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Controlled-release oxycodone for the treatment of bortezomib-induced neuropathic pain in patients with multiple myeloma

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Abstract

Purpose

Bortezomib, a proteasome inhibitor drug very effective against multiple myeloma, may induce the so-called bortezomib-induced peripheral neuropathy (BIPN), hardly manageable with common analgesic drugs. This study assessed the effectiveness of controlled-release (CR) oral oxycodone in controlling pain and its interference on daily functions of patients with hematologic malignancies affected by BIPN.

Methods

Forty-six patients (median age, 62 years) affected by myeloma and lymphoma, complaining of BIPN-related pain of moderate-to-severe intensity and unresponsive to previous analgesic treatments, were treated with CR oxycodone. The intensity of continuous and brief pain (BP) along with interference of pain with the common daily dimensions of feeling and function were evaluated by using an 11-point numerical rating scale (NRS); a global patient evaluation of efficacy was also performed.

Results

The daily average dose of CR oxycodone administered was 28.46 mg (range, 20–80 mg). The pain intensity decreased from a mean NRS value of 7.6 at baseline to 1.3 on day 14. The frequency of BP was reduced from 61 to 47 % of patients and its intensity from 7.4 to 3.1 NRS score. A similar trend to decreasing values was observed for all the daily life functions. Slight- or mild-intensity side effects were observed in 23 patients (51 %). At the end of the study, 75 % of patients found the treatment effective or very effective.

Conclusion

CR oxycodone for relief of BIPN-related pain was effective and well tolerated. The pain control significantly improved also the quality of the daily life functions, which are usually compromised in these suffering patients.

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Conflict of interest

The authors have no conflict of interest to declare. We declare that we do not have any relationships with pharmaceutical companies, biomedical device manufacturers or other corporations whose products or services may be related to the subject matter of the article. We have full control of all primary data, and we allow the journal to review our data if requested.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Hematology, Department of Haematology, Oncology, Pathology and Regenerative Medicine, Policlinico Umberto I, Sapienza University Rome, Rome, Italy

    Claudio Cartoni, Gregorio Antonio Brunetti, Vincenzo Federico, Sara Grammatico, Gianna Maria D’Elia & Maria Teresa Petrucci

  2. Italian Group for Adult Hematologic Diseases (GIMEMA) Data Center, Rome, Italy

    Fabio Efficace

  3. Hematology Unit, S. Eugenio Hospital, Rome, Italy

    Andrea Tendas, Laura Scaramucci, Luca Cupelli & Pasquale Niscola

  4. Neuropathic Pain Center, Department of Neurological Sciences, University La Sapienza, Rome, Italy

    Andrea Truini

  5. Hematology, Department of Haematology, Oncology, Pathology and Regenerative Medicine, Policlinico Umberto I, Sapienza University, via Benevento 6, 00161, Rome, Italy

    Claudio Cartoni

Authors
  1. Claudio Cartoni
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  2. Gregorio Antonio Brunetti
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  3. Vincenzo Federico
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  4. Fabio Efficace
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  5. Sara Grammatico
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  6. Andrea Tendas
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  7. Laura Scaramucci
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  8. Luca Cupelli
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  9. Gianna Maria D’Elia
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  10. Andrea Truini
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  11. Pasquale Niscola
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  12. Maria Teresa Petrucci
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Claudio Cartoni.

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Cartoni, C., Brunetti, G.A., Federico, V. et al. Controlled-release oxycodone for the treatment of bortezomib-induced neuropathic pain in patients with multiple myeloma. Support Care Cancer 20, 2621–2626 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-012-1511-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-012-1511-y

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