The CANCAN trial aims to understand if medicinal cannabis helps to alleviate the symptoms and side effects of chemotherapy.
About the study
Chemotherapy is commonly used to treat cancer. However, it can damage healthy tissues of the body, causing symptoms like nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, pain, and difficulty eating. These side effects can affect your sleep, energy, and overall wellbeing. These symptoms make daily life more challenging and prevent people from being able to tolerate their chemotherapy.
This clinical trial (CANCAN) is exploring whether medicinal cannabis can help alleviate these symptoms and improve quality of life during chemotherapy treatment.
Participants will be given medicinal cannabis to take daily as a rapidly dissolving tablet under the tongue. They will be asked to take the medicinal cannabis for 3 full cycles of chemotherapy, during which they will be required to report the severity of their symptoms using simple questionnaires. Blood, saliva and stool (faeces) will also be collected in people who are willing.
Eligibility requirements
- ≥18 years of age
- All genders (females not pregnant)
- Scheduled to receive, or currently receiving, systemic cancer therapy (i.e. chemotherapy) for advanced solid cancers
- Able to provide written informed consent and follow all clinical trial related procedures (translator to be provided for people of culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds)
- Willing and able to take medicinal cannabis product
- Anticipated to undergo a minimum of 3 cycles of chemotherapy
- Willing to commit to not taking cannabis in any form during the clinical trial period
- Willing to commit to not driving during the study period
Recruitment timeline
Recruitment is currently open in South Australian hospitals:
- Royal Adelaide Hospital
- Queen Elizabeth Hospital
- Lyell McEwin Hospital
End of recruitment: May 2028
Benefits
Participants will not be paid for their involvement in the trial; however, they may benefit by having access to a study medication that could help reduce some severe side effects that chemotherapy may cause.
There are no out-of-pocket costs associated with participating in this clinical trial including the research tests, use of the secure website link to access questionnaires or provision of the study medication.
Contact details
Email your details to cancan@adelaide.edu.au