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Venous ThromboembolismPhase 2AVERTNCT02048865

Apixaban for the Prevention of Venous Thromboembolism in Cancer Patients

A Phase 2 study testing Apixaban in people with Venous Thromboembolism and Cancer, run by Ottawa Hospital Research Institute at 14 sites in Canada.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
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Trial summary

Cancer patients have an increased risk of developing blood clots in the veins compared to non-cancer patients. Cancer patients who develop blood clots can lead to reduced life expectancy, delayed cancer treatment, and decreased quality of life. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 years and older
Conditions the study is for
Venous Thromboembolism, Cancer
What is being tested?
Apixaban
Type of treatment
Pill or oral medicine
Could I receive a placebo?
Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
How many people
575 participants
Where
14 sitesCanada
Study dates
24 Mar 2014to 19 Oct 2018
Phase
Phase 2
Are there results?
None posted in the registry

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 years and older
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • A newly diagnosed cancer site or progression of the malignant disease after complete or partial remission.
  • Initiating a new course of chemotherapy with a minimum intent of 3 months therapy
  • A VTE risk stratification score of ≥ 2, according to the scoring method
  • Age 18 years old or older
  • Provide written informed consent

Who cannot join

  • Lesions or conditions at increased risk of clinically significant bleeding (eg. active peptic ulcer disease)
  • Objectively confirmed substantial liver insufficiency as defined by clinical manifestations of ascites, cirrhosis, encephalopathy and/or jaundice and/or biochemical abnormalities in liver function tests including hypoalbuminemia (< 3.5 gr/dL), elevated levels of total bilirubin (> 25 umol/L), elevated liver transaminases (2 times the upper limit of normal) and/or biochemical diagnosis of biliary tract obstruction (elevated levels of gamma-glutamyl transferase and alkaline phosphatase, 3 times the upper limit of normal). *
  • Diagnosis of basal cell or squamous cell carcinoma of the skin or acute leukemia or myelodysplastic syndrome**
  • Planned stem cell transplant
  • Life expectancy less than 6 months
  • Acute or chronic renal insufficiency with glomerular filtration rate (GFR) < 30 ml/min calculated by the Cockroft and Gault formula.
Show all 12Show fewer
  • Pregnancy***
  • Continuous anticoagulation with vitamin K antagonists, low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH), or other oral anticoagulants
  • Weight < 40 Kg
  • Platelet count < 50 x 109/L
  • Known allergies to ingredients contained in apixaban
  • Use of any contraindicated medications with apixaban

Trial locations and contacts

14 sites in 1 country.

14 sites in 1 country

Canada14 sites
  • Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre (RVH)

    Barrie, Ontario, L4M 6M2

  • William Osler Health System -Brampton

    Brampton, Ontario, L6R 3J7

  • Centre intégré de santé et de services sociaux de l'Outaouais - Gatineau

    Gatineau, Quebec, J8P 7H2

  • Capital District Health Authority

    Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3H 1V7

  • Juravinski Hospital & Cancer Centre

    Hamilton, Ontario, L8V 1C3

  • Kingston General Hospital

    Kingston, Ontario, K7L 2V7

  • London Health Sciences Center

    London, Ontario, N6A 5W9

  • Jewish General Hospital

    Montreal, Quebec, H3T 1E2

  • Lakeridge Health -Oshawa

    Oshawa, Ontario

  • Ottawa Hospital-General Campus

    Ottawa, Ontario, K1H 8L6

  • Centre intégré de santé et de services sociaux du Bas St Laurent -Rimouski

    Rimouski, Quebec

  • Sault Area Hospital

    Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, P6B 0A8

  • Markham Stouffville Hospital

    Toronto, Ontario, L3P 7P3

  • Vancouver General Hospital

    Vancouver, British Columbia, V5Z 1M9

Other trials in Canada

About this study

Official title: Apixaban for the Prevention of Venous Thromboembolism in High-Risk Ambulatory Cancer Patients: A Randomized Placebo-Controlled, Double-Blind Clinical Trial

