Fentanyl Sublingual Spray for Exercise-Induced Breakthrough Dyspnea
Fentanyl Sublingual Spray for Exercise-Induced Breakthrough Dyspnea
The goal of this clinical research study is to learn if fentanyl can help shortness of breath
 in cancer patients. Researchers also want to learn if the study drug can help to improve your
 physical function.
If you agree to take part in this study, the study staff will collect information from your
 medical record about your age, sex, race, and disease type, as well as how well you are able
 to perform the normal activities of daily living, any drugs you are taking, and any possible
 causes of shortness of breath.

 Study Groups:

 You will be randomly assigned (as in the flip of a coin) to receive either low-dose or
 high-dose fentanyl spray. This is done because no one knows if one study group is better, the
 same, or worse than the other group.

 Study Visit:

 During your study visit, you will complete 2 questionnaires about any breathing problems or
 other symptoms you may be having. It should take about 10 minutes total to complete these
 questionnaires.

 You will blow into a device called a spirometer a few times to measure your lung function.
 You will also be asked to inhale into another device called a negative inspiratory force
 meter (NIF). This device measures the volume of air that can be inhaled after normal
 breathing.

 The study staff will then record your vital signs (heart rate, breathing rate, blood
 pressure, and your blood-oxygen level). Your blood-oxygen level will be measured with a
 device that will be clipped gently onto your fingertip). You will then be asked how hard it
 is to catch your breath and to rate your level of tiredness.

 When instructed, you will walk back and forth between 2 cones in an indoor hallway for up to
 12 minutes. This is called the Shuttle Walk Test. The purpose of this timed test is to see
 how far and fast you can walk without stopping for a rest. You will be asked to pivot briskly
 around the cones and continue back the other way. You may stop this test at any time if you
 feel you cannot continue.

 After that, you will sit down and rest for up to 1 hour. During this time, the study drug
 will be prepared, and you may be asked at different times how hard it is to catch your
 breath.

 After the rest period, you will be given the fentanyl to spray into your mouth and under your
 tongue. About 10 minutes later, you will be asked about any side effects you may be having.

 At that point, you will perform a second Shuttle Walk Test. Then the study staff will ask you
 again about any side effects you may be having, your level of tiredness, and how hard it is
 to catch your breath. Your vital signs will also be measured. The total distance you walked
 will also be recorded.

 After each walk test, you will also be asked to complete 4 tests of your mental abilities,
 including finger tapping, simple math questions (addition, subtraction, multiplication,
 division), recall of numbers, and recall of objects. It should take 15 minutes total to
 complete these tests.

 At the end of the study visit, you will be asked which dose level of the study drug you think
 you received (high-dose or low-dose). You will also complete a questionnaire about how the
 study drug may have helped you and how satisfied you are with the study. It should take about
 5 minutes to complete the questionnaire.

 At the end of the study, if you think that taking fentanyl helped to improve your breathing,
 your doctor will be told, so that you and your doctor may discuss if fentanyl would be
 helpful to you in the future.

 Length of Study:

 Your active participation in this study is over after you complete the last questionnaire.
 You will be taken off study if intolerable side effects occur or if you are unable to follow
 study directions.

 Follow-Up:

 Fourteen (14) days after your study visit you will be called by the study staff and asked how
 you are feeling and about any side effects you may be having. This call should last about 10
 minutes.

 This is an investigational study. Fentanyl is FDA approved and commercially available for the
 treatment of pain. Its use to control shortness of breath is investigational.

 Up to 30 participants will be enrolled in this study. All will take part at MD Anderson.
Inclusion Criteria:

 1. Diagnosis of cancer with evidence of active disease

 2. Breakthrough dyspnea, defined as dyspnea with an average intensity level over the past
 7 days of at least 3/10 on a numeric rating scale upon significant exertion or
 continuous dyspnea </=7/10 with worsening upon significant exertion

 3. Outpatient at MD Anderson Cancer Center seen by the Supportive Care Service, Thoracic
 Medical Oncology, Cancer Pain Clinic, or Cardiopulmonary clinic

 4. Ambulatory and able to walk with or without walking aid

 5. On strong opioids with morphine equivalent daily dose of 80-500 mg for at least one
 week, with stable (i.e. +/- 30%) regular dose over the last 24 hours

 6. Karnofsky performance status >/=50%

 7. Age 18 or older

 8. Able to complete study assessments

 Exclusion Criteria:

 1. Dyspnea at rest >/=7/10 at the time of enrollment

 2. Supplemental oxygen requirement >6 L per minute

 3. Delirium (i.e. Memorial delirium rating scale >13)

 4. History of unstable angina or myocardial infarction 1 month prior to study enrollment

 5. Resting heart rate >120 at the time of study enrollment

 6. Systolic pressure >180 mmHg or diastolic pressure >100 mmHg at the time of study
 enrollment

 7. History of active opioid abuse within the past 12 months

 8. History of allergy to fentanyl

 9. Severe anemia (Hb <7g/L) if documented in the last month and not corrected prior to
 study enrollment*

 10. Diagnosis of acute pulmonary embolism within past 2 weeks

 11. Diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension

 12. Unwilling to provide informed consent