The purpose of this research study is to test the safety and effectiveness of palifermin to determine if weekly doses can be safely administered to reduce the incidence (occurrence of), duration (length of time) and severity (amount of pain) of oral mucositis (painful sores in the mouth). Mucositis is a common side effect for patients receiving chemotherapy (cancer-killing drug) and radiotherapy (cancer-killing x-rays) for the treatment of head and neck cancer (HNC).
This study consisted of 2 phases. The acute oral mucositis (OM) evaluation phase includes the time from randomization to the time of severe OM (WHO Grade 3 or 4) resolution (up to Week 12 or up to Week 15 for participants whose severe OM is not resolved at Week 12). In the acute OM evaluation phase, participants were randomized to receive either a single IV dose of palifermin or placebo at 180 μg/kg, 3 days before the start of radiotherapy, plus 7 once-weekly palifermin or placebo doses at the same dose level during a 7-week radio/chemotherapy course. In the long-term follow up phase, participants are followed until death, withdrawal of consent, or loss to follow-up. The long-term follow up phase is still ongoing.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
QUADRUPLE
Enrollment
188
Commercially available cisplatin was administered as an intravenous infusion at a dose of 100 mg/m\^2 on Days 1, 22, and 43.
Radiotherapy was delivered in 200 cGy daily fractions, 5 days a week.
Number of Participants With Severe (Grade 3 or 4) Oral Mucositis
Participants underwent evaluations of oral mucosal (OM) surfaces (mucositis assessments) 2 times weekly throughout radio/chemotherapy, and 2 times weekly thereafter until severe OM returned to grade ≤ 2 or until Week 15. During each evaluation, the following anatomical areas were assessed: upper lip; lower lip; right cheek; left cheek; right ventral \& lateral tongue; left ventral \& lateral tongue; floor of the mouth; hard palate; soft palate. A trained evaluator documented the findings using the World Health Organization (WHO) oral toxicity scale according to the following: Grade 0 = None; Grade 1 = Soreness, erythema; Grade 2 = Erythema, ulcers, ability to eat solids; Grade 3 = Ulcers, requires liquid diet; Grade 4 = Alimentation not possible.
Time frame: Up to Week 15
Duration of Severe (WHO Grade 3 or 4) Oral Mucositis
The duration of severe oral mucositis (OM) was calculated as the number of days from the onset of severe OM (first time a WHO grade 3 or 4 was observed) to the day when severe OM was resolved (first time WHO grade 2 or less was observed after last WHO grade 3 or 4). Durations of 0 days were assigned to those participants who did not experience any WHO grade 3 or 4 during the study.
Time frame: Up to 15 weeks
Time to Onset of Severe (WHO Grade 3 or 4) Oral Mucositis
Time to onset of severe (WHO Grade 3 or 4) oral mucositis (OM) was analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier procedure. Participants without an assessed event by the end of the acute OM evaluation phase were censored at the date of last assessment for severe OM.
Time frame: Up to 15 weeks
Number of Participants With Xerostomia at Month 4 (Grade 2 or Higher)
The number of participants with grade 2 or higher xerostomia (dryness of the oral mucosa) at the Month 4 visit, graded according to the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) v3.0 Dry Mouth/Xerostomia scale.
Time frame: Month 4
Patient-Reported Mouth and Throat Soreness Score
The average patient-reported mouth and throat soreness (MTS) score as reported on question 3 of the Oral Mucositis Weekly Questionnaire for Head and Neck Cancer \[OMWQ-HN\]): "How much mouth and throat soreness did you experience in the past 24 hours?" Participants answered on a scale from 0 (no soreness) to 4 (extreme soreness). For each participant, an average patient-reported mouth and throat soreness score was calculated by dividing the sum of the MTS scores at each assessment by the total number of assessments.
Time frame: Assessed twice a week for up to 15 weeks.
Total Dose of Opioid Analgesics Used for Mucositis Within 15 Weeks
The total dose of opioid analgesics (mg of intravenous \[IV\] morphine equivalents) used by all participants. Participants with at least one reported administration of opioid analgesic (parenteral, peroral or transdermal) were considered to have received opioid analgesics. The total dose of opioid analgesics is the sum of all opioid analgesic administrations that have been converted to morphine equivalents.
Time frame: Up to 15 weeks
Number of Participants With Unplanned Breaks in Cisplatin Chemotherapy Treatment
Cisplatin was administered on Days 1, 22, and 43. An unplanned break in cisplatin refers to a delay of ≥ 5 days from the scheduled Day 22 or Day 43 cisplatin administration or a discontinuation of cisplatin for any reason.
Time frame: During the 7 weeks of chemotherapy treatment
Number of Participants With Unplanned Breaks in Radiotherapy
Participants with a duration of 5 days or more without an administration of radiotherapy or who discontinue radiotherapy prior to completion of planned radiotherapy were considered to have an unplanned break in radiotherapy.
Time frame: During the 7 weeks of radiotherapy
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