CompletedPhase 3

Perioperative Pregabalin and Lidocaine to Reduce Chronic Breast Cancer Pain

Canada100 participantsStarted 2014-11

Plain-language summary

Breast tissue and the areas surrounding the breast contain many small to medium-sized nerves. During surgery on the breast, these nerves can be inadvertently cut or damaged. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy after surgery worsen the injury experienced by these nerves. These nerves eventually become abnormal and provide pain signals to the brain well beyond the healing period after surgery. Patients with these abnormal nerves suffer from chronic pain in the breast area that persists for several years after surgery. Chronic pain is associated with a reduced quality of life, daily functioning, psychological distress, and contributes to excessive health care expenditures. There is encouraging data suggesting that an infusion of Lidocaine during surgery and Pregabalin given around the time of surgery can prevent the development of chronic pain after breast cancer surgery. A large randomized controlled trial is needed to determine the efficacy of these two interventions on reducing chronic pain after breast cancer surgery (e.g. within 3 months of surgery). A pilot trial is first needed to determine the feasibility of undertaking such a trial.

Who can participate

Age range

18 Years – 75 Years

Sex

FEMALE

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion Criteria: * female patients 18-75 years of age * undergoing a unilateral or bilateral mastectomy or partial-mastectomy (breast conserving surgery), for prophylactic (e.g. family history or BRCA gene mutation) or belief of isolated (non-metastatic) cancerous lesions * receiving a general anesthetic Exclusion Criteria: * previous breast surgery within six months of index surgery * undergoing a DIEP (Deep Inferior Epigastric Perforator) flap procedure * patient has chronic pain or a chronic pain syndrome for which they have taken 4 or more daily medications (i.e. opioids, anti-convulsants, anti-spasmodic, anti-depressants, anti-inflammatories) or routine pain intervention (i.e. nerve blocks) during the past 3 months * documented hypersensitivity or allergy to pregabalin, gabapentin, or lidocaine * history of ventricular tachycardia, ventricular fibrillation, or atrioventricular block ≥ type II * history of congestive heart failure * renal insufficiency with creatinine \> 120 µmol/L * known or previously documented cirrhosis * pregnant * unable to swallow study medications * patient's surgeon believes patient is inappropriate for inclusion in trial * unlikely to comply with follow-up (e.g. no fixed address, plans to move out of town) * language difficulties that would impede valid completion of questionnaires * patient requires gabapentin or pregabalin for a medical condition or has been taking gabapentin or pregabalin daily during the past 1 week

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Feasibility

Timeframe: 6 months

Trial details

NCT IDNCT02240199

SponsorMcMaster University

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2016-01

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Post-mastectomy Pain Syndrome trials