Managing Anorexia During Chemoradiation With Olanzapine (MACRO)
This phase II trial compares the effect of adding olanzapine to standard of care symptom management for nausea to standard of care alone in managing an abnormal loss of the appetite for food (anorexia) in patients treated with chemoradiation therapy (CRT) for head and neck cancer. Patients undergoing CRT may experience treatment-related side effects, including pain, nausea, and a discomfort in the ability to speak, swallow and eat. These side effects have been shown to increase weight loss, opiate use and hospitalization. Olanzapine is a drug used to treat certain mental disorders. It is also being studied in the treatment of nausea and vomiting caused by some cancer treatments. It is a type of anti-psychotic and a type of monoamine antagonist. Adding olanzapine to standard of care symptom management to limit nausea may be more effective than standard of care alone in managing anorexia in head and neck cancer patients during CRT.
• Age ≥ 18 years old
• Have an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of ≤ 2
• Diagnosed with biopsy-proven, squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck, including squamous cell carcinoma of the neck with unknown primary site
• Eligible for curative-intent chemoradiation therapy of the head and neck
• Patients must be eligible for concurrent systemic therapy (preferably platinum based) as determined by the treating medical oncologist to undergo platinum-based chemotherapy
• Ability to swallow and retain oral medication
• Participants of child-bearing potential must agree to use adequate contraceptive methods (e.g., hormonal or barrier method of birth control; abstinence) prior to study entry. Should a woman become pregnant or suspect she is pregnant while she or her partner is participating in this study, she should inform her treating physician immediately
• Participants must agree to avoid the following while taking Olanzapine while they are on study:
‣ Taking the drug Symbyax (which already contains olanzapine)
⁃ Consuming alcohol
⁃ Operating hazardous machinery, including automobiles, until you are reasonably certain that the study drug therapy does not have any bad effects on your mental and physical health
• Participant must understand the investigational nature of this study and sign an institutional review board approved written informed consent form prior to receiving any study related procedure