The Patient with Difficult Cancer Pain

Complimentary Role of Comprehensive Palliative Care Treatment to Intrathecal Therapy: Case Report

Intrathecal therapy with implanted devices is often reported in some recommendations.for the management of difficult cancer pain However, data is often biased by optimistic view and poor assessment. We report a case of patient in which a comprehensive and complex palliative care treatment was effective in managing a patient who was implanted a subcutaneous port for intrathecal analgesia This patient had many characteristics of a difficult pain, really defined as refractory due to various negative prognostic pain factors, such as neuropathic pain and psychological distress.. A comprehensive pain management with a balanced approach including both interventional therapy and palliative care simultaneously, allowed to achieve optimal pain control. Terms such as intractable or refractory pain, have been ambiguously used in literature to select patients as candidates for implated pumps. A meaningful evaluation and a comprehensive treatment should be mandatory when using intrathecal anlgesia in patients with very difficult pain conditions.

Role of palliative care intervention in patients with vulvar cancer: a retrospective study

OBJECTIVE

To describe the experience of a Mexican cancer centre in vulvar cancer and the opportunity to incorporate palliative care (PC) during treatment.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A retrospective study of clinical and sociodemographic characteristics of women with vulvar cancer referred to the PC service (PCS) between 2010 and 2021 is reported. Frequencies were estimated, as well as medians and IQRs, accordingly. Referral time and overall survival were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method.

RESULTS

125 women with vulvar cancer were seen between 2010 and 2021, but only 42% were seen at PCS, mostly polysymptomatic, after several visits to the emergency room. 89% of the patients seen at PCS died at home.

CONCLUSIONS

Vulvar cancer is a rare type of cancer, while squamous cell carcinoma is the most frequent type. At the time of referral, almost half of the patients had severe pain, bleeding, malodor, infection and urinary incontinence. Most of these patients lived in poverty, were poorly educated and had multiple surgeries. PC may play an important role in the care of patients with advanced vulvar cancer, relieving the physical and psychological symptoms, avoiding unnecessary hospitalisation and favouring death at home without pain and other symptoms.

Cannabis Use Among Cancer Patients During Active Treatment: Findings From a Study at an NCI-Designated Cancer Center

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to describe patterns, sources, and reasons for cannabis use among cancer patients during active treatment (+CDTX) compared to no-use during active treatment (-CDTX).

METHODS

Data are from 385 surveys collected via REDCap during phase I of an ongoing study among adult cancer patients seen at an NCI-designated comprehensive cancer center within the last 5 years of treatment. A harmonized survey was created with 11 other NCI centers to assess cannabis use patterns, sources, and reasons for use. Sociodemographics and cancer details were also collected via self-report. Descriptive statistics were calculated and stratified by +/-CDTX. Chi-squared tests were conducted to compare proportions between groups.

RESULTS

Among the sample [49.5 years (SD 15.9); 53.0% male; and 41.6% Hispanic/Latino], 41.0% + CDTX and 59.0% -CDTX. A majority (71.8%) of +CDTX initiated use before diagnosis versus 44.1% in -CDTX (p < 0.0001); patients diagnosed with stage 4 cancer had a statistically significant higher prevalence of +CDTX (60.0%; p = 0.003); 53.3% in radiation reported +CDTX compared to 42.8% in chemotherapy, and 36.4% in immunotherapy. Dispensaries and local dealers were the top sources of cannabis in both groups. Among +CDTX, 44.3% consumed cannabis at least once a day DTX, dominant cannabinoids used were CBD (35.2%), Delta-8-THC (18.3%), and CBD + THC ratio (14.1%); 12.7% were unsure what they consumed. Joints were the most common inhalation method (61.5%), and store-bought candy was the most common edible (39.2%). Depression/mood, pain, and enjoyment were the top three reasons for +CDTX compared to enjoyment, depression/mood, and nausea/upset stomach in -CDTX (p = 0.02).

CONCLUSIONS

Patterns, sources, and reasons for cannabis use varied between +CDTX and -CDTX. Future studies should examine the impacts of cannabis and specific cannabinoids on cancer treatment, drug interactions, survival outcomes, and quality of life.

Targeting TRPV1 for Cancer Pain Relief: Can It Work?

