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PURPOSE: Fatigue is a distressing symptom occurring in more than 60% of patients with cancer. The CNS stimulants modafinil and methylphenidate are recommended for the treatment of cancer-related fatigue, despite a limited evidence base. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of modafinil in the management of fatigue in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Adults with advanced NSCLC and performance status of 0 to 2, who were not treated with chemotherapy or radiotherapy within the last 4 weeks, were randomly assigned to daily modafinil (100 mg on days 1 to 14; 200 mg on days 15 to 28) or matched placebo. The primary outcome was change in Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy (FACIT) -Fatigue score from baseline to 28 days, adjusted for baseline fatigue and performance status. Secondary outcomes included safety and patient-reported measures of depression, daytime sleepiness, and quality of life. RESULTS: A total of 208 patients were randomly assigned, and 160 patients (modafinil, n = 75; placebo, n = 85) completed questionnaires at both baseline and day 28 and were included in the modified intention-to-treat analysis. FACIT-Fatigue scores improved from baseline to day 28 (mean score change: modafinil, 5.29; 95% CI, 2.57 to 8.02; placebo, 5.09; 95% CI, 2.54 to 7.65), but there was no difference between treatments (0.20; 95% CI, -3.56 to 3.97). There was also no difference between treatments for the secondary outcomes; 47% of the modafinil group and 23% of the placebo group stated that the intervention was not helpful. CONCLUSION: Modafinil had no effect on cancer-related fatigue and should not be prescribed outside a clinical trial setting. Its use was associated with a clinically significant placebo effect.

Original publication

DOI

10.1200/JCO.2013.54.4346

Type

Journal article

Journal

J Clin Oncol

Publication Date

20/06/2014

Volume

32

Pages

1882 - 1888

Keywords

Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Benzhydryl Compounds, Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung, Central Nervous System Stimulants, Double-Blind Method, Drug Administration Schedule, Fatigue, Female, Humans, Lung Neoplasms, Male, Methylphenidate, Middle Aged, Modafinil, Placebo Effect, Severity of Illness Index, Treatment Failure, United Kingdom, Wakefulness-Promoting Agents