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CompletedNCT03837171TRANSPORTUpdated Jun 25, 2024

TRANSfusion in Patients With Onco-hematological Malignancies ResusciTated From Septic Shock

A Phase 3 interventional study of Liberal Red blood cell transfusion and Restrictive Red blood cell transfusion in Septic Shock, Anemia and Cancer, sponsored by Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris. Completed at 20 sites in France. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2024-06-25.

Sponsored by Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris · Phase 3, Interventional, and Treatment

Phase
Phase 3
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
192
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
18 Years and older
Sex
All
01

Study summary

Septic shock is a frequent complication associated with high mortality in patients with malignancies. The best transfusion strategy (restrictive or liberal) for the resuscitation of septic shock remains a controversial issue, in relation with potentially discrepant goals of tissue oxygenation and transfusion sparing.

In this study, the investigators propose to address the efficacy of two RBC transfusion strategies (liberal or restrictive) in restoring appropriate tissue oxygenation as well as their tolerance.

The investigators designed a prospective randomized multicenter trial aimed at comparing liberal and restrictive RBC transfusion strategies applied during the first 48 hours of resuscitation in cancer patients with septic shock and anemia.

Read the detailed description

Septic shock is a frequent complication in patients with malignancies and remains affected with a mortality rate higher than 50%.

Red blood cell (RBC) transfusion remains a major issue for critically ill cancer patients who frequently display anemia as a result of malignant bone marrow involvement or imposed by cytotoxic treatments. However, our current practice of RBC transfusion in the intensive care unit (ICU) is drawn from general populations. Several case-control studies suggested that RBC transfusion was associated with higher mortality and increased incidence of ICU-acquired complications in critically ill patients. In 1999, a restrictive strategy of non-leucodepleted RBC transfusion to maintain hemoglobin above 7 g/dL was shown to be as effective as a liberal transfusion strategy aimed to maintain haemoglobin > 10 g/dL in critically ill patients. As of today, the current recommendations for RBC transfusion remain largely based on this study which excluded patients with a history of anemia. Leucodepletion that is now routinely implemented in France might be associated with fewer transfusion-related events. Indeed, some recent studies challenged the restrictive strategy and suggested that a higher transfusion threshold might be beneficial in septic patients for whom oxygen delivery is of paramount importance. Most importantly, a hemodynamic support algorithm for severe sepsis also known as early goal-directed therapy (EGDT) included a hematocrit target of 30%. The majority of EGDT-treated patients received RBC transfusion within the early 72 hours of resuscitation, thereby representing a major difference compared to standard treatment, but the prognostic value of RBC transfusion was not specifically assessed. A recent case-control study also suggested that RBC transfusion was an independent predictor of survival in patients with septic shock.

Cancer patients with septic shock and hemoglobin level \< 9 g/dL initiation will be randomized to the interventional arm (liberal transfusion strategy to maintain hemoglobin > 9 g/dL) or to the control arm (restrictive transfusion strategy to maintain hemoglobin > 7 g/dL) in a 1:1 ratio.

Patients from the intervention arm will have their hemoglobin level maintained above 9 g/dL for the whole time under vasopressors, for a maximum of 28 days. After weaning from vasopressor, the transfusion threshold will be lowered to 7 g/dL as recommended by the SSC guidelines. In case of shock relapse requiring reintroduction of vasopressors, the transfusion threshold will be upgraded back to 9 g/dL until next catecholamine weaning.

In the control arm, the transfusion threshold will be 7 g/dL until ICU discharge regardless of catecholamine administration.

The primary objective of the study will be the restoration of tissue oxygenation as assessed by lactate clearance at 12 hours following randomization. The secondary endpoints will be related to restoration of tissue oxygenation at alternative time points (6h, 24h, 36h, 48h) as assessed as above, the 7-day, 28-day, in-ICU and in-hospital mortality rate, changes in organ failures over the first 48 hours and 7 days, duration for organ failure supports, the development of acute ischemic and thrombotic events (myocardial infarction, mesenteric ischemia, ischemic stroke, limb ischemia, deep venous thrombosis) over the first 7 days.

