Recent Advances in the Use of Opioids for Cancer Pain

Overview

Journal J Pain Res

Publisher Dove Medical Press

Date 2011 Jan 4

PMID 21197301

Citations 9

Authors

Joanne Droney

Julia Riley

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Opioids are the mainstay of treatment for moderate to severe cancer pain. In recent years there have been many advances in the use of opioids for cancer pain. Availability and consumption of opioids have increased and opioids other than morphine (including methadone, fentanyl, oxycodone) have become more widely used. Inter-individual variation in response to opioids has been identified as a significant challenge in the management of cancer pain. Many studies have been published demonstrating the benefits of opioid switching as a clinical maneuver to improve tolerability. Constipation has been recognized as a significant burden in cancer patients on opioids. Peripherally restricted opioid antagonists have been developed for the prevention and management of opioid induced constipation. The phenomenon of breakthrough pain has been characterized and novel modes of opioid administration (transmucosal, intranasal, sublingual) have been explored to facilitate improved management of breakthrough cancer pain. Advances have also been made in the realm of molecular biology. Pharmacogenetic studies have explored associations between clinical response to opioids and genetic variation at a DNA level. To date these studies have been small but future research may facilitate prospective prediction of response to individual drugs.

Citing Articles

The pro- and anti-cancer effects of oxycodone are associated with epithelial growth factor receptor level in cancer cells.

Yu Y, Li D, Duan J, Xu H, Li L, Tan D Biosci Rep. 2020; 40(2).

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Incidence of opioid-induced constipation in Japanese patients with cancer pain: A prospective observational cohort study.

Tokoro A, Imai H, Fumita S, Harada T, Noriyuki T, Gamoh M Cancer Med. 2019; 8(10):4883-4891.

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Tapentadol: a new option for the treatment of cancer and noncancer pains.

Dickenson A, Kress H J Pain Res. 2019; 12:1509-1511.

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OPRM1 c.118A>G Polymorphism and Duration of Morphine Treatment Associated with Morphine Doses and Quality-of-Life in Palliative Cancer Pain Settings.

Hajj A, Halepian L, El Osta N, Chahine G, Kattan J, Khabbaz L Int J Mol Sci. 2017; 18(4).

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Direct conversion from tramadol to tapentadol prolonged release for moderate to severe, chronic malignant tumour-related pain.

Kress H, Koch E, Kosturski H, Steup A, Karcher K, Dogan C Eur J Pain. 2016; 20(9):1513-8.

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