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NCT Number: NCT07391163

Protective Effect of N-acetylcysteine on Oxaliplatin-Induced Neuropathy in Colorectal Cancer

This study investigates the possible protective role of N-Acetylcysteine against oxaliplatin-induced peripheral neuropathy in patients with colorectal cancer. The trial aims to evaluate whether N-Acetylcysteine can reduce the incidence and severity of neuropathy during chemotherapy.

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Key information

Conditions

Colorectal Cancer Colonic Diseases Colorectal Neoplasms Digestive System Diseases Digestive System Neoplasms Gastrointestinal Diseases Gastrointestinal Neoplasms Intestinal Diseases Intestinal Neoplasms Neoplasms Neoplasms by Site Nervous System Diseases Neuromuscular Diseases Peripheral Nervous System Diseases Rectal Diseases

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Tanta University - Faculty of Medicine ,oncology department, Tanta university hospital.

Tanta, Egypt

About this study

Oxaliplatin, a common chemotherapeutic agent for colorectal cancer, often induces peripheral neuropathy, which can significantly affect patients' quality of life and limit treatment effectiveness. The neuropathy is partly caused by nerve inflammation and oxidative stress.

N-Acetylcysteine (NAC), an antioxidant, has been suggested to protect neurons from oxidative damage and reduce inflammation.

This interventional, randomized, parallel-assignment study will enroll colorectal cancer patients receiving oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy. Participants will be assigned to either receive N-Acetylcysteine alongside chemotherapy or chemotherapy alone. Primary outcomes include the incidence and severity of peripheral neuropathy measured at predefined intervals during treatment.

Secondary outcomes include biochemical markers of nerve inflammation and oxidative stress, including:

  • Neurotensin (marker of nerve inflammation)
  • Interleukin-6 (marker of systemic inflammation)
  • Total Antioxidant Capacity (marker of oxidative stress)

The study aims to provide evidence on whether N-Acetylcysteine can serve as a protective agent against chemotherapy-induced neuropathy, potentially improving treatment tolerance and patient outcomes.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

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

Inclusion criteria

  • Males and females aged ≥ 18 years old.
  • Patients with histologically confirmed diagnosis of Stage III colorectal cancer and high risk Stage II.
  • Patients who will be scheduled to receive modified FOLFOX-6.
  • Patients with no contraindication to chemotherapy.
  • Adequate baseline hematologic values (absolute neutrophilic count ≥ 1.5
  • 109/L, platelet count ≥ 100 × 109/L and hemoglobin level ≥ 10 g/dl).
  • Patients with adequate renal function (serum creatinine < 1.5 mg/dl or creatinine clearance (ClCr) ˃ 45 mL/min).
  • Patients with adequate liver function (serum bilirubin < 1.5 mg/dl).
  • Patients with performance status 0-1 according to Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) score.

Exclusion criteria

  • Children < 18 years old.
  • Prior exposure to chemotherapy.
  • Patients with diabetes and other conditions that predispose to neuropathy.
  • History of known allergy to oxaliplatin or other platinum agents.
  • Concomitant use of any drug has anti-oxidant activity or neuroprotective agent.
  • Patients take any medication that increase acetyle choline either central or peripheral.
  • Patient was any cardiac disease.
  • Pregnant and breastfeeding women.

Treatment and study plan

Placebo

Drug

Oral placebo tablets identical in appearance to N-acetyl cysteine, administered 1 hour before oxaliplatin throughout chemotherapy cycles.

N-acetyl cysteine

Drug

Oral N-acetyl cysteine 1200 mg administered 1 hour before oxaliplatin throughout chemotherapy cycles.

Modified FOLFOX-6 regimen

Drug

Oxaliplatin 85 mg/m² IV, leucovorin 400 mg/m² IV, followed by 5-fluorouracil bolus and continuous infusion every 2 weeks.

Primary outcomes

  1. NCI-CTCAE, Version 5, 2017

    Time frame: Adverse events will be assessed using NCI-CTCAE v5.0 at baseline (Day 1, prior to Cycle 1) and after Cycle 2 (Day 15) and after Cycle 4 (Day 29). Each chemotherapy cycle lasts 14 days.

    The CTCAE is an international classification system used to assess and describe adverse events resulting from medical treatments, especially in cancer therapy, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy.

