title: Multicenter phase II study of an opioid-based pain control program for head and neck cancer patients receiving chemoradiotherapy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this multi-center phase II study was to clarify the clinical benefit of an opioid-based pain control program for head and neck cancer patients during chemoradiotherapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Head and neck cancer patients who were to receive definitive or postoperative chemoradiotherapy were enrolled. The opioid-based pain control program consisted of a three-step ladder, with basic regimens of: The primary endpoint of this study was compliance with radiotherapy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 101 patients from 10 institutions were registered between February 2008 and May 2009 and included in the analysis. The major combination chemotherapy regimen was cisplatin alone (76%). The rate of completion of radiotherapy was 99% and the rate of unplanned breaks in radiotherapy was 13% (13/101, 90% confidence interval: 9.9-16.5%). Median maximum quantity of morphine used per day was 35 mg (range 0-150 mg).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Use of a systematic pain control program may improve compliance with CRT.
authors: Division of Radiation Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital East, Chiba, Japan, Japan. szenda@east.ncc.go.jp
authors: Sadamoto
authors: S
authors: Zenda
authors: Kazuto
authors: K
authors: Matsuura
authors: Hiroyuki
authors: H
authors: Tachibana
authors: Akihiro
authors: A
authors: Homma
authors: Tadaaki
authors: T
authors: Kirita
authors: Nobuya
authors: N
authors: Monden
authors: Shigemichi
authors: S
authors: Iwae
authors: Yojiro
authors: Y
authors: Ota
authors: Tetsuo
authors: T
authors: Akimoto
authors: Hiroshi
authors: H
authors: Otsuru
authors: Makoto
authors: M
authors: Tahara
authors: Kengo
authors: K
authors: Kato
authors: Masao
authors: M
authors: Asai
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D059248:Chemoradiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009020:Morphine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D059408:Pain Management
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D009020:Morphine; D002945:Cisplatin