Chronic intractable pain affects a large proportion of cancer patients, especially those with metastatic bone disease. Blocking sensory afferents for cancer pain relief represents an attractive alternative to opioids and other drugs acting in the CNS in that sensory nerve blockers are not addictive and do not affect the mental state of the patient. A distinct subpopulation of sensory afferents expresses the capsaicin receptor TRPV1. Intrathecal resiniferatoxin, an ultrapotent capsaicin analog, ablates TRPV1-expressing nerve endings exposed to the cerebrospinal fluid, resulting in permanent analgesia in women with cervical cancer metastasis to the pelvic bone. High-dose capsaicin patches are effective pain killers in patients with chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathic pain. However, large gaps remain in our knowledge since the mechanisms by which cancer activates TRPV1 are essentially unknown. Most important, it is not clear whether or not sensory denervation mediated by TRPV1 agonists affects cancer progression. In a murine model of breast cancer, capsaicin desensitization was reported to accelerate progression. By contrast, desensitization mediated by resiniferatoxin was found to block melanoma growth. These observations imply that TRPV1 blockade for pain relief may be indicated for some cancers and contraindicated for others. In this review, we explore the current state of this field and compare the analgesic potential of TRPV1 antagonism and sensory afferent desensitization in cancer patients.

Cancer-Related Pain Management in Suitable Intrathecal Therapy Candidates: A Spanish Multidisciplinary Expert Consensus

A consensus is needed among healthcare professionals involved in easing oncological pain in patients who are suitable candidates for intrathecal therapy. A Delphi consultation was conducted, guided by a multidisciplinary scientific committee. The 18-item study questionnaire was designed based on a literature review together with a discussion group. The first-round questionnaire assessed experts' opinion of the current general practice, as well as their recommendation and treatment feasibility in the near future (2-3-year period) using a 9-point Likert scale. Items for which consensus was not achieved were included in a second round. Consensus was defined as ≥75% agreement (1-3 or 7-9). A total of 67 panelists (response rate: 63.2%) and 62 (92.5%) answered the first and second Delphi rounds, respectively. The participants were healthcare professionals from multiple medical disciplines who had an average of 17.6 (7.8) years of professional experience. A consensus was achieved on the recommendations (100%). The actions considered feasible to implement in the short term included effective multidisciplinary coordination, improvement in communication among the parties, and an assessment of patient satisfaction. Efforts should focus on overcoming the barriers identified, eventually leading to the provision of more comprehensive care and consideration of the patient's perspective.

Maddalena Opioid Switching Score in patients with cancer pain

ABSTRACT

Evaluation of opioid switching (OS) for cancer pain has not been properly assessed. The aim of this study was to assess an integrated score (Maddalena Opioid Switching Score) as a simple and repeatable tool to evaluate the outcomes of OS, facilitating the interpretation and comparison of studies, and information exchange among researchers. The integrated score took into account pain intensity, intensity of opioid-related symptoms, and cognitive function by using an author's formula. Physical and psychological symptoms were evaluated by the Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale and Patient Global Impression (PGI) by the minimal clinically important difference. One hundred six patients were analyzed. Ninety-five patients were switched successfully, and 11 patients underwent a further OS and/or an alternative procedure. The Maddalena Opioid Switching Score significantly decreased after OS and was highly correlated to PGI of improvement ( P < 0.0005). In patients with unsuccessful OS, no significant changes in the Maddalena Opioid Switching Score and PGI were observed. A significant reduction in Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale items intensity was observed after OS. The Maddalena Opioid Switching Score resulted to be a sensitive instrument for measuring the clinical improvement produced by OS.

Conversion ratios for opioid switching: a pragmatic study

BACKGROUND

The final conversion ratios among opioids used for successful switching are unknown. The aim of this study was to determine the initial and final conversion ratios used for a successful opioid switching in cancer patients, and eventual associated factors.

METHODS

Ninety-five patients who were successfully switched were evaluated. The following data were collected: age, gender, Karnofsky performance score, primary cancer, cognitive function, the presence of neuropathic, and incident pain. Opioids, route of administration, and their doses expressed in oral morphine equivalents used before OS were recorded as well as opioids use for starting opioid switching, and at time of stabilization. Physical and psychological symptoms were routinely evaluated by Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale.

RESULTS

No statistical changes were observed between the initial conversion ratios and those achieved at time of stabilization for all the sequences of opioid switching. When considering patients switched to methadone, there was no association between factors taken into considerations.

CONCLUSION

Opioid switching is a highly effective and safe technique, improving analgesia and reducing the opioid-related symptom burden. The final conversion ratios were not different from those used for starting opioid switching. Patients receiving higher doses of opioids should be carefully monitored for individual and unexpected responses in an experienced palliative care unit, particularly those switched to methadone. Future studies should provide data regarding the profile of patients with difficult pain to be hospitalized.

Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) and palliative-care clinician reported outcomes (ClinROs) mutually improve pain and other symptoms assessment of hospitalized cancer-patients

OBJECTIVES

Patients with malignant diseases are known to have a high symptom burden including pain, and insufficient treatment of pain in this population has been frequently documented. To promote the integration of specialized palliative care and hematology and oncology, this study investigated disease, treatment, and comorbidity related symptoms as well as functional capacity and health-related quality of life (HQoL) by patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) and clinician-reported outcome measures (ClinROs) among inpatients in a comprehensive cancer center.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study was carried out in a large comprehensive cancer centre of both oncological and hematological inpatients. It combined the use of PROMs and ClinROs.

RESULTS

A high symptom burden was reported with fatigue and appetite loss as the most frequent symptoms, and role function being the most impaired function. Further, a low HQoL score was associated with a high number of symptoms/impairments. More than half of all patients reported pain in the last 24 h. Out of 95 patients with average pain >0 in the last 24 h, 71% were treated with opioids and 24% were treated with adjuvant analgesic (AA) defined as antiepileptics, antidepressants and prednisolone. Out of 57 patients with average pain >0 in the last 24 h and possible neuropathic pain, 33% were treated with AAs. A high odds ratio for moderate/severe pain in patients with possible neuropathic pain mechanisms was observed.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

This study did not only emphasize the need for systematic use of PROMs to identify symptoms and needs for inpatients, but also displayed why PROMs supported by ClinROs are a prerequisite to deliver truly individualized and high-quality patient-centered care. This study calls for continuous training of health care professionals to deliver high-quality treatment of pain. Further, it contributes to the growing recognition, that palliative care and standard care must be integrated to strengthen patient-centered care.

When the game is hard, more complex weapons are needed

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this paper is to illustrate how to manage a very difficult pain condition.

METHODS

This is a clinical note of a complex approach using multiple analgesic regimens to effectively afford challenging pain situations.

RESULTS

A man underwent an opioid dose titration, followed by dose stabilisation for some months. Then he underwent two opioid substitutions, unsuccessfully. A spinal analgesia provided good analgesia for a prolonged period of time, necessitating variable interventions to counteract the evolving, challenging clinical situation.

CONCLUSIONS

The description of this case illustrates the need of a high level of experience and knowledge to elaborate complex strategies step by step every time the pain syndrome was worsening. Recommendations are unlikely in these extreme circumstances, and treatment should be based on continuous clinical counteraction to the evolving clinical conditions.

Factors Influencing Pain Expression in Patients with Cancer: An Expert Opinion

Pain is a multidimensional experience that requires an appropriate assessment, and simple numbering may not be enough for the different components that are involved in the clinical expression. In consideration of the subjectivity of the symptom, each assessment should start from the way in which the patients perceive the pain and from how they deal with it. Some factors related to individual patient characteristics may make pain management difficult because of interference with the clinical pain expression. These factors may amplify the reporting of pain. Cognitive disorders and psychological distress seem to strongly influence pain expression and may render the analgesic treatment more difficult. Aberrant behaviors, such as alcoholism, smoking, and opioid misuse, may play a role, although geographic differences were found in terms of prevalence of the phenomenon, especially in some countries. Finally, the assessment of patients' expectation and the meaning of the personal feeling of changes in pain intensity provide new concepts in pain assessment, which may allow better personalization of the analgesic therapy. A modern pain assessment should include a multitude of factors influencing the phenotype of pain.

Patients with multiple myeloma referred for palliative care consultation: from retrospective analysis to future directions to improve clinical outcomes

Introduction

New treatments have improved the overall survival of patients with multiple myeloma (MM). At diagnosis and during the course of the disease, patients often report pain and other symptoms. Given the long disease trajectory, psychological and social issues are also frequent. Recently, the potential usefulness of early palliative care (EPC) was hypothesized in the area of hematology. We conducted a retrospective analysis of patients with MM referred to our institute for a palliative care (PC) consultation between January 2017 and June 2020. Our aim was to evaluate the main reasons (pain or other clinical symptoms) for the referral for a first PC consultation.

Methods

We examined the main reasons for the first PC consultation, the number of PC consultations carried out, and the period of time between diagnosis, first and subsequent PC visits, and death. We also recorded information on the type of pain experienced and the treatments administered.

