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The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if a commercially available cannabigerol (CBG)/cannabidiol (CBD) oil is safe, feasible to use, and can help reduce symptoms of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) in adults who have completed platinum-based chemotherapy for gastrointestinal cancers. The main questions it aims to answer are:
Is CBG/CBD oil safe and well-tolerated over a 12-week treatment period?
Can participants with CIPN use CBG/CBD oil consistently as part of their care?
Does CBG/CBD oil help reduce pain, numbness, or other symptoms of CIPN?
Participants will:
Take CBG/CBD oil under the tongue (sublingually) twice daily for 12 weeks
Complete regular symptom assessments and functional tests during study visits
Provide blood samples for cannabinoid and metabolite level testing
This pilot clinical trial is designed to evaluate the safety, feasibility, and preliminary efficacy of a commercially available cannabigerol (CBG)/cannabidiol (CBD) oil in treating chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) in adult patients who have completed platinum-based chemotherapy for gastrointestinal malignancies. The study is based on preclinical findings from Dr. Wesley Raup-Konsavage's laboratory, which showed that CBG and CBD reduced neuropathic pain in animal models of CIPN. This clinical trial seeks to translate these findings into a patient population with persistent CIPN symptoms.
The study intervention uses a high-CBG/CBD hemp oil extract that is marketed as a dietary supplement and contains a verified profile of cannabinoids and terpenes. The formulation also includes small amounts of cannabichromene (CBC), which may contribute to analgesic effects via the "entourage effect." Subjects will administer 0.5 mL sublingually twice daily during the first week, followed by 1 mL sublingually twice daily for the remaining 11 weeks of the 12-week treatment period.
The treatment period is divided into three 4-week cycles to structure visit scheduling and assessments. The study will collect data on symptom changes, physical function, mental health, tolerability, and cannabinoid levels over time.
Primary objectives include evaluating the safety and tolerability of CBG/CBD oil and the feasibility of its use in this patient population. Secondary objectives include measuring changes in CIPN symptoms, physical and mental function, adherence, pharmacological tolerance, and circulating cannabinoid/metabolite levels.
The study addresses an urgent need for effective treatments for CIPN, as current therapies (e.g., duloxetine, gabapentin, NSAIDs) are often inadequate and poorly tolerated. By assessing a hemp extract rather than a purified compound, this study also explores the broader applicability and real-world relevance of cannabinoid-based supplements for supportive cancer care.
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| Label | Type | Description | Intervention Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| CBG/CBD Oil Treatment Arm | Experimental | This is a single-arm, open-label study in which all participants will receive the intervention of CBG/CBD oil treatment. Participants will be administered sublingual CBG/CBD oil for 12 weeks. The initial dose will be 0.5 mL (17 mg of cannabinoids) twice daily for the first week, followed by 1 mL (33 mg of cannabinoids) twice daily for the remaining 11 weeks. The treatment period is divided into three 4-week cycles. Weekly remote safety phone calls will be conducted, and follow-up phone calls will take place one month after the last dose to monitor safety. The primary goals are to evaluate the safety, tolerability, and feasibility of the CBG/CBD oil, while secondary goals include assessing changes in CIPN symptoms, physical function, mental health, pharmacological tolerance, and adherence to the treatment. |
|
| Name | Type | Description | Arm Group Labels | Other Names |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CBG/CBD Oil | Drug | Participants will receive a commercially available high CBG/CBD hemp extract oil that also contains small amounts of cannabichromene (CBC). The product is formulated as a sublingual oil and administered twice daily. Participants will take 0.5 mL of the oil sublingually twice daily during the first week, followed by 1 mL sublingually twice daily for the remaining 11 weeks. The oil has a defined and independently verified cannabinoid and terpene profile and is marketed as a dietary supplement. |
| Measure | Description | Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
| Safety and Tolerability of CBG/CBD Oil | Evaluated by the incidence and severity of adverse events according to the National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (NCI CTCAE) version 5.0. The NCI CTCAE v5.0 grades adverse events on a scale from 1 to 5, where: Grade 1: Mild; asymptomatic or mild symptoms. Grade 2: Moderate; minimal, local, or noninvasive intervention indicated. Grade 3: Severe or medically significant but not immediately life-threatening. Grade 4: Life-threatening consequences; urgent intervention indicated. Grade 5: Death related to adverse event. Minimum value: Grade 1 (mild). Maximum value: Grade 5 (death). Interpretation: Higher grades indicate worse outcomes (more severe adverse events). Focus will be on toxicities of grade 2 or higher throughout the 12-week treatment period (Cycles 1-3). | Through study completion (12 weeks) |
| Feasibility of Treatment with CBG/CBD Oil | Defined as the percentage of participants who complete Cycle 1 (Weeks 1-4) of study participation, including all required visits, assessments, and adherence to CBG/CBD oil dosing. | Week 4 (End of Cycle 1) |
| Measure | Description | Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
| Changes in CIPN Symptoms | The PNQ grades the severity of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) symptoms on a scale from 0 to 4, where: 0: No neuropathy.
