Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of oral duloxetine in prevention of acute pain syndrome in breast cancer patients receiving paclitaxel (DOPA study)

Background Acute pain syndrome (APS) is a common side effect of paclitaxel therapy. To date, there is no standard of care to prevent APS in patients receiving paclitaxel. Through this study, we aim to assess whether oral duloxetine reduces the incidence of paclitaxel-induced APS (P-APS) as compared to placebo. Methods This is a multi-centric, randomized (1:1), double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group superiority trial. A total of 204 patients with breast cancer planned to receive paclitaxel will be randomly assigned to receive either oral duloxetine or a matched placebo for 7 days after paclitaxel infusions for 4 cycles. The primary objective of the study is to compare the proportion of patients who develop P-APS in two groups. Key secondary objectives are to compare the quality of life (using the FACT-B scale), the incidence of peripheral neuropathy, the safety profile, and adherence with duloxetine. Patient-reported outcomes for P-APS and neuropathy will be assessed at the end of each cycle using BPI-SF and EORTC-CIPN20 questionnaires, respectively. Discussion The DOPA study is designed to evaluate whether oral duloxetine can reduce the occurrence of APS in patients receiving paclitaxel chemotherapy for breast cancer. Limited trials have assessed P-APS prevention using etoricoxib, dexamethasone, and pregabalin, but no pharmacological measure is effective. If the trial successfully meets its primary endpoint, oral duloxetine could become the new standard of care for preventing paclitaxel-induced APS. Trial registration Clinical Trials Registry of India – CTRI/2024/10/075636. Registered on 22 October 2024.