Adouble-blind placebo contorolled study of subcutaneous ketamine in the management of cancer pain [ 2008 - 2010 ]

Research Grant

Researchers: Dr Christine Sanderson (Principal investigator) ,  A/Pr Josephine Clayton ,  Prof David Currow ,  Prof Janet Hardy ,  Prof Melanie Lovell

Brief description Palliative care teams are studying an anaesthetic, ketamine, used at low doses for cancer pain which is not responsive to opioid drugs. Clinical experience suggests ketamine may help in neuropathic pain, which is due to nerve damage and is common in cancer. The study involves five days of treatment at three doses of ketamine, to see how well pain is controlled on each dose. The highest dose given will be that which gives good pain control. The study compares ketamine with a placebo, and patients keep on their usual pain medicines. Participants are randomised to have ketamine or the placebo. The study looks at pain control, quality of life, ketamine side effects, and change in need for usual pain medicines. This is the first national clinical study of a new palliative care research network, the Palliative Care Clinical Trials Collaborative (PaCCSC). It is hoped that if ketamine is proven safe and effective in difficult cancer pain, it will be more easily available for cancer patients.

Funding Amount $AUD 50,000.00

Funding Scheme NHMRC Strategic Awards

Notes Palliative Care Research