An interim analysis on the primary endpoint has been pre-planned at the end of the follow up of half of patients included.

02

Conditions studied

  • Septic Shock
  • Anemia
  • Cancer

Keywords

  • Septic Shock
  • Anemia
  • cancer
  • erythrocyte transfusion
03

In context

Shock, Septic

890 studies on the registry are indexed under Shock, Septic; 210 are open to participants now.

This study's enrollment of 192 is above the median of 78 across 547 interventional studies indexed under Shock, Septic.

Browse Shock, Septic studies →

Lead sponsor

Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris is the lead sponsor of 3,576 studies on the registry; 1,028 are open to participants now.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years and older
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.

Inclusion criteria

  • Age > 18 years
  • Evolutive (complete remission \< 2 years) malignant solid tumor or chronic or acute hematological malignancy
  • Septic shock defined as:
  • Presumed or documented infection
  • Acute circulatory failure defined as hypotension requirement of vasoactive drugs for more than one hour (norepinephrine or epinephrine ≥ 0.1 µg/kg/min)
  • Tissue hypoxia defined by arterial lactate level > 2 mmol/L within 3 hours prior to inclusion
  • Hemoglobin level \< 9 g/dL
  • Informed consent from patients or surrogates

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Acute life-threatening bleeding
  • Ongoing acute coronary syndrome or any other acute ischemic condition
  • End-of-life decisions at the time of ICU admission
  • Refusal of transfusions for personal beliefs
  • Lack of social security coverage
  • Pregnancy or breastfeeding
05

Study design

Phase
Phase 3
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
None (open label)
Enrollment
192 participants (actual)

Study arms

  • Active comparator
    Liberal strategy

    Maintain a hemoglobin level \> 9 g/dL during the first 48 hours of resuscitation of septic shock

    Biological: Liberal Red blood cell transfusion

  • Experimental
    Restrictive strategy

    Maintain a hemoglobin level \> 7 g/dL during the resuscitation of septic shock

    Biological: Restrictive Red blood cell transfusion

Interventions

  • BiologicalLiberal Red blood cell transfusion

    Hemoglobin level will be maintained above 9 g/dL (liberal strategy) for the first 48 hours following randomization. After 48 hours, indications of RBC transfusions will be at the discretion of attending physicians in patients with persistent circulatory failure. After resolution of acute circulatory failure, a 7 g/dL transfusion threshold will be recommended regardless of the allocation arm. In case of subsequent episodes of septic shock, the transfusion strategy will be at the discretion of attending physicians

  • BiologicalRestrictive Red blood cell transfusion

    Hemoglobin level will be maintained above 7 g/dL (restrictive strategy) during all the stay in ICU

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Tissue oxygenation

    Percentage of patients with normal arterial lactate level at 12 hours (\<=2 mmol/L) or a relative decrease (or clearance) of arterial lactate level above 30% according to the formula (lactateH0 - lactateH12)/lactate H0\*100. lactateH0 : arterial lactate level at inclusion lactateH12 : arterial lactate level at 12h

    Time frame: 12 hours

Secondary outcomes

  1. Tissue oxygenation 6

    Percentage of patients with normal arterial lactate level at 6 hours (\<=2 mmol/L) or a relative decrease (or clearance) of arterial lactate level above 30% according to the formula (lactateH0 - lactateH6)/lactate H0\*100. lactateH0 : arterial lactate level at inclusion lactateH6 : arterial lactate level at 6h

    Time frame: 6 hours

  2. Tissue oxygenation 24

    Percentage of patients with normal arterial lactate level at 24 hours (\<=2 mmol/L) or a relative decrease (or clearance) of arterial lactate level above 30% according to the formula (lactateH0 - lactateH24)/lactate H0\*100. lactateH0 : arterial lactate level at inclusion lactateH24 : arterial lactate level at 24h

