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NCT Number: NCT06223659

EMLA Topical Cream for Treatment of Pain in Patients Receiving Intra-Dermal Technetium 99 Injections for Lymphoscintigraphy for Skin Cancers

This phase II trial tests how well EMLA topical cream works in treating pain in patients with skin cancers receiving Technetium 99 injections for a lymphoscintigraphy mapping procedure. A lymphoscintigraphy mapping procedure is used to find the main or lead lymph node (tissue that fight infection) so it can be removed and checked for tumor cells. Using lymphoscintigraphy to highlight and then surgically remove lymph nodes is standard way to treat skin cancer for many patients. The Technetium 99 injections used for lymphoscintigraphy can be briefly painful due to the sensitivity of the nerve endings in the skin. The EMLA topical cream, which contains a numbing medicine to block pain from nerve endings, has been studied in breast cancer patients with a difference in pain reported, but this is the first time it has been studied in patients undergoing lymphoscintigraphy for skin cancer. This study may help researchers learn whether the use of EMLA cream may improve the associated pain at the time of the lymphoscintigraphy procedure.

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Key information

Conditions

Cutaneous Melanoma Adenocarcinoma Carcinoma Carcinoma, Merkel Cell Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine DNA Virus Infections Infections Melanoma Merkel Cell Carcinoma Neoplasms Neoplasms by Histologic Type Neoplasms by Site Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial Neoplasms, Nerve Tissue Neuroectodermal Tumors Neuroendocrine Tumors Nevi and Melanomas Polyomavirus Infections Skin Diseases Skin Neoplasms Skin Squamous Cell Carcinoma Skin and Connective Tissue Diseases Tumor Virus Infections Virus Diseases

Age range

18 year–99 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Phase 2

Primary location

Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center

Columbus, Ohio, 43210, United States

Location status: Recruiting

Location contact

Carlo M. Contreras, MD

CONTACT

[email protected]

614-366-3681

Carlo M. Contreras, MD

PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

About this study

PRIMARY OBJECTIVE:

I. Evaluate if the application of eutectic mixture of local anesthetics (EMLA) topical cream (2.5% lidocaine mixed with 2.5% prilocaine) prior to intra-dermal Technetium 99 sulfur colloid (Tc99 injection) for lymphoscintigraphy can improve associated pain.

OUTLINE: Patients are randomized to 1 of 2 cohorts.

COHORT 1: Patients apply EMLA cream topically to skin 30 minutes prior to Tc99 lymphoscintigraphy procedure.

COHORT 2: Patients apply placebo cream topically to skin 30 minutes prior to Tc99 lymphoscintigraphy procedure.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Biologic males or females
  • 18 - 99 years of age
  • Histologically confirmed cutaneous melanoma, Merkel cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, or other cutaneous malignancy for which lymphoscintigraphy and sentinel lymph node biopsy has been recommended.

Exclusion criteria

  • Known allergy or intolerance to EMLA cream, lidocaine, prilocaine, or any other local anesthetic
  • History of adhesive allergy
  • Contraindication to Tc99 injection for sentinel lymph node mapping
  • Incarcerated patients
  • Patients incapable of independently providing consent
  • Mucosal or genital lymphoscintigraphy site
  • Pregnancy
  • Participant self-declared or Ohio State University (OSU) medical chart listing chronic pain as a pre-existing diagnosis
  • Participants with chronic pain as defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):"pain lasting 3 months or more that can be caused by a disease or condition, injury, medical treatment, or unknown reason" excluding those with stable co-morbid conditions such as peripheral neuropathy, fibromyalgia, arthritis, and cancer-related pain who do not require narcotics. Patients who require narcotics at any time within the 7-day period leading up to the procedure

Treatment and study plan

Eutectic Mixture of Local Anesthetics

Drug

Apply topically to skin

Other names: EMLA, Lidocaine-Prilocaine Eutectic Mixture, Lidocaine/Prilocaine, Oraqix

Placebo Administration

Drug

Apply topically to skin

Questionnaire Administration

Other

Ancillary studies

Primary outcomes

  1. Pain score

    Time frame: Up to 1 year

    Pain will be measured on a Defense and Veterans Pain Rating 10-point scale where 1 is the lowest measure of pain, and 10 is the highest pain. Will be analyzed using an independent samples t-test to compare the mean pain score of the two cohorts. Descriptive statistics of patient demographics and adverse events will also be reported.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Incidence of adverse events

    Time frame: 30 minutes after lymphoscintigraphy injection

    Reported side effects will be recorded and compared between the two groups using Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) version 5.0.

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center

CONTACT

[email protected]

800-293-5066

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Investigating the Use of EMLA Topical Cream for Patients Receiving Intra-Dermal Technetium 99 Injections for Lymphoscintigraphy for Cutaneous Cancers

Important dates

Study start
2023
Primary completion
2026
Study completion
2026
First posted
Jan 25, 2024
Registry last updated
Mar 10, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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