Cancer patients have an increased risk of developing blood clots in the veins compared to non-cancer patients. Cancer patients who develop blood clots can lead to reduced life expectancy, delayed cancer treatment, and decreased quality of life. Prevention is the most effective way to decrease the complications associated with blood clots in the veins. Although previous clinical trials have shown some benefit on the use of medication to prevent blood clots in the veins in ambulatory cancer patients, these studies have been inconclusive in demonstrating that existing blood thinners significantly reduce the rate of blood clots in cancer patients. One possible explanation relates to the fact that these studies have included a large proportion of cancer patients who are a low risk of developing blood clots in the veins. We are proposing to identify cancer patients who are at a high risk of developing blood clots by using a validated tool at the time of their cancer diagnosis. The identified high risk cancer patients will be asked to participate in a trial to test the safety and efficacy of a new oral medication that has been used to prevent blood clots in patients undergoing surgery. We are enrolling 574 patients in 7 Canadian centers (Ottawa, Halifax, Montreal, Vancouver, Sault Ste. Marie, Toronto and Hamilton). 287 patients will receive the study drug and 287 will receive an inactive substance. Analysis will be performed to assess the safety and the superiority of the study drug.

Read the detailed description

Patients holding a malignancy have a 7 to 28-fold higher risk for venous thromboembolism (VTE) than non-cancer patients(1). Since most cancer patients are currently treated in the outpatient setting, an acute episode of VTE has important implications on their care due to its effects on reduced life expectancy, high rates of VTE recurrence, therapeutic failures, delays in chemotherapy and the risk of bleeding during anticoagulation.

The best treatment of an acute episode of VTE is its prevention (thromboprophylaxis). Although previous clinical trials have shown some benefit on the use of thromboprophylaxis in ambulatory cancer patients, these studies have been inconclusive to convincingly demonstrate that existing anticoagulants significantly reduce the rate of VTE in cancer patients. Possible explanations are related to the fact that these studies have included a large number of cancer patients whose risk for VTE has been low and in consequence, the benefit of anticoagulation has become diluted by the large proportion of low risk cancer patients.

To increase the success of thromboprophylaxis in cancer outpatients, we propose, first, to include validated methods for predicting the risk of VTE at the time of cancer diagnosis(2, 3). This strategy will facilitate to identify cancer patients at high-risk for VTE and then, optimize the risk-to benefit ratio with anticoagulation. Second, to assess safety and efficacy of new oral anticoagulants in cancer patients as they represent an attractive alternative for an extended use of thromboprophylaxis. As a choice, new oral agents can be administered in fixed doses, do not require laboratory monitoring, have minimal interaction with additional drugs and provide a pain free alternative in patients who require injections.

Reference List

  1. Blood Coagul Fibrinolysis 2011. Blood Coagul Fibrinolysis 2011;22:86-91.
  2. Blood 2010. Blood 2010;116:5377-5382.
  3. Blood 2008. Blood 2008;111:4902-4907.
Being tested
Apixaban, Placebo drug
Keywords
VTE Cancer
Medical subject headings
Venous Thromboembolism, Neoplasms

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • ApixabanDrug

    Also called Eliquis

    Apixaban 2.5 mg tablets BID for 6 months

  • Placebo drugDrug

    placebo drug 2.5mg BID for 6 months

Study groups in NCT02048865
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
ApixabanActive comparator2.5 mg BID for 6 months
Receives: Drug: Apixaban
Placebo drugPlacebo comparator2.5 mg BID for 6 months
Receives: Drug: Placebo drug

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. first episode of objectively documented, symptomatic or asymptomatic VTE (DVT and/or PE)

    Measured: 7 months

Secondary outcomes (1)
  1. Rate of adverse events

    rate of clinical overt bleeding( major and minor bleeding) and death within the study period