    Time frame: 24 hours

  3. Tissue oxygenation 48

    Percentage of patients with normal arterial lactate level at 48 hours (\<=2 mmol/L) or a relative decrease (or clearance) of arterial lactate level above 30% according to the formula (lactateH0 - lactateH48)/lactate H0\*100. lactateH0 : arterial lactate level at inclusion lactateH48 : arterial lactate level at 48h

    Time frame: 48 hours

  4. Mortality 7

    Percentage of Death at 7 days

    Time frame: 7 days

  5. Mortality 28

    Percentage of Death at 28 days

    Time frame: 28 days

  6. ICU mortality

    Percentage of Death in ICU at 28 days

    Time frame: 28 days

  7. Hospital mortality

    Percentage of Death in Hospital at 28 days

    Time frame: 28 days

  8. Change in SOFA 24

    Differences between SOFA score at inclusion (SOFA0) and SOFA score at 24 hours. The sequential organ failure assessment score (SOFA score) ranges from 0 (normal patient) to 24 (most severe patient). Vincent JL, de Mendonça A, Cantraine F, et al. Use of the SOFA score to assess the incidence of organ dysfunction/failure in intensive care units: results of a multicenter, prospective study. Working group on "sepsis-related problems" of the European Society of Intensive Care Medicine. Crit Care Med. 1998;26(11):1793-800.

    Time frame: 24 hours

  9. Change in SOFA 48

    Differences between SOFA score at inclusion (SOFA0) and SOFA score at 48 hours. The sequential organ failure assessment score (SOFA score) ranges from 0 (normal patient) to 24 (most severe patient). Vincent JL, de Mendonça A, Cantraine F, et al. Use of the SOFA score to assess the incidence of organ dysfunction/failure in intensive care units: results of a multicenter, prospective study. Working group on "sepsis-related problems" of the European Society of Intensive Care Medicine. Crit Care Med. 1998;26(11):1793-800.

    Time frame: 48 hours

  10. Change in SOFA 72

    Differences between SOFA score at inclusion (SOFA0) and SOFA score at 72 hours. The sequential organ failure assessment score (SOFA score) ranges from 0 (normal patient) to 24 (most severe patient). Vincent JL, de Mendonça A, Cantraine F, et al. Use of the SOFA score to assess the incidence of organ dysfunction/failure in intensive care units: results of a multicenter, prospective study. Working group on "sepsis-related problems" of the European Society of Intensive Care Medicine. Crit Care Med. 1998;26(11):1793-800.

    Time frame: 72 hours

  11. Change in SOFA 7d

    Differences between SOFA score at inclusion (SOFA0) and SOFA score at day 7. The sequential organ failure assessment score (SOFA score) ranges from 0 (normal patient) to 24 (most severe patient). Vincent JL, de Mendonça A, Cantraine F, et al. Use of the SOFA score to assess the incidence of organ dysfunction/failure in intensive care units: results of a multicenter, prospective study. Working group on "sepsis-related problems" of the European Society of Intensive Care Medicine. Crit Care Med. 1998;26(11):1793-800.

    Time frame: 7 days

  12. ventilator free days

    ventilator free days (VFDs) are defined as follows: VFDs=0: If the patient dies before 28 days. VFDs=(28-x): If the patient is success-fully weaned from mechanical ventilation within 28 days, where x is the number of days spent receiving mechanical ventilation. VFDs=0: If the patient requires mechanical ventilation for 28 days or more.

    Time frame: 28 days

  13. vasopressor free days

    vasopressor free days (VaFDs) are defined as follows: VaFDs=0: If the patient dies before 28 days. VaFDs=(28-x): If the patient is successfully weaned from vasopressor within 28 days, where x is the number of days spent with vasopressor. VaFDs=0: If the patient requires vasopressor for 28 days or more.

    Time frame: 28 days

  14. renal replacement therapy free days

    renal replacement therapy free days (RRFDs) are defined as follows: RRFDs=0: If the patient dies before 28 days. RRFDs=(28-x): If the patient is successfully weaned from renal replacement therapy within 28 days, where x is the number of days spent with vasopressor. RRFDs=0: If the patient requires renal replacement therapy for 28 days or more.

    Time frame: 28 days

  15. ICU length of stay

    time spent in ICU from inclusion censored at 28 days

    Time frame: 28 days

  16. Ischemic

    Incidence of ischemic event during the first 28 days (stroke, myocardial infarction, mesenteric infarction)

    Time frame: 28 days

  17. thrombosis

    Incidence of deep venous thrombosis or pulmonary embolism during the first 28 days

    Time frame: 28 days

  18. TRIALI

    Incidence of transfusion-related acute lung injury during the first 28 days

    Time frame: 28 days

  19. Transfusion reaction

    Incidence of side effects of transfusions during the first 28 days (fever, chills, hemolysis)

    Time frame: 28 days

07

Study locations

20 sites
  • CHU Amiens Picardie Site Sud
    Amiens, France
  • Hopital Robert Ballanger
    Aulnay-sous-Bois, France
  • Hopital Avicenne AP-HP
    Bobigny, France
  • CH sud-Francilien
    Corbeil, France
  • Hopital Henri Mondor AP-HP
    Créteil, France
  • CHV André Mignot
    Le Chesnay, France
  • Salengro, CHRU
    Lille, France
  • CH Lyon Sud
    Lyon, France
  • GH Édouard Herriot
    Lyon, France
  • Institut Paoli Calmettes
    Marseille, France
  • GH Sud Ile de France
    Melun, France
  • Bel Air CHR
    Metz, France
  • Mercy, CHR
    Metz, France
  • CHU de Nantes
    Nantes, France
  • La Source, CHR
    Orléans, France
  • Hopital Cochin AP-HP
    Paris, 75005, France
  • Hopital de La Pitié Salpetriere AP-HP
    Paris, France
  • Hopital Saint Antoine AP-HP
    Paris, France
  • Hopital Saint Louis AP-HP
    Paris, France
  • Gustave Roussy
    Villejuif, France
08

References and documents

Individual participant data

Plan to share: Undecided

No publications or documents are linked to this record.

09

Timeline

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
ElapsedEstimatedEstimated, not yet reachedSimilar studies: half by the dot; the band is the middle halfHalf of similar studies reached it by the dot; the band is the middle half, from a quarter to three quarters

Ran from Mar 2019 to primary completion in Feb 2024, 59 months.

Of 39 non-industry phase 3 interventional studies under Shock, Septic, half reached primary completion within 42 months of starting (the median), counting those still running; a quarter within 17 and three quarters within 59. This study's 59 months is above that.

Counting every sponsor, half of 40 studies reached it within 42 months; a quarter within 17 and three quarters within 59.

How these figures are worked out, and which studies are left out of them.

Registered
Feb 8, 2019
First posted
Feb 12, 2019
StartActual
Mar 24, 2019
Primary completionActual
Feb 28, 2024
CompletionActual
Mar 4, 2024
Last update
Jun 25, 2024
What these dates mean
Start.
When the first participant enrolled; while estimated, when the study expects to open to recruitment.
Primary completion.
When the last participant was examined or treated to collect data for the study's main question, its primary outcome. A study that stopped early gives the date its data collection stopped.
Completion.
When the last participant's last visit took place, for every outcome, secondary ones and side effects included: the end of the study. Often later than primary completion, sometimes the same day.
Actual and Est.
Actual means the registry says the date has happened. Est. (estimated) is a date the sponsor plans or expects. It can still move, and the sponsor is expected to change it to actual once it has passed.
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Jun 25, 2024, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
10

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT03837171
Responsible party
Sponsor
First posted
Feb 12, 2019
Start date
Mar 24, 2019
Primary completion
Feb 28, 2024
Completion
Mar 4, 2024
Last update
Jun 25, 2024

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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This study is completed, as verified in Jun 2024. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.

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