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A Single-Arm, Prospective Study of Papaverine for the Treatment of Refractory Peripheral Neuropathy Induced by Taxane-Based Chemotherapy

NCT07572461 · Status: NOT_YET_RECRUITING · Phase: NA · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 43

Last updated 2026-05-07

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a common and often long-lasting side effect of cancer treatment. Patients may experience numbness, tingling, pain, burning sensations, weakness, or difficulty with walking and daily activities. Paclitaxel-related CIPN is especially common, and current treatment options are limited. For patients whose symptoms do not improve with standard therapies such as duloxetine, pregabalin, or gabapentin, there is an important unmet clinical need. Papaverine is a vasodilator and smooth muscle relaxant that may improve blood flow in the small vessels supplying nerves. Based on the hypothesis that impaired microcirculation and ischemia may contribute to CIPN, papaverine may help relieve symptoms and support nerve recovery. Preliminary clinical observations by the investigators suggested that papaverine injection may rapidly improve numbness and weakness in some patients with refractory paclitaxel-induced CIPN.This is a prospective, single-center, single-arm, open-label phase II study designed to evaluate the preliminary efficacy and safety of papaverine injection in patients with refractory paclitaxel-induced peripheral neuropathy. Eligible participants are adults aged 18 to 75 years with histologically or cytologically confirmed malignancy, prior treatment with a paclitaxel-containing regimen, persistent clinically significant neuropathy of grade 2 or higher, and failure of at least one standard treatment for CIPN. Participants will receive papaverine hydrochloride 120 mg diluted in 100 mL normal saline by intravenous infusion once daily, given as 1 treatment day followed by 6 rest days, with 7 days defined as one cycle. Up to 3 cycles of treatment may be given if patients benefit and tolerate therapy well.The main goal of the study is to assess improvement in patient-reported sensory neuropathy symptoms using the EORTC QLQ-CIPN20 sensory subscale. Secondary objectives include changes in overall neuropathy symptoms, physician-assessed neuropathy grade, quality of life, and safety. Exploratory assessments include nerve conduction findings and inflammatory biomarkers. The study aims to enroll approximately 43 patients and will provide early evidence on whether papaverine may be a useful treatment option for patients with refractory paclitaxel-induced CIPN.

Conditions

  • Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy
  • Refractory Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy
  • Paclitaxel-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy

Interventions

DRUG

Papaverine hydrochloride injection

Intervention Description: Papaverine hydrochloride injection will be administered at a dose of 120 mg diluted in 100 mL of 0.9% sodium chloride solution by intravenous infusion once daily. Treatment consists of 1 day of administration followed by 6 days of rest, with 7 days defined as one cycle. Patients who demonstrate clinical benefit and tolerate treatment may receive up to 3 cycles. Concomitant use of stable-dose neurotrophic agents is allowed, while initiation of new treatments that may affect neuropathy is prohibited.

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University

    lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation
NA
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Model
SINGLE_GROUP

Eligibility

Min Age
18 Years
Max Age
75 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2026-05-01
Primary Completion
2027-05-01
Completion
2027-05-01

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Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT07572461 on ClinicalTrials.gov