A bupropion smoking cessation clinical trial for cancer patients

Robert A. Schnoll, Elisa Martinez, Kristina L. Tatum, Dorothy M. Weber, Natalie Kuzla, Marcella Glass, John A. Ridge, Corey Langer, Curtis Miyamoto, E. Paul Wileyto, Frank Leone

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

60 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objective Many cancer patients continue to smoke post diagnosis, yet there have been few smoking cessation trials for this population. Depression, which is prevalent among cancer patients, may be a barrier to cessation. Methods This double-blind placebo-controlled trial randomized 246 cancer patients to 9 weeks of placebo or bupropion, stratifying by pre-treatment depression symptoms. In addition, all patients received transdermal nicotine and behavioral counseling. Primary outcomes were 7-day pointprevalence abstinence, biochemically confirmed, at the end of treatment (Week 12), and at 6 months post quit day (Week 27). Additional outcomes included: withdrawal, affect, quality of life, compliance, and side effects. Results There was no main effect of bupropion vs. placebo on abstinence (Odds Ratio [OR] = 1.36, 95% CI: 0.38-4.81, p = .64). Patients with depression symptoms reported significantly lower abstinence rates vs. patients without depression symptoms (OR = .14, 95% CI: 0.02-0.80, p = .03). Bupropion increased abstinence rates, vs. placebo, more for participants with depression vs. those without depression symptoms. For patients with depression symptoms, bupropion reduced withdrawal symptoms and improved quality of life vs. placebo. Conclusions For patients with depression symptoms, bupropion increases abstinence rates, lowers withdrawal, and increases quality of life. However, abstinence rates among patients with depression symptoms were low vs. patients without depression symptoms, who exhibited similar abstinence rates when treated with bupropion or transdermal nicotine and counseling alone. These results can guide future smoking cessation intervention studies with cancer patients.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)811-820
Number of pages10
JournalCancer Causes and Control
Volume21
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 2010

Keywords

  • Bupropion
  • Cancer patients
  • Depression
  • Smoking

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