Lack of neuroprotection by an ACTH (4-9) analogue. A randomized trial in patients treated with vincristine for Hodgkin's or non-Hodgkin's lymphoma

What Was Tested

Researchers studied ACTH (Corticotropin) in this randomized controlled trial publication.

This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study evaluates the effect of the corticotropin (4-9) analogue Org 2766 on the neuropathy-free interval in patients receiving vincristine (VCR) containing chemotherapy for Hodgkin's or non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Who Took Part

The study group was 150 patients.

PubMed indexes the participants as adults, middle-aged adults and older adults, both men and women.

In a longitudinal design, 150 patients were evaluated by interview, neurological examination, and neurophysiological techniques.

The final patient assessment was performed 1 month after discontinuation of study medication.

How the Study Was Run

The researchers set it up as a randomized, double-blind and placebo-controlled study.

The patients were allocated by chance, so the ACTH (Corticotropin) group and the comparison group should start out alike.

Blinding on both sides kept the patients and researchers unaware of who received ACTH (Corticotropin).

A placebo (an inactive look-alike) gave the ACTH (Corticotropin) group a baseline to be compared against.

This bi-center study represents the largest cohort of patients monitored for the effect of an ACTH-analogue on VCR neurotoxicity.

What Was Measured

PubMed files the paper under topics including Adrenocorticotropic Hormone, Anticonvulsants, Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols, Cohort Studies, Hodgkin Disease, Interviews as Topic and Longitudinal Studies.

What This Means in Plain Language

The paper is a randomized, double-blind and placebo-controlled study of ACTH (Corticotropin) in 150 patients.

The abstract goes on to report its results in about 3 sentences; this page does not restate them, so read the paper for the findings and their limits.

The publication is from 2004 (Journal of cancer research and clinical oncology), a journal based in Germany.

More context: the ACTH (Corticotropin) compound page, all human trials.