The use of complementary and alternative medicine in patients seen in phase I clinical trials program.

Abstract

9091 Background: Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) use is common in cancer patients. This study was conducted to estimate the use of CAM in patients with advanced malignancies seen in the Department of Investigational Cancer (Phase I Program) at M. D. Anderson Cancer Center (MDACC). The objectives were to examine the prevalence of CAM use and association among its use and various covariates. Methods: Investigator-designed surveys in English, Spanish, and Arabic languages were anonymously completed and submitted by patients seen in the Phase I Program at MDACC. The unique characteristic of this study is that the surveys were written in multiple languages and filled out anonymously reducing patient fears that they would be ineligible for enrollment in Phase I clinical trials by their use of CAM. Results: A total of 276 surveys were distributed to patients and 207 (75%) surveys were returned to us and analyzed. Of these 207 unique patients, 111 (54%) used one or more CAM. Of the 111 patients, 91(82%) used pharmacologic CAM, 79 (71%) used non-pharmacologic CAM, and 60 (54%) used both modalities. The most commonly used were vitamins (n=86, 77%), prayer (n=65, 59%), and herbal products (n=30, 27%). Female patients were most likely to report their use of CAM (p<0.0009). CAM use was not associated with race, age, level of education, employment or income. Of the CAM users, 48 (43%) patients had been using CAM for >5 years. In patients under 60 years of age, 58 (51%) used CAM, whereas in patients aged 60 or older, 42 (45%) reported use of CAM. Conclusions: CAM usage is common in patients with advanced malignancies. There was no association among CAM use and race, age, education, employment, or income. However, female patients were more likely to report CAM use. It is important to assess CAM use among all patients receiving cancer treatment. Further research is warranted to better understand types of CAM used, and its risks and benefits in cancer patients. Author Disclosure Employment or Leadership Position Consultant or Advisory Role Stock Ownership Honoraria Research Funding Expert Testimony Other Remuneration AstraZeneca, Centocor, Johnson & Johnson, Maxygen, Merck Amgen, AstraZeneca, Center for Biomedical Continuing Education (CBCE), Genentech, Enzon, IDSC, ImClone Systems, Johnson & Johnson, Maxygen, Merck, Pharmion, Roche Abraxis, Amgen, AmpliMed, Antigenics, AstraZeneca, Bayer, BMS, Callisto, Centocor, Concordia, Curagen, Eisai, Eli Lilly, Enzon, Exelixis, Genentech, GlaxoSmithKline, Globomax, Hoffman- La Roche, Kinex, Merck, Metastatix, MGI Pharmaceuticals, Myriad, Novartis, Pfizer, Pharmacyclics, Pharmion, Phoenix Biotech, Reata, Taiho, Vioquest, Ziopharm