A double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of Zoloft's® Effects on Symptoms and survival Time in Advanced Cancer

ISRCTN ISRCTN72466475
DOI https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN72466475
Secondary identifying numbers Version 1.0, dated October 2004 - ACTRN012605000381684
Submission date
22/12/2004
Registration date
31/03/2005
Last edited
10/08/2009
Recruitment status
No longer recruiting
Overall study status
Completed
Condition category
Cancer
Prospectively registered
Protocol
Statistical analysis plan
Results
Individual participant data

Plain English Summary

Not provided at time of registration

Study website

Contact information

Dr Martin Stockler
Scientific

NHMRC Clinical Trials Centre
University of Sydney
Locked Bag 77
Camperdown, New South Wales
1450
Australia

Phone +61 (0)2 9562 5000
Email stockler@med.usyd.edu.au

Study information

Study designDouble-blind placebo-controlled trial
Primary study designInterventional
Secondary study designRandomised controlled trial
Study setting(s)Hospital
Study typeTreatment
Scientific title
Study acronymThe ZEST Trial
Study hypothesisNot provided at time of registration
Ethics approval(s)Not provided at time of registration
ConditionAdvanced Cancer
InterventionSertraline 50 mg, one tablet once daily by mouth with or without food or identical placebo, one tablet once daily by mouth with or without food.
Intervention typeDrug
Pharmaceutical study type(s)
PhasePhase III
Drug / device / biological / vaccine name(s)Sertraline (Zoloft®)
Primary outcome measure1. Quality of life (depression, anxiety and fatigue)
2. Survival
3. Adverse events
Secondary outcome measuresNot provided at time of registration
Overall study start date01/05/2002
Overall study end date31/12/2006

Eligibility

Participant type(s)Patient
Age groupNot Specified
SexBoth
Target number of participants450
Participant inclusion criteria1. Advanced cancer defined by the presence of metastatic disease and treatment with palliative intent, that is to improve length and quality of life, but without realistic hope of cure
2. Symptomatic score greater than or equal to 4/10 for depression, anxiety, fatigue or lack of energy at baseline (assessment tool: Patient DATA form)
3. Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status 0-2
4. Life expectancy of >3 months
5. Serum creatinine <200 µmol/l and bilirubin <30 µmol/l within 28 days of randomization
6. Able to complete baseline quality of life instruments
7. Availability and willingness for follow-up
8. Written informed consent
9. Women of childbearing potential must be taking adequate contraceptive precautions
Participant exclusion criteria1. Major depression, in other words, a clear indication for antidepressant treatment
2. Delirium i.e. impaired cognitive function (as detected by the Confusion Assessment Method, a screening tool for delirium assessing onset, course, inattention, disorganised thinking, level of consciousness)
3. History of hypersensitivity to sertraline
4. Diagnosis of carcinoid tumour
5. Coexisting conditions contraindicating treatment with serotonin reuptake inhibitors
6. Past history of schizophrenia or bipolar affective disorder
7. Treatment with antidepressants (including St John's Wort) or procarbazine within the last 4 weeks. Amitriptyline may be used at a daily dose of 25 mg or less as a co-analgesic or for urinary frequency, and is not an exclusion criterion.
8. Pregnant or lactating women. Women of childbearing potential are eligible if taking adequate contraceptive precautions.
9. Treatment with Tramadol in the last 7 days (ZEST participants should not use Tramadol because of the possibility of an interaction causing the serotonin syndrome)
Recruitment start date01/05/2002
Recruitment end date31/12/2006

Locations

Countries of recruitment

  • Australia

Study participating centre

NHMRC Clinical Trials Centre
Camperdown, New South Wales
1450
Australia

Sponsor information

National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Clinical Trials Centre (Australia)
Research organisation

Clinical Trials Centre
University of Sydney
Locked Bag 77
Camperdown, New South Wales
1450
Australia

Phone +61 (0)2 9562 5362
Email ccarter@ctc.usyd.edu.au
ROR logo "ROR" https://ror.org/011kf5r70

Funders

Funder type

Research organisation

New South Wales Cancer Council (Australia)

No information available

Pfizer - supplied study drug (sertraline and placebo) free of charge

No information available

Results and Publications

Intention to publish date
Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to shareNo
IPD sharing plan summaryNot provided at time of registration
Publication and dissemination planNot provided at time of registration
IPD sharing plan

Study outputs

Output type Details Date created Date added Peer reviewed? Patient-facing?
Results article results 01/07/2007 Yes No