    Measured: 7 months

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted29 Jan 2014 (estimated)
  2. Study start24 Mar 2014
  3. Primary completion10 Oct 2018
  4. Study completion19 Oct 2018

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase 2
Primary purpose
Prevention
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Masking
Quadruple blind
Who is masked
Participant, Care provider, Investigator, Outcomes assessor
Enrolment
575 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT02048865
Sponsor's protocol ID
OHSN-20130563-01H
Other IDs
CV185-245
Acronym
AVERT
Status last verified
Nov 2018
First submitted
27 Jan 2014
Last updated
20 Nov 2018
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
Yes

Publications

  • Brandt W, Brown C, Wang TF, Tagalakis V, Shivakumar S, Ciuffini LA, Mallick R, Wells PS, Carrier M. Efficacy and safety of apixaban for primary prevention of thromboembolism in patients with cancer and a central venous catheter: A subgroup analysis of the AVERT Trial. Thromb Res. 2022 Aug;216:8-10. doi: 10.1016/j.thromres.2022.05.014. Epub 2022 May 29.

    PubMed 35660801
  • Wang TF, Mallick R, Carrier M, Wells PS. Safety and efficacy of apixaban thromboprophylaxis in ambulatory cancer patients according to renal function: A subgroup analysis of the AVERT trial. Thromb Res. 2022 Mar;211:85-87. doi: 10.1016/j.thromres.2022.01.022. Epub 2022 Jan 31.

    PubMed 35124234
  • Kahale LA, Matar CF, Tsolakian I, Hakoum MB, Barba M, Yosuico VE, Terrenato I, Sperati F, Schunemann H, Akl EA. Oral anticoagulation in people with cancer who have no therapeutic or prophylactic indication for anticoagulation. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2021 Oct 8;10(10):CD006466. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD006466.pub7.

    PubMed 34622445
  • Ladha D, Mallick R, Wang TF, Caiano L, Wells PS, Carrier M. Efficacy and safety of apixaban for primary prevention in gastrointestinal cancers: A post-hoc analysis of the AVERT trial. Thromb Res. 2021 Jun;202:151-154. doi: 10.1016/j.thromres.2021.03.013. Epub 2021 Mar 21.

    PubMed 33857789
  • Rutjes AW, Porreca E, Candeloro M, Valeriani E, Di Nisio M. Primary prophylaxis for venous thromboembolism in ambulatory cancer patients receiving chemotherapy. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2020 Dec 18;12(12):CD008500. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD008500.pub5.

    PubMed 33337539
  • Carrier M, Abou-Nassar K, Mallick R, Tagalakis V, Shivakumar S, Schattner A, Kuruvilla P, Hill D, Spadafora S, Marquis K, Trinkaus M, Tomiak A, Lee AYY, Gross PL, Lazo-Langner A, El-Maraghi R, Goss G, Le Gal G, Stewart D, Ramsay T, Rodger M, Witham D, Wells PS; AVERT Investigators. Apixaban to Prevent Venous Thromboembolism in Patients with Cancer. N Engl J Med. 2019 Feb 21;380(8):711-719. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1814468. Epub 2018 Dec 4.

    PubMed 30511879

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A Phase 2 study testing Apixaban in people with Venous Thromboembolism and Cancer, run by Ottawa Hospital Research Institute at 14 sites in Canada.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 5 inclusion and 12 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 20 Nov 2018. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 14 sites in Canada. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. Some participants in this study may receive a placebo. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

What does this phase mean?

Phase 2 studies give the treatment to a larger group to see whether it has the intended effect and to keep checking safety.

Not every study follows the same path, and some studies (observational studies, device studies) have no phase.

Are results available for this study?

The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

first episode of objectively documented, symptomatic or asymptomatic VTE (DVT and/or PE) (time frame: 7 months). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT02048865, which also lists 6 linked publications.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 20 Nov 2018.

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