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Pilot study of Panax quinquefolius (American ginseng) to improve cancer-related fatigue: a randomized, double-blind, dose-finding evaluation: NCCTG trial N03CA

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Abstract

Purpose

This pilot trial sought to investigate whether any of three doses of American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) might help cancer-related fatigue. A secondary aim was to evaluate toxicity.

Methods

Eligible adults with cancer were randomized in a double-blind manner, to receive American ginseng in doses of 750, 1,000, or 2,000 mg/day or placebo given in twice daily dosing over 8 weeks. Outcome measures included the Brief Fatigue Inventory, vitality subscale of the Medical Outcome Scale Short Form-36 (SF-36), and the Global Impression of Benefit Scale at 4 and 8 weeks.

Results

Two hundred ninety patients were accrued to this trial. Nonsignificant trends for all outcomes were seen in favor of the 1,000- and 2,000-mg/day doses of American ginseng. Area under the curve analysis of activity interference from the Brief Fatigue Inventory was 460–467 in the placebo group and 750 mg/day group versus 480–551 in the 1,000- and 2,000-mg/day arms, respectively. Change from baseline in the vitality subscale of the SF-36 was 7.3–7.8 in the placebo and the 750-mg/day arm, versus 10.5–14.6 in the 1,000- and 2,000-mg/day arms. Over twice as many patients on ginseng perceived a benefit and were satisfied with treatment over those on placebo. There were no significant differences in any measured toxicities between any of the arms.

Conclusion

There appears to be some activity and tolerable toxicity at 1,000–2,000 mg/day doses of American ginseng with regard to cancer-related fatigue. Thus, further study of American ginseng is warranted.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Mayo Clinic and Mayo Foundation, 200 First Street, SW, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA

    Debra L. Barton, Brent A. Bauer, Jeff A. Sloan, Heshan Liu, Pamela J. Atherton, Bradley Christensen & Charles L. Loprinzi

  2. Missouri Valley Cancer Consortium, Omaha, NE, 68106, USA

    Gamini S. Soori

  3. Carle Cancer Center CCOP, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA

    Patricia A. Johnson

  4. Michigan Cancer Research Consortium, Ann Arbor, MI, 48106, USA

    Cesar Figueras

  5. Metro-Minnesota Community Clinical Oncology Program, St. Louis Park, MN, 55416, USA

    Steven Duane

  6. Wichita Community Clinical Oncology Program, Wichita, KS, 67214-3882, USA

    Bassam Mattar

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  1. Debra L. Barton
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Debra L. Barton.

Additional information

This study was conducted as a collaborative trial of the North Central Cancer Treatment Group and Mayo Clinic and was supported in part by Public Health Service grants CA-25224, CA-37404, CA-63849, CA-63848, CA-35267, CA-35431, CA-35269, CA-52352, CA-37417, CA-35415, CA-35103, CA-35119, CA-35195, CA-35448, CA-60276, CA-35101, CA-35113, CA-35103, and CA-35090.

Additional participating institutions include Iowa Oncology Research Association CCOP, Des Moines, IA 50314 (Roscoe F. Morton, M.D.); CentraCare Clinic, St. Cloud, MN 56301 (Harold E. Windschitl, M.D.); Sioux Community Cancer Consortium, Sioux Falls, SD 57105 (Loren K. Tschetter, M.D.); Siouxland Hematology–Oncology Associates, Sioux City, IA 51105 (Donald B. Wender, M.D.); Illinois Oncology Research Assn. CCOP, Peoria, IL 61615-7828 (John W. Kugler, M.D.); Montana Cancer Consortium, Billings, MT 59101 (Benjamin T. Marchello, M.D.); Meritcare Hospital CCOP, Fargo, ND 58122 (Preston D. Steen, M.D.); Toledo Community Hospital Oncology Program CCOP, Toledo, OH 43623 (Paul L. Schaefer, M.D.); Cancer Care Associates, Tulsa, OK 74136 (Mark R. Olsen, M.D.); Upstate Carolina CCOP, Spartanburg, SC 29303 (James D. Bearden, III, M.D.); Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, GA 30912 (Anand P. Jillella, M.D.); Geisinger Clinic & Medical Center CCOP, Danville, PA 17822 (Albert M. Bernath, Jr, M.D.); Mayo Clinic Jacksonville, Jacksonville, FL 32224 (Edith A. Perez, M.D.); Mayo Clinic Scottsdale, Scottsdale, AZ 85259-5404 (Tom R. Fitch, M.D.); Lehigh Valley Hospital, Allentown, PA 18103 (Suresh Nair, M.D.); and Hematology & Oncology of Dayton, Inc., Dayton, OH 45415 (Howard M. Gross, M.D.)

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Barton, D.L., Soori, G.S., Bauer, B.A. et al. Pilot study of Panax quinquefolius (American ginseng) to improve cancer-related fatigue: a randomized, double-blind, dose-finding evaluation: NCCTG trial N03CA. Support Care Cancer 18, 179–187 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-009-0642-2

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