Symptoms will be assessed for changes in sensory and motor disturbances and their impact on daily activities. |
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Inclusion Criteria:
Exclusion Criteria:
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| Name | Role | Phone | Extension | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crystal Sowers | Contact | 7175315471 | psci-cto@pennstatehealth.psu.edu |
| Name | Affiliation | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Nelson Yee, MD | Penn State Cancer Institute | Principal Investigator |
| Facility | Status | City | State | ZIP | Country | Contacts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Penn State Cancer Institute | Recruiting | Hershey | Pennsylvania | 17033 | United States |
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All participants receive the same intervention.
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| Baseline (Cycle 1 Day 1, Week 0), Cycle 2 Day 1 (Week 4), Cycle 3 Day 1 (Week 8), and End of Treatment (Week 12; approximately 4 weeks after last dose). Each cycle is 28 days. |
| Changes in Physical Function | Measured using the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Physical Function Short Form 20a. This scale assesses the impact of muscle weakness associated with chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) on daily activities. The PROMIS Physical Function Short Form 20a consists of 20 items, with responses scored from 1 to 5: 1: Unable to do or severe limitation. 5: No difficulty or limitation. Minimum value: 20 (indicating severe limitation across all items). Maximum value: 100 (indicating no limitation across all items). Interpretation: Higher scores indicate better outcomes (better physical function). Physical function will be assessed by comparing baseline scores to those collected at the end of each cycle. | Baseline (Cycle 1 Day 1, Week 0), Cycle 2 Day 1 (Week 4), Cycle 3 Day 1 (Week 8), and End of Treatment (Week 12; approximately 4 weeks after last dose). Each cycle is 28 days. |
| Changes in Mental Health Scores | Assessed using Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Emotional Distress - Anxiety Short Form 8a and PROMIS Cognitive Function - Short Form 8a. Anxiety Short Form 8a: 8 items, scored 1 (never) to 5 (always); T-scores range from ~37.1 (minimal anxiety) to ~83.1 (severe anxiety). Higher T-scores indicate worse outcomes. Cognitive Function Short Form 8a: 8 items, scored 1 (poor function) to 5 (good function); T-scores range from ~25.0 (poor) to ~75.0 (excellent). Higher T-scores indicate better outcomes. Changes in T-scores from baseline to end of each cycle. | Baseline (Cycle 1 Day 1, Week 0), Cycle 2 Day 1 (Week 4), Cycle 3 Day 1 (Week 8), and End of Treatment (Week 12; approximately 4 weeks after last dose). Each treatment cycle is 28 days. |
| Pharmacological Tolerance to CBG/CBD Oil | Measured by changes in Patient Neurotoxicity Questionnaire (PNQ) scores, assessing the decrease in the effectiveness of CBG/CBD oil treatment for chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) symptoms. The PNQ grades the severity of sensory and motor disturbances on a scale from 0 to 4, where: 0: No neuropathy.
Changes in PNQ scores will be evaluated by comparing baseline scores to those collected at the end of each cycle to assess potential pharmacological tolerance. | Baseline (Cycle 1 Day 1, Week 0), Cycle 2 Day 1 (Week 4), Cycle 3 Day 1 (Week 8), and End of Treatment (Week 12; approximately 4 weeks after last dose). Each treatment cycle is 28 days. |
| Changes in Circulating Cannabinoids and CBD Metabolites | Measured as the difference in plasma concentrations of cannabinoids and CBD metabolites (e.g., CBG, CBD, and their metabolites) from baseline to the end of Cycle 2. Plasma levels will be quantified using validated analytical methods (liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry). | At the end of Cycle 2 (Week 8); each cycle is 28 days. |
| Adherence to CBG/CBD Oil Treatment | Defined as the proportion of prescribed CBG/CBD oil doses taken per cycle. Measured using Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Medication Adherence Scale and patient drug diaries. PROMIS Medication Adherence Scale: Items scored 1 (never) to 5 (always); T-scores range from ~30.0 (poor adherence) to ~70.0 (excellent adherence). Higher T-scores indicate better outcomes. Drug Diaries: Record daily doses to calculate proportion taken. Adherence assessed by combining T-scores and diary data per cycle. | Cycle 2 Day 1 (Week 4), Cycle 3 Day 1 (Week 8), and End of Treatment (Week 12; approximately 4 weeks after last dose), corresponding to adherence during Cycles 1-3 (each cycle is 28 days). |
| Change in acute sensory neuropathy symptoms and correlation with plasma cannabinoid concentrations following CBG/CBD oil administration | Acute sensory symptoms are assessed using the Patient Neurotoxicity Questionnaire sensory item (PNQ1). PNQ1 scores are analyzed in relation to plasma cannabinoid concentrations collected at corresponding timepoints. | Cycle 3 Day 1 at 1 hour, 4 hours, and 6 hours post-dose. |