Francesco Amato1, Silvia Ceniti2, Sergio Mameli3, Giovanni M Pisanu3, Renato Vellucci4, Vincenzo Palmieri5, Leonardo Consoletti6, Dorotea Magaldi7, Paolo Notaro8, Claudio Marcassa9. 1. Azienda Ospedaliera Cosenza, UOC Terapia Dolore e Cure Palliative, Via Luigi Sturzo 1, Rogliano, CS, Italy. fra.gil@virgilio.it. 2. Azienda Ospedaliera Cosenza, UOC Terapia Dolore e Cure Palliative, Via Luigi Sturzo 1, Rogliano, CS, Italy. 3. Azienda Ospedaliera Cagliari, UO Terapia Dolore, Cagliari, Italy. 4. Azienda Ospedaliera Careggi, UO Terapia Dolore, Florence, Italy. 5. Azienda Ospedaliera Benevento, UO Terapia Dolore, Benevento, Italy. 6. Azienda Ospedali Riuniti di Foggia, UO Terapia Dolore, Foggia, Italy. 7. Azienda Ospedaliera Piove di Sacco UO Terapia Dolore e Cure Palliative, Padova, Italy. 8. Azienda Ospedaliera Niguarda, UO Terapia Dolore, Milan, Italy. 9. Istituti Clinici e Scientifici Maugeri, Veruno, Italy.
Abstract
PURPOSE: Opioids are associated with side effects in the treatment of moderate-to-severe chronic cancer pain. Oral combination of opioid agonist-antagonist oxycodone-naloxone (OXN-PR) attenuates gastrointestinal side effects; however, evidence on high-dose OXN-PR treatment is scant. This study evaluates the efficacy and tolerability of high-dose OXN-PR in chronic cancer pain. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This was a multicenter, prospective 60-day observation on consecutive cancer patients with uncontrolled moderate-severe chronic pain or intolerant to other analgesics, who were switched at entry visit (T0) to OXN-PR ≥80 mg daily. Patients were reassessed 14, 30, 45, and 60 days later (T60). Primary endpoint of the study was analgesic response rate (decrease ≥30% of pain intensity from baseline, measured on a 0-10 numerical rating scale, NRS) after 30 days on OXN-PR. Additional endpoints assessed at every visit were the impact of pain on quality of life (QoL), breakthrough cancer pain (BTCP) episodes, opioid dosage escalation index, bowel dysfunction, safety, and other side effects. RESULTS: One hundred nineteen patients were included (age 64 ± 12, metastatic disease in 91.6%); 101 of them (84.9%) completed the 60-day observation. At T0, the majority had severe pain (NRS ≥7 in 79.8%; neuropathic features in 83.2%). Response rate at 30-day visit was 79.8% (n = 95). OXN-PR resulted in a significant reduction in pain over time (T0: 7.4 ± 1.3; T60: 3.3 ± 1.8; p < 0.001), and the number of daily (BTCP) declined (3.9 ± 2.2 vs. 2.0 ± 0.6, p < 0.001). Daily dosage of OXN-PR slightly increased (T0: 81.3 ± 6.0; T60: 93.6 ± 34.0; p < 0.001). The impact of pain on QoL abated (p < 0.0001), and bowel function improved overtime (p < 0.001). After the switch to OXN-PR, the number of patients complaining for side effects decreased overall (p < 0.0001); laxatives and antiemetic use also declined significantly. CONCLUSIONS: OXN-PR was highly effective and well tolerated even at high doses in cancer patients with chronic pain. The agonist-antagonist combination rapidly alleviated pain and its impact on life style, reducing the number of BTCP and improving opioid side effects.