Results

Of the 325 patients with MM followed at our hematology unit during the study period, 43 were referred for a PC consultation (39 for pain management and 4 to determine the most appropriate care setting (hospice or palliative homecare service)). Nineteen (44.2%) of the 43 patients reported other symptoms in addition to pain. The median time between MM diagnosis and the first PC consultation was 473 days. Fifteen patients died, with a median 332 days between the first PC visit and death.

Conclusion

Randomized studies on MM involving larger patient populations with access to EPC are needed to identify an effective clinical model to improve the management of patients with MM.

Oxycodone/Acetaminophen: The Tailoring Combination Treatment for Specific Clinical Profile of Opioid Well-Responsive Cancer Pain

Background

International guidelines recommend moderate-to-severe cancer pain to be treated with strong opioids. However, pain management remains an unsolved matter, at least in the demanding oncology and palliative care setting. Although cancer pain consists of multiple components, which interact in complex ways where combination therapy can better intercept multiple pain characteristics, few studies have used a non-opioid/opioid association to exploit possible synergistic actions. Even the efforts of a recent approach emphasizing appropriate pain assessment and accurate classification to obtain personalized pain management have not produced a satisfactory analgesic strategy.

Objective

This analysis was intended to evaluate the effectiveness of the immediate release fixed combination of oxycodone/acetaminophen (OxyIR/Par) for the treatment of moderate-to-severe intensity background pain used alone or in combination with other strong opioids in cancer patients with breakthrough cancer pain (BTcP). This is a secondary analysis of a wider observational, prospective, multicenter study [Italian Oncologic Pain multiSetting Multicentric Survey (IOPS-MS)] performed on 179 patients treated with opioids for cancer pain who received the fixed combination of oxycodone/acetaminophen (OxyIR/Par) for the treatment of background pain (BGP).

Results

Cancer patients with breakthrough cancer pain and controlled BGP (Background Pain) were classified according to the presence of analgesic therapy with tablets of fixed combination OxyIR/Par alone (group A, n=120) or tablets of fixed combination OxyIR/Par combined with other strong opioids (group B, n=59). Clinical features of group A were different to group B: higher mean Karnofsky Performance Status Index 70.3% (95% CI=67.2–73.5; median=70, CI=60–80) vs 58.3 (95% CI=53.4–63.2; median=50, CI=45–70) (P<0.001), and mainly group A patients were treated in an ambulatory setting (55.0% group A vs 33.9% group B) (p<0.001). Both groups had managed BGP with similar mean dosages (group A: 12.0, CI=10.5–13.4; group B: 13.1, CI=11.0–15.1) and frequencies of OxyIR/Par alone for group A and in association to other opioids for group B, but Breakthrough cancer Pain (BTcP) exhibited different characteristics in the two groups, showing a lower mean intensity numerical rating scale (NRS) of 7.5 (95% CI=7.2–7.7; median=7, CI=7–8 group A) vs 7.9 (95% CI=7.6, 8.2; median= 8, CI=7–9 group B) (P=0.04) and a higher percentage of patients had a faster onset, defined as the maximum intensity reached in less than 10 minutes, 81.7% (N=98) in group A vs 59.3% (n=35) in group B (P=0.002).

Conclusion

This is the first analysis about the efficacy of an immediate-release fixed combination of OxyIR/Par in the real world for moderate-to-severe background cancer pain and breakthrough cancer pain. The oral fixed combination OxyIR/Par provided an adequate level of analgesia for moderate–severe background cancer pain, in a different cohort of cancer patients with different performance status, both in ambulatory and palliative settings. The low dosage of fixed combination OxyIR/Par was effective alone or in association with other opioids.

Efficacy of the complementary therapies in the management of cancer pain in palliative care: A systematic review

OBJECTIVE

to synthesize the knowledge and to critically evaluate the evidences arising from randomized controlled trials on the efficacy of the complementary therapies in the management of cancer pain in adult patients with cancer in palliative care.

METHOD

a systematic review guided by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses. The search for articles in the MEDLINE, ISI Web of Knowledge, CENTRAL Cochrane, and PsycINFO databases, as well as the manual search, selection of studies, data extraction, and methodological assessment using the Cochrane Bias Risk tool were performed independently by two reviewers.

RESULTS

eight hundred and fifteen (815) studies were identified, six of them being selected and analyzed, of which three used massage therapy, one study used a combination of progressive muscle relaxation and guided imaging, and another two studies used acupuncture. Most of the studies had an uncertain risk of bias (n=4; 67%).

