Nicotinamide Chemoprevention for Keratinocyte Carcinoma in Solid Organ Transplant Recipients - Pi… (NCT05955924) | Clinical Trial Compass
RecruitingPhase 3
Nicotinamide Chemoprevention for Keratinocyte Carcinoma in Solid Organ Transplant Recipients - Pivotal Trial
Canada396 participantsStarted 2023-08-28
Plain-language summary
As patients live longer after receiving an organ transplant, there is a need to reduce the long-term side effects of the drugs used to prevent organ rejection. In particular, long-term use of these drugs increases the risk of skin cancer. Skin cancer is now a leading cause of illness and disfigurement after kidney, liver, heart, and lung transplantation. Given the increased risk and burden of skin cancer in transplant recipients, prevention is critical.
Nicotinamide is a form of Vitamin B3 that has been shown to protect against skin cancer in the general population. However, it is unclear whether nicotinamide is effective among immune-suppressed transplant recipients. Investigators will conduct a clinical trial involving multiple transplant centres in Canada to evaluate whether oral nicotinamide (500 mg twice daily) is effective and safe for preventing skin cancer. Investigators will recruit 396 high-risk adult kidney, liver, heart, and lung transplant patients who have previously had at least one skin cancer. Patients will receive nicotinamide or sham tablets for up to 4 years. The results will inform efforts to improve the long-term health of transplant recipients.
Who can participate
Age range
18 Years
Sex
ALL
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:
* Age ≥ 18 years old
* Kidney, liver, heart, or lung transplant at least two years ago
* History of at least one prior histologically-confirmed keratinocyte carcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma in situ
* Currently immunosuppressed with a calcineurin inhibitor-based regimen (cyclosporine or tacrolimus)
* Able to attend follow-up visits
Exclusion Criteria:
* Use of nicotinamide or niacin (≥250 mg daily) within past 12 weeks
* Untreated localized skin cancer at baseline (patient can enrol after skin cancer treatment)
* Biopsy-confirmed acute rejection episode within the past 12 weeks
* Active liver disease (high AST \>3 times or bilirubin \>1.5 times)
* Severe kidney disease (estimated glomerular filtration rate \<20 mL/min/1.73 m2)
* Solid organ or hematologic malignancy, invasive melanoma, Merkel cell carcinoma, or metastatic skin cancer within the past five years
* Pregnancy or lactation
* Need for ongoing carbamazepine or primidone
* Allergy to nicotinamide or any ingredient of the vitamin or placebo capsules
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
1
Time to first biopsy-confirmed keratinocyte carcinoma (basal cell carcinoma or invasive cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma)