The primary purpose of this study is to see if it is safe to give patients with cancer a low dose of the FDA approved anesthetic drug ketamine at the same time they receive radiation, chemotherapy, and/or surgery for their cancer treatment to treat depression and its effects
Prospective, single-centre, double-blind, randomised, parallel two-arm feasibility study assessing nightly oral ketamine 1.0 mg/kg versus placebo for depression in patients undergoing curative-intent cancer therapy.
Study treatment given once daily for 12 weeks with psychosocial and symptom measures every two weeks during treatment and monthly during a five-month follow-up; placebo arm participants may opt to receive open-label ketamine after completion.
Nightly oral ketamine 1.0 mg/kg for 12 weeks (mixed with syrup).
Nightly oral administration for 12 weeks; mixed with syrup.
Nightly oral placebo syrup for 12 weeks; option to receive ketamine after completion.
Placebo syrup once daily for 12 weeks; identical appearance to ketamine; option to receive ketamine after completion.
Optional open-label nightly ketamine 1.0 mg/kg for participants who completed placebo arm.
Optional open-label administration after placebo period.