This phase II trial tests how well fucoidan works in preventing chemotherapy-related fatigue compared to a placebo in patients with gastrointestinal (GI), gynecological (GYN), breast, or lung cancer. Fatigue poses a burden in patients with malignancies undergoing systemic chemotherapy. Fucoidan is a dietary supplement made of complex sugar that contain sulfate groups attached to their sugar units (sulfated polysaccharide) which found in brown seaweed. It is thought to have anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, anti-thrombotic, anti-diabetic, and anti-tumor effects in pre-clinical models. Giving fucoidan may be effective in preventing chemotherapy-related fatigue in patients with GI, GYN, breast, or lung cancer.
PRIMARY OBJECTIVE: I. To determine the efficacy of fucoidan versus (vs.) placebo in preventing fatigue as assessed by a single-item measure of fatigue at 8 weeks following the initiation of platinum-based doublet/triplet. SECONDARY OBJECTIVES: I. To estimate 1) changes in fatigue via the single item measure of fatigue from baseline to week 16 2) the Global Impression of Change at week 8 and week 16 and 3) the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Fatigue (FACT-F) subscale at week 8 and week 16. II. To evaluate the frequency and severity of toxicity as reported by the patient on the Symptom Experience Diary. EXPLORATORY OBJECTIVE: I. To evaluate if there are differences in inflammatory markers C-reactive protein (CRP) and IL-6 between groups from baseline to week 8. OUTLINE: Patients are randomized to 1 of 2 arms. ARM 1: Patients receive fucoidan orally (PO) three times a day (TID) for 8 weeks. After completion of fucoidan, patients then cross over into Arm 2 for 8 weeks. Patients may optionally undergo blood sample collection during screening and on study. ARM 2: Patients receive placebo PO TID for 8 weeks. After completion of placebo, patients then cross over into Arm 1 for 8 weeks. Patients may optionally undergo blood sample collection during screening and on study.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
TRIPLE
Enrollment
34
Undergo blood sample collection
Given PO
Given PO
Ancillary studies
Mayo Clinic in Arizona
Scottsdale, Arizona, United States
RECRUITINGChange in fatigue, weeks 1-8
Will be assessed using self-reported fatigue over the past week. Fatigue is rated on a scale of 0-10 where 0=no fatigue at all and 10=fatigue as bad as it can be. Fatigue scores will be compared between arms.
Time frame: Baseline to 8 weeks
Change in fatigue, weeks 9-16
Will be assessed using self-reported fatigue over the past week. Fatigue is rated on a scale of 0-10 where 0=no fatigue at all and 10=fatigue as bad as it can be. Fatigue scores will be compared between arms.
Time frame: Baseline to 16 weeks
Change in the symptoms
Will be measured using the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Fatigue (FACT-F) scores, a 13-item questionnaire assessing fatigue symptoms over the past week. Responses to each item are scored on a 5-point Likert scale ranging from 0 (Not at all) to 4 (Very much). Scores will be compared between arms.
Time frame: Baseline to 16 weeks
Change in Subjective Global Impression of Change scores
Will be measured using the Subjective Global Impression of Change instrument, which consists of 3 items assessed since beginning study medication: fatigue, emotional state, and overall quality of life. Items are scored on a 7-poin scale ranging from -3 (very much worse) to 3 (very much better). Two additional questions are answered only at the end of week 8: which medication the respondent believes they were on (2 choices) and whether they were satisfied with the effect of treatment on fatigue (yes/no).
Time frame: Week 8 and Week 16
Incidence of rates of symptoms
Symptoms will be reported by the patient using the Symptom Experience Diary, which consists of 7 items assessing specific symptoms over the past week. Items are answered on a scale of 0 (none at all) to 10 (as bad as it can be). There is also one yes/no question related to exercise and one question for any side effects not addressed in the initial 7 items. Responses will be compared between arms.
Time frame: Up to 16 weeks
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