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Wong AK, Klepstad P, Somogyi AA, Vogrin S, Le B, Philip J, Rubio JP. Effect of gene variants on opioid dose, pain and adverse effect outcomes in advanced cancer: an explorative study. Pharmacogenomics 2023; 24:901-913. [PMID: 38126330 DOI: 10.2217/pgs-2023-0207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Aim: Associations between gene variants and opioid net effect are unclear. We conducted an exploratory pharmacogenetic analysis of 35 gene variants and opioid response in advanced cancer. Patients & methods: This multi-center prospective cohort study included clinical data, questionnaires (pain and adverse effects) and DNA (blood). Negative binomial regression and logistic regression were used. Results: Within 54 participants, eight statistically significant associations (p = 0.002-0.038) were observed between gene variants and opioid dose, pain scores or adverse effects, the majority being within the neuroimmune TLR4 pathway (IL1B [rs1143634], IL2 [rs2069762], IL6 [rs1800795], BDNF [rs6265]) and ARRB2 pathway (ARRB2 [rs3786047], DRD2 [rs6275]). Conclusion: Neuroimmune pathway genes may contribute to differences in opioid response in cancer and may be included in future similar studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aaron K Wong
- Peter MacCallum Cancer center, 305 Grattan St, Melbourne, Victoria, 3000, Australia
- The Royal Melbourne Hospital, 300 Grattan St, Parkville, Victoria, 3050, Australia
- Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne Eastern Hill Campus, Victoria Parade, Fitzroy, Victoria, 3065, Australia
| | - Pal Klepstad
- Department Intensive Care Medicine, St. Olavs University Hospital, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Andrew A Somogyi
- Professor of Clinical & Experimental Pharmacology, Discipline of Pharmacology, Faculty of Health & Medical Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, 5005, Australia
| | - Sara Vogrin
- Department of Medicine, St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Brian Le
- Peter MacCallum Cancer center, 305 Grattan St, Melbourne, Victoria, 3000, Australia
- The Royal Melbourne Hospital, 300 Grattan St, Parkville, Victoria, 3050, Australia
| | - Jennifer Philip
- Peter MacCallum Cancer center, 305 Grattan St, Melbourne, Victoria, 3000, Australia
- The Royal Melbourne Hospital, 300 Grattan St, Parkville, Victoria, 3050, Australia
- Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne Eastern Hill Campus, Victoria Parade, Fitzroy, Victoria, 3065, Australia
- St Vincent's Hospital, Palliative Care Service Victoria Parade, Fitzroy, Victoria, 3065, Australia
| | - Justin P Rubio
- Principal Research Fellow Florey Institute of Neuroscience & Mental Health, 30 Royal Parade, Victoria, 3052, Australia
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Mercadante S, Cascio AL, Casuccio A. Switching to Intravenous Methadone in Advanced Cancer Patients: A Retrospective Analysis. J Pain Symptom Manage 2023; 66:287-292. [PMID: 37236430 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2023.04.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2023] [Revised: 04/17/2023] [Accepted: 04/28/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
CONTEXT Information about opioid switching to intravenous methadone is lacking. OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to assess the outcome of opioid switching to intravenous methadone (IV-ME) in patients admitted to an acute supportive/palliative care unit (ASPCU). The secondary outcome was to assess the conversion ratio from IV-ME to oral methadone at time of hospital discharge. METHODS We retrieved from the pharmacy registry the list of patients who were prescribed IV-ME during their ASPCU admission for a period of 47 months. Poor analgesia with previous opioids and/or adverse effects were the main indications for opioid switching. IV-ME was titrated until acceptable analgesia was achieved. The effective dose was multiplied by three to establish the intravenous daily dose, given as a continuous infusion. Doses were then changed according to the clinical needs. Once the patient was stabilized, IV-ME dose was converted to oral methadone, by using an initial ratio of 1:1.2. Further dose changes were made according to clinical needs until stabilization, before patients' discharge. Information about patients' characteristics, pain scores on the Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale (ESAS), Memorial Delirium Assessment Scale (MDAS), Cut-down, Annoyed, Guilty, Eye-opener (CAGE) questionnaire, previous opioids and their doses, expressed as oral morphine equivalents (OME), were recorded. The effective bolus of IV-ME, initial daily infusion rate, and oral methadone doses were assessed, and conversion ratios calculated. RESULTS Forty-one patients were taken into consideration for the study. The mean effective bolus of IV-ME titrated for achieving acceptable analgesia was 9 mg (range 5-15 mg). The mean daily continuous infusion rate of IV-ME was 27.6 mg/day (SD 21). The mean daily dose of oral methadone at time of discharge was 46.8 mg/day (SD 43). Discharge occurred within a median of seven days (range 6-9) after admission. Previous opioid (OME)/IV-ME, oral-IV-ME, and previous opioid (OME)/oral methadone were 6.25, 1.7, and 3.7, respectively. CONCLUSION IV-ME dose titration followed by intravenous infusion allowed a rapid pain control in few minutes in patients with severe pain intensity, not responsive to previous opioids. Conversion to oral route was successful and facilitated home discharge. Further studies should be performed to confirm these preliminary results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastiano Mercadante
- Department of Health Promotion (S.M., A.L.C.), Mother and Child Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties (PROMISE), University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy.
