Effectiveness Assessment of Riluzole in the Prevention of Oxaliplatin-induced Peripheral Neuropathy.

Effectiveness Assessment of Riluzole in the Prevention of Oxaliplatin-induced Peripheral Neuropathy: A Phase II Randomized Study by UNICANCER With the Cooperation of AFSOS

It is a phase II trial, randomized, parallel, double blind, multicenter, comparing riluzole versus placebo.

The trial population is composed of patients ≥18 years old that have developed stage II/III colorectal cancer and are eligible for Simplified FOLFOX4 (6-12 cycles) adjuvant chemotherapy.

The primary objective is to assess the preventive efficacy of riluzole on the severity of oxaliplatin-induced peripheral neuropathy during the Simplified FOLFOX4 adjuvant chemotherapy of stage II/III colorectal cancers.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Patients aged ≥ 18 years old,
2. Eligible patient starting adjuvant oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy (6-12 cycles, Simplified FOLFOX4) for stage II/III colorectal cancer,
3. Histological or cytological confirmation of colorectal cancer,
4. Performance status (ECOG) ≤2,
5. Normal hematological function (ANC ≥1.5 x 10⁹/L; platelets count ≥100 x 10⁹/L; hemoglobin ≥9.0 g/dL),
6. Normal hepatic function: total bilirubin ≤1.5 x upper limit of normal (ULN) (unless documented Gilbert's syndrome); aspartate aminotransferase (ASAT) and alanine aminotransferase (ALAT) ≤3 x ULN, and gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) ≤3 x ULN,
7. Normal renal function: serum creatinine ≤1.5 x ULN,
8. Normal cardiac function: ECG,
9. Patients affiliated to the French national health insurance,
10. Patient must have signed a written informed consent form prior to any study specific procedures,
11. French language comprehension,
12. Patient is willing and able to comply with the protocol for the duration of the study including undergoing treatment and scheduled visits and examinations including follow up.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Metastatic cancer,
2. Diagnosis of neuropathy,
3. EORTC QLQ-CIPN20 sensory score >6,
4. Previous neurotoxic chemotherapy treatment,
5. Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease,
6. ALAT/ASAT elevated more than 3 times the normal value,
7. Patients with known allergy or severe hypersensitivity to riluzole or any of the study drug excipients,
8. Dependence on alcohol or drugs,
9. Psychotic disorders,
10. Women pregnant or breastfeeding,
11. Patients undergoing a measure of legal protection (trusteeship, guardianship ...).