Improvement of Quality of Life by Cannabinoids in Oncologic Patients

Overview

The goal is to explore whether the application of cannabis extract Avextra 10/10 solution is suitable to contribute to an improvement in the symptom burden and well-being of oncological palliative care patients. The primary objective of the study is to demonstrate the improvement in global symptom burden in the intervention arm compared to the placebo control group over a period of 12±2 days, as measured by a percentage change in the value of the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System total symptom distress score (ESAS TSDS) at baseline and after 12±2 days.

170 oncological patients in palliative treatment will be randomized 1:1 to an THC:CBD-interventional arm and an placebo-arm. At the timepoints baseline, 12±2 days, 18±3 days, four weeks and eight weeks, the global burden of symptoms (ESAS TSDS), quality of life (EORTC QLQ C15 PAL) and other parameter will be measured and the intraindividual difference in comparison with the baseline will be compared between the groups. This study is intended to provide a significant contribution to Evidence-based medicine (EbM) of CAM in palliative medicine as well as for elderly and severely ill subjects (resp.) in general. The following gain of knowledge is expected: * substancial and reliable effects of CAM in elderly subjects being in a multimorbid and psychologically very stressful situation of illness and life (resp.). * substancial and reliable effects of CAM in aduld subjects being in a oncologically and palliative situation of illness and life (resp.). * compatibility of a CAM-therapy in multimorbid patients with polypharmacotherapy. * importance of CAM for the very frequent psychovegetative disturbance and comorbidities of many illnesses like sleepnesness, loss of appetite, nausea, fear and affective disturbance. * possible reduction of costs and improved economics through CAM