| | - Alessio Lo Cascio
- Department of Health Promotion (S.M., A.L.C.), Mother and Child Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties (PROMISE), University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Alessandra Casuccio
- Mean regional center for Pain relief and palliative care Unit (A.C.), La Maddalena Cancer Center, Palermo, Italy
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Wong AK, Somogyi AA, Rubio J, Pham TD, Le B, Klepstad P, Philip J. Effectiveness of Opioid Switching in Advanced Cancer Pain: A Prospective Observational Cohort Study. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:3676. [PMID: 37509337 PMCID: PMC10378198 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15143676] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2023] [Revised: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Opioid switching is a common practice of substituting one opioid for another to improve analgesia or adverse effects; however, it has limited evidence. This study aimed to examine the effectiveness of opioid switching in advanced cancer. This multi-center prospective cohort study recruited patients assessed to switch opioids (opioid switch group) or to continue ongoing opioid treatment (control group). Clinical data (demographics, opioids) and validated instruments (pain and adverse effects) were collected over two timepoints seven days apart. Descriptive analyses were utilized. Non-parametric tests were used to determine differences. Fifty-four participants were recruited (23 control group, 31 switch group). At the follow-up, opioid switching reduced pain (worst, average, and now) (p < 0.05), uncontrolled breakthrough pain (3-fold reduction, p = 0.008), and psychological distress (48% to 16%, p < 0.005). The switch group had a ≥25% reduction in the reported frequency of seven moderate-to-severe adverse effects (score ≥ 4), compared to a reduction in only one adverse effect in the control group. The control group experienced no significant pain differences at the follow-up. Opioid switching is effective at reducing pain, adverse effects, and psychological distress in a population with advanced cancer pain, to levels of satisfactory symptom control in most patients within 1 week.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aaron K Wong
- Department of Palliative Care, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne 3052, Australia
- Department of Palliative Care, The Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne 3050, Australia
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville 3052, Australia
| | - Andrew A Somogyi
- Discipline of Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide 5005, Australia
| | - Justin Rubio
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience & Mental Health, Parkville 3050, Australia
| | - Tien Dung Pham
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville 3052, Australia
| | - Brian Le
- Department of Palliative Care, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne 3052, Australia
- Department of Palliative Care, The Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne 3050, Australia
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville 3052, Australia
| | - Pal Klepstad
- Department of Circulation and Medical Imaging, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, NO-7491 Trondheim, Norway
| | - Jennifer Philip
- Department of Palliative Care, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne 3052, Australia
- Department of Palliative Care, The Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne 3050, Australia
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville 3052, Australia
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Mercadante S, Adile C, Ferrera P, Grassi Y, Cascio AL, Casuccio A. Conversion ratios for opioid switching: a pragmatic study. Support Care Cancer 2022; 31:91. [PMID: 36580152 DOI: 10.1007/s00520-022-07514-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2022] [Accepted: 12/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
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.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastiano Mercadante
- Main Regional Center for Pain Relief and Supportive/Palliative Care, La Maddalena Cancer Center, Via San Lorenzo 312, 90146, Palermo, Italy.
| | - Claudio Adile
- Main Regional Center for Pain Relief and Supportive/Palliative Care, La Maddalena Cancer Center, Via San Lorenzo 312, 90146, Palermo, Italy
| | - Patrizia Ferrera
- Main Regional Center for Pain Relief and Supportive/Palliative Care, La Maddalena Cancer Center, Via San Lorenzo 312, 90146, Palermo, Italy
| | - Yasmine Grassi
- Main Regional Center for Pain Relief and Supportive/Palliative Care, La Maddalena Cancer Center, Via San Lorenzo 312, 90146, Palermo, Italy
| | - Alessio Lo Cascio
- Main Regional Center for Pain Relief and Supportive/Palliative Care, La Maddalena Cancer Center, Via San Lorenzo 312, 90146, Palermo, Italy
| | - Alessandra Casuccio
- Department of Health Promotion, Mother and Child Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties (PROMISE), University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
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