Effects of Tualang honey on quality of life and biochemical markers in breast cancer patients treated with anastrozole
| ISRCTN | ISRCTN89213965 |
|---|---|
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN89213965 |
| Secondary identifying numbers | USMKK/PPP/JEPeM[260.3(21)] |
- Submission date
- 28/08/2016
- Registration date
- 18/09/2016
- Last edited
- 09/09/2016
- Recruitment status
- No longer recruiting
- Overall study status
- Completed
- Condition category
- Cancer
Plain English summary of protocol
Background and study aims
Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer among women. Honey has been reported to have various health properties, including antimicrobial, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Honey is traditionally used among Malaysian breast cancer patients in the belief that it will improve their health. However, to the knowledge of the researchers running this study, no study has been reported on how safe it is and how well it works among breast cancer patients. Therefore, the aim of this study is to determine the safety profile (i.e. chemistry, pharmacology, therapeutic effects and side effects) of Malaysian Tualang honey supplementation on both quality of life and so-called biochemical markers in breast cancer patients treated with anastrozole (a drug for treating advanced breast cancer in post-menopausal women).
Who can participate?
Postmenopausal women with advanced breast cancer and being treated with anastrozole.
What does the study involve?
Initially, all participants visit the study centre after fasting (not eating) for at least 10 hours. A blood sample is taken from each participant for analysis. Participants are then randomly allocated into one of two groups. Those in group 1 are given honey (in a sachet) to take every day for 12 weeks. Those in group 2 are not given honey to take. All patients are advised to report any adverse (side) events to the researcher during this time period. Sachets are counted to check that participants in group 1 are taking the honey. After 3 months, all participants are asked to go back to the study centre to give another blood sample for assessment. Participants are informed about study completion and advised to continue normal routine follow-up.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
There are no risks associated with taking part in this study
Where is the study run from?
Nuclear Medicine, Oncology and Radiotherapy Clinic, University of Science Malaysia Hospital
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
January 2013 to August 2016
Who is funding the study?
University of Science Malaysia
Who is the main contact?
Dr Mahaneem Mohamed
mahaneem@usm.my
Contact information
Scientific
Department of Physiology
School of Medical Sciences
University of Science Malaysia
Kubang Kerian
16150
Malaysia
 ORCID ID |
0000-0001-9333-1957 |
|---|---|
| Phone | +6097676158 |
| mahaneem@usm.my |
Study information
| Study design | Open-label randomized controlled trial study |
|---|---|
| Primary study design | Interventional |
| Secondary study design | Randomised controlled trial |
| Study setting(s) | Hospital |
| Study type | Treatment |
| Scientific title | Effects of Tualang honey on quality of life and biochemical markers in breast cancer patients treated with anastrozole: an open-label randomized controlled trial study |
| Study objectives | Honey supplement is safe, and significantly improves quality of life and biochemical markers in postmenopausal breast cancer patients treated with anastrozole |
| Ethics approval(s) | Human Research Ethics Committee Universiti Sains Malaysia, ref: USMKK/PPP/JEPeM[260.3.(21)] |
| Health condition(s) or problem(s) studied | Breast cancer in postmenopausal women |
| Intervention | Eighty-four postmenopausal breast cancer patients from Oncology Clinic, Universiti Sains Malaysia Hospital with stages I, II, and III, and treated with anastrozole (1 mg/day) are randomly assigned into two groups (n=42/group): (1) control (without honey) and (2) honey (20 g/day of Tualang honey for 12 weeks) groups. Tualang honey is supplied by Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority, Malaysia. They are briefed regarding the study and written consent is obtained. They are informed to come again and fast for at least 10 hours for the next visit (visit 1). At visit 1 (Month 0, baseline), a blood sample of 15 ml is obtained for biochemical parameters assessment. For the honey group, oral honey supplement 20 g daily (in sachet) for 3 months is given. All patients are advised to report any adverse events to the researcher. The patient’s compliance is monitored by sachet counting. During visit 2 (Month 3), blood sample of 15 ml is obtained for biochemical parameters assessment. Patients are informed about study completion and advised to continue normal routine follow-up. Randomization is performed by computer-generated random allocations sequence by simple randomization which is obtained from http://www.randomization.com. All the eligible subjects are labelled with numbers according to the sequence of attending the clinic during visit 1. Tualang honey (20g/day orally) is provided according to the randomization list. |
| Intervention type | Supplement |
| Primary outcome measure | 1. Quality of life status by using Quality of Life Questionnaire-Core 36 (EQRTC-QLQ-C30) 2. Blood oxidative stress status by assessing the levels of malonaldehyde, total antioxidant status, protein carbonyl, reduced glutathione (GSH): oxidised glutathione (GSSG) ratio, erythrocyte superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase using commercial kits 3. Blood breast cancer markers which include carcinoembryonic antigen and CA15-3 using commercial kits All these outcomes are measured at baseline (Visit 1) and after 3 months (Visit 2) |
| Secondary outcome measures | 1. Safety profile which include full blood count, fasting blood glucose, liver function test and renal function test 2. Blood inflammatory markers which include high-sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin 1β (IL-1β) and tumour necrosis factor- α (TNF- α) using commercial kits 3. Blood bone markers which include C-terminal telopeptide of type 1 collagen (CTX) and procollagen type 1 N propeptide (P1NP) using commercial kits 4. Blood estradiol using commercial kits All these outcomes are measured at baseline (Visit 1) and after 3 months (Visit 2) |
| Overall study start date | 05/01/2013 |
| Completion date | 02/08/2016 |
Eligibility
| Participant type(s) | Patient |
|---|---|
| Age group | Adult |
| Sex | Female |
| Target number of participants | Target total recruitment of participants is 84 (42 participants per group) with considering the presence of drop-outs. |
| Key inclusion criteria | Postmenopausal women treated with anastrozole and with breast cancer stages I, II and III estrogen receptor (ER+) positive and/or progesterone receptor (PR+) positive. |
| Key exclusion criteria | Any subject that has history of allergy to honey, severe infection, and/or receiving hormone and/or replacement therapy are excluded from this study. |
| Date of first enrolment | 23/09/2014 |
| Date of final enrolment | 02/08/2016 |
Locations
Countries of recruitment
- Malaysia
Study participating centre
Universiti Sains Malaysia Hospital
Universiti Sains Malaysia
Kubang Kerian, Kelantan
16150
Malaysia
Sponsor information
University/education
Division of Research & Innovation
Level 6, Chancellory
Gelugor, Penang
11800
Malaysia
| Phone | +604 - 653 3108 / 3988 / 5019 |
|---|---|
| rcmo@usm.my | |
"ROR" |
https://ror.org/02rgb2k63 |
Funders
Funder type
University/education
No information available
Results and Publications
| Intention to publish date | 31/12/2016 |
|---|---|
| Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to share | No |
| IPD sharing plan summary | Not provided at time of registration |
| Publication and dissemination plan | Plan to publish in at least 3 international journals on safety profile, quality of life and biochemical markers in end of 2016 and in 2017. |
| IPD sharing plan |