PURPOSE: Opioids are associated with side effects in the treatment of moderate-to-severe chronic cancer pain. Oral combination of opioid agonist-antagonist oxycodone-naloxone (OXN-PR) attenuates gastrointestinal side effects; however, evidence on high-dose OXN-PR treatment is scant. This study evaluates the efficacy and tolerability of high-dose OXN-PR in chronic cancer pain. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This was a multicenter, prospective 60-day observation on consecutive cancerpatients with uncontrolled moderate-severe chronic pain or intolerant to other analgesics, who were switched at entry visit (T0) to OXN-PR ≥80 mg daily. Patients were reassessed 14, 30, 45, and 60 days later (T60). Primary endpoint of the study was analgesic response rate (decrease ≥30% of pain intensity from baseline, measured on a 0-10 numerical rating scale, NRS) after 30 days on OXN-PR. Additional endpoints assessed at every visit were the impact of pain on quality of life (QoL), breakthrough cancer pain (BTCP) episodes, opioid dosage escalation index, bowel dysfunction, safety, and other side effects. RESULTS: One hundred nineteen patients were included (age 64 ± 12, metastatic disease in 91.6%); 101 of them (84.9%) completed the 60-day observation. At T0, the majority had severe pain (NRS ≥7 in 79.8%; neuropathic features in 83.2%). Response rate at 30-day visit was 79.8% (n = 95). OXN-PR resulted in a significant reduction in pain over time (T0: 7.4 ± 1.3; T60: 3.3 ± 1.8; p < 0.001), and the number of daily (BTCP) declined (3.9 ± 2.2 vs. 2.0 ± 0.6, p < 0.001). Daily dosage of OXN-PR slightly increased (T0: 81.3 ± 6.0; T60: 93.6 ± 34.0; p < 0.001). The impact of pain on QoL abated (p < 0.0001), and bowel function improved overtime (p < 0.001). After the switch to OXN-PR, the number of patients complaining for side effects decreased overall (p < 0.0001); laxatives and antiemetic use also declined significantly. CONCLUSIONS:OXN-PR was highly effective and well tolerated even at high doses in cancerpatients with chronic pain. The agonist-antagonist combination rapidly alleviated pain and its impact on life style, reducing the number of BTCP and improving opioid side effects.
Authors: Augusto Caraceni; Geoffrey Hanks; Stein Kaasa; Michael I Bennett; Cinzia Brunelli; Nathan Cherny; Ola Dale; Franco De Conno; Marie Fallon; Magdi Hanna; Dagny Faksvåg Haugen; Gitte Juhl; Samuel King; Pål Klepstad; Eivor A Laugsand; Marco Maltoni; Sebastiano Mercadante; Maria Nabal; Alessandra Pigni; Lukas Radbruch; Colette Reid; Per Sjogren; Patrick C Stone; Davide Tassinari; Giovambattista Zeppetella Journal: Lancet Oncol Date: 2012-02 Impact factor: 41.316
Authors: Oliver Löwenstein; Petra Leyendecker; Eberhard A Lux; Mark Blagden; Karen H Simpson; Michael Hopp; Björn Bosse; Karen Reimer Journal: BMC Clin Pharmacol Date: 2010-09-29
Authors: Winfried Meissner; Petra Leyendecker; Stefan Mueller-Lissner; Joachim Nadstawek; Michael Hopp; Christian Ruckes; Stefan Wirz; Wolfgang Fleischer; Karen Reimer Journal: Eur J Pain Date: 2008-08-31 Impact factor: 3.931
Authors: O Corli; I Floriani; A Roberto; M Montanari; F Galli; M T Greco; A Caraceni; S Kaasa; T A Dragani; G Azzarello; M Luzzani; L Cavanna; E Bandieri; T Gamucci; G Lipari; R Di Gregorio; D Valenti; C Reale; L Pavesi; V Iorno; C Crispino; M Pacchioni; G Apolone Journal: Ann Oncol Date: 2016-03-02 Impact factor: 32.976
Authors: Thomas J Smith; Sarah Temin; Erin R Alesi; Amy P Abernethy; Tracy A Balboni; Ethan M Basch; Betty R Ferrell; Matt Loscalzo; Diane E Meier; Judith A Paice; Jeffrey M Peppercorn; Mark Somerfield; Ellen Stovall; Jamie H Von Roenn Journal: J Clin Oncol Date: 2012-02-06 Impact factor: 44.544
Authors: Sam H Ahmedzai; Friedemann Nauck; Gil Bar-Sela; Björn Bosse; Petra Leyendecker; Michael Hopp Journal: Palliat Med Date: 2011-09-21 Impact factor: 4.762