title: Buprenorphine in long-term control of chronic pain in cancer patients.
abstract: The aim of this randomized open-label prospective study was to evaluate the analgesic activity of buprenorphine in a transdermal formulation for cancer chronic pain control versus sustained-release morphine, in all cases combined with oral tramadol. A transdermal system with 35 microg/h buprenorphine was applied to the first group of patients (BT); the second group received 60 mg/day of sustained-release morphine (MT). In both groups oral tramadol was administered to a maximum of 200 mg daily, in case of need. The administration of transdermal buprenorphine versus morphine resulted in significant differences in the physical pain (P = 0.01), mental health (P = 0.03) and vitality (P = 0.001). These data indicated that the BT group showed an improvement of pain and a positive effect on the quality life.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Surgical and Emergency Sciences, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Caterina
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Pace
authors.forename: Maria Beatrice
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Passavanti
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Grella
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mazzariello
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maisto
authors.forename: Manlio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Barbarisi
authors.forename: Ena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Baccari
authors.forename: Pasquale
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sansone
authors.forename: Caterina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Aurilio
mesh_terms: D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002047:Buprenorphine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009020:Morphine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D011788:Quality of Life; D014147:Tramadol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D014147:Tramadol; D002047:Buprenorphine; D009020:Morphine