Pentosan Polysulfate in Treating Patients With Gastrointestinal Disturbance Caused by Radiation Therapy

• Status: Completed
• Trial end date: 1969-12-31
• Target enrollment: 0
• Participant gender: All

Summary

RATIONALE: Pentosan polysulfate may be effective in treating side effects of radiation therapy to the abdomen or pelvis. It is not yet known whether pentosan polysulfate is more effective than no further therapy for treating gastrointestinal disturbance caused by previous radiation therapy.

PURPOSE: Randomized phase III trial to determine the effectiveness of pentosan polysulfate in treating patients who have inflammation of the rectum, diarrhea, or blood in stools caused by previous radiation therapy to the abdomen and pelvis.

• Phase: Phase 3
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers?: No

Details

• Lead Sponsor: Radiation Therapy Oncology Group
• Collaborator: National Cancer Institute (NCI)
• Treatments: Pentosan Sulfuric Polyester

Criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Must have received prior radiotherapy to the abdomen and pelvis and now have radiation related gastrointestinal symptoms (which were not present before the radiotherapy and/or attributed to other causes) Proctitis Diarrhea Melena (blood in stools) Severity of symptoms classified as grade 1, 2, or 3

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: Any age Performance status: Not specified Life expectancy:

Not specified Hematopoietic: Not specified Hepatic: Not specified Renal: Not specified Other: No bleeding ulcers No bleeding diathesis

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: Not specified Chemotherapy: At least 1 month since prior chemotherapy No concurrent chemotherapy Endocrine therapy: Concurrent hormonal therapy for prostate cancer allowed Radiotherapy: See Disease Characteristics At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy Surgery: No prior bowel resection At least 3 weeks since prior surgery Other: No concurrent anticoagulation therapy (except aspirin)