    It provides standard criteria to grade the severity of each adverse event on a scale from 1 to 5:

    Grade 1 (Mild): Mild symptoms, no intervention needed.

    Grade 2 (Moderate): Symptoms require minimal intervention or slightly affect daily activities.

    Grade 3 (Severe): Symptoms significantly impact daily activities or require medical intervention.

    Grade 4 (Life-threatening): Life-threatening symptoms requiring urgent intervention.

    Grade 5 (Death): Death due to the adverse event.

  2. FACT/GOG-Ntx-12

    Time frame: Neurotoxicity-related adverse events will be assessed using the FACT/GOG-Ntx-12 at baseline (Day 1, prior to Cycle 1) and after Cycle 2 (Day 15) and after Cycle 4 (Day 29). Each chemotherapy cycle lasts 14 days.

    The FACT/GOG-Ntx-12 is a patient-reported outcome measure designed to assess chemotherapy-induced neurotoxicity, particularly from drugs such as platinum agents or taxanes.

    It consists of 12 items evaluating peripheral neuropathy symptoms, including numbness, tingling, pain, weakness in hands or feet, and difficulty with walking or handling objects.

    Each item is scored on a 0-4 scale (0 = not at all, 4 = very much), providing a total score reflecting the severity of neurotoxicity.

    It is primarily used to monitor the impact of chemotherapy on neurological function and related quality of life.

  3. BPI-SF

    Time frame: Pain severity and interference will be assessed using the BPI-SF at baseline (Day 1, prior to Cycle 1) and after Cycle 2 (Day 15) and after Cycle 4 (Day 29). Each chemotherapy cycle lasts 14 days.

    The BPI-SF (Brief Pain Inventory - Short Form) is a patient-reported questionnaire used to assess pain severity and its impact on daily functioning.

    It includes questions about the intensity of pain (e.g., worst, least, average, and current pain) and how pain interferes with activities such as walking, work, mood, sleep, and relationships.

    Each item is rated on a 0-10 numeric scale (0 = no pain / no interference, 10 = worst imaginable pain / complete interference), allowing calculation of overall pain severity and interference scores.

    It is widely used in cancer patients and other chronic pain conditions to monitor pain and response to treatment.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Serum IL-6 as a marker of inflammation

    Time frame: IL-6 will be measured at pre-oxaliplatin infusion (baseline) and after infusion completion (post-dose) on Day 1 of Cycle 1 in both study arms. NAC is administered orally 1 hour before baseline sample in the intervention arm. Each FOLFOX cycle is 14 days.

    Serum IL-6 is a pro-inflammatory cytokine commonly used as a biomarker of inflammation.

    Elevated IL-6 levels indicate activation of inflammatory pathways, which can occur due to cancer, chemotherapy, or other physiological stressors.

    Measurement of serum IL-6 allows monitoring of systemic inflammatory responses in patients undergoing chemotherapy.

  2. Serum total anti-oxidant capacity (TAC) as a biomarker of oxidative stress

    Time frame: TAC will be measured at pre-oxaliplatin infusion (baseline) and after infusion completion (post-dose) on Day 1 of Cycle 1 in both study arms. NAC is administered orally 1 hour before baseline sample in the intervention arm. Each FOLFOX cycle is 14 days.

    Serum total antioxidant capacity (TAC) is a biomarker of oxidative stress, reflecting the overall ability of the serum to neutralize free radicals and reactive oxygen species.

    TAC is used to evaluate oxidative damage and antioxidant defense mechanisms, which can be affected by chemotherapy.

  3. Serum neurotensin as a biomarker for neuropathy

    Time frame: NT will be measured at pre-oxaliplatin infusion (baseline) and after infusion completion (post-dose) on Day 1 of Cycle 1 in both study arms. NAC is administered orally 1 hour before baseline sample in the intervention arm. Each FOLFOX cycle is 14 days.

    Description:

    Serum neurotensin (NT) is a peptide biomarker used to assess chemotherapy-induced neuropathy.

    Changes in serum neurotensin levels correlate with peripheral nerve damage and neurotoxic effects caused by chemotherapeutic agents.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Tanta University

Other

Registry information

Official study title

The Possible Protective Role of N-Acetylcysteine Against Oxaliplatin-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy in Patients With Colorectal Cancer

Important dates

Study start
2024
Primary completion
2026
Study completion
2026
First posted
Feb 5, 2026
Registry last updated
Feb 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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