatric, cognitive, or other conditions that may compromise the subject's ability to understand the subject information, give informed consent, comply with the study protocol or complete the study.
* Known hypersensitivity or allergy to investigational product (IP).
* Subjects taking prohibited medications as described in Section 6.6.2 or medications for which caffeine intake is contraindicated including: β-adrenergic agonists, and/or medications that contain pseudoephedrine. A washout period of prohibited medications for a period of at least five half-lives or as clinically indicated should occur before the start of treatment.

Where this trial is running

Salt Lake City, Utah

• Huntsman Cancer Institute at University of Utah — Salt Lake City, Utah, United States (Recruiting)

Study contacts

• Study coordinator: Susan Sharry

Conditions Neuroendocrine Tumors; Gynecologic Cancer