CONCLUSION

while the evidence from the studies evaluating the use of massage therapy or the use of progressive muscle relaxation and guided imaging for the management of cancer pain in these patients demonstrated significant benefits, the other two studies that evaluated the use of acupuncture as a complementary therapy showed contradictory results, therefore, needing more research studies to elucidate such findings.

Breakthrough Pain in Patients with Lung Cancer. A Secondary Analysis of IOPS MS Study

AIM

To characterize breakthrough cancer pain (BTcP) in patients with lung cancer.

METHODS

This was a secondary analysis of multicenter study of patients with BTcP. Background pain intensity and opioid dose were recorded. The number of BTcP episodes, their intensity, predictability, onset, duration and interference with daily activities were collected. Opioids used for BTcP, the mean time to meaningful pain relief after taking medication, satisfaction and adverse effects were assessed.

RESULTS

1087 patients with lung cancer were examined. In comparison with other tumors, patients with lung cancer showed: higher background pain intensity (p = 0.006), lower opioid doses (p = 0.005), higher intensity of BTcP (p = 0.005), movement (79.5%) and cough (8.2%), as principal triggers for predictable BTcP (p < 0.009), larger BTcP interference with daily activity (p = 0.0001), higher use of adjuvants (p = 0.0001). No relevant differences in the other parameters examined were found.

CONCLUSION

Patients with lung cancer have their own peculiarities, including higher basal and BTcP pain intensity and the use of more adjuvant drugs for background pain. The most frequent triggers for predictable BTcP are movement and cough. Future studies should be performed to analyze the prevalence of BTcP in patients with different lung cancers as well as the optimal management strategy for background pain and BTcP.

Pain Management in Patients with Multiple Myeloma: An Update

Most patients with multiple myeloma (MM) suffer from chronic pain at every stage of the natural disease process. This review focuses on the most common causes of chronic pain in MM patients: (1) pain from myeloma bone disease (MBD); (2) chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy as a possible consequence of proteasome inhibitor therapy (i.e., bortezomib-induced); (3) post-herpetic neuralgia as a possible complication of varicella zoster virus reactivation because of post-transplantation immunodepression; and (4) pain in cancer survivors, with increasing numbers due to the success of antiblastic treatments, which have significantly improved overall survival and quality of life. In this review, non-pain specialists will find an overview including a detailed description of physiopathological mechanisms underlying central sensitization and pain chronification in bone pain, the rationale for the correct use of analgesics and invasive techniques in different pain syndromes, and the most recent recommendations published on these topics. The ultimate target of this review was to underlie that different types of pain can be observed in MM patients, and highlight that only after an accurate pain assessment, clinical examination, and pain classification, can pain be safely and effectively addressed by selecting the right analgesic option for the right patient.

Opioid-Induced Tolerance and Hyperalgesia

Opioids are very potent and efficacious drugs, traditionally used for both acute and chronic pain conditions. However, the use of opioids is frequently associated with the occurrence of adverse effects or clinical problems. Other than adverse effects and dependence, the development of tolerance is a significant problem, as it requires increased opioid drug doses to achieve the same effect. Mechanisms of opioid tolerance include drug-induced adaptations or allostatic changes at the cellular, circuitry, and system levels. Dose escalation in long-term opioid therapy might cause opioid-induced hyperalgesia (OIH), which is a state of hypersensitivity to painful stimuli associated with opioid therapy, resulting in exacerbation of pain sensation rather than relief of pain. Various strategies may provide extra-opioid analgesia. There are drugs that may produce independent analgesic effects. A tailored treatment provided by skilled personnel, in accordance with the individual condition, is mandatory. Any treatment aimed at reducing opioid consumption may be indicated in these circumstances. Interventional techniques able to decrease the pain input may allow a decrease in the opioid dose, thus reverting the mechanisms producing tolerance of OIH. Intrathecal therapy with local anesthetics and a sympathetic block are the most common techniques utilized in these circumstances.

Reviewing without a Clinical Background Is Detrimental for Cancer Pain Management

Reviews are a fundamental space for summarizing and spreading knowledge on a particular topic. Methodologic skills may improve the clarity and the meaning of data presentation. A recent editorial choice provided an advanced update on a topic such as cancer pain, providing meaningful and appropriate information on hot topics of cancer pain management. Recent reviews have reported strange and misleading data, suggesting to some adjuvant drugs or opioids for mild-moderate pain instead of opioids on the basis of an incomprehensible analysis performed without any clinical sense. This is a serious problem because such information, published in an authoritative journal, could dis-educate oncologists in their daily practice.