title: Efficacy and tolerability of oral oxycodone and oxycodone/naloxone combination in opioid-naïve cancer patients: a propensity analysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  World Health Organization step III opioids are required to relieve moderate-to-severe cancer pain; constipation is one of the most frequent opioid-induced side effects. A fixed combination, prolonged-release oxycodone/naloxone (OXN), was developed with the aim of reducing opioid-related gastrointestinal side effects. The objective of this study was to compare the efficacy and safety of prolonged-release oxycodone (OXY) alone to OXN in opioid-naïve cancer patients with moderate-to-severe pain.
  
  
  METHODS
  Propensity analysis was utilized in this observational study, which evaluated the efficacy, safety, and quality of life.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Out of the 210 patients recruited, 146 were matched using propensity scores and included in the comparative analysis. In both groups, pain intensity decreased by ≈3 points after 60 days, indicating comparable analgesic efficacy. Responder rates were similar between groups. Analgesia was achieved and maintained with similarly low and stable dosages over time (12.0-20.4 mg/d for OXY and 11.5-22.0 mg/d for OXN). Bowel Function Index (BFI) and laxative use per week improved from baseline at 30 days and 60 days in OXN recipients (-16, P<0.0001 and -3.5, P=0.02, respectively); BFI worsened in the OXY group. The overall incidence of drug-related adverse events was 28.9% in the OXY group and 8.2% in the OXN group (P<0.01); nausea and vomiting were two to five times less frequent with OXN. Quality of life improved to a significantly greater extent in patients receiving OXN compared to OXY (increase in Short Form-36 physical component score of 7.1 points vs 3.2 points, respectively; P<0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In patients with chronic cancer pain, OXN provided analgesic effectiveness that is similar to OXY, with early and sustained benefits in tolerability. The relationship between responsiveness to OXN and clinical characteristics is currently being investigated.
authors.affiliation: Emergency Care, Critical Care Medicine, Pain Medicine and Anesthesiology Department, Tor Vergata Polyclinic, University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Marzia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lazzari
authors.affiliation: Oncology Department, Pain and Palliative Care Research Unit, Mario Negri IRCCS, Italy ; Department of Clinical Sciences and Community, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Teresa
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Greco
authors.affiliation: Cardiology, Fondazione Maugeri IRCCS Veruno, Novara, Italy.
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Marcassa
authors.affiliation: Emergency Care, Critical Care Medicine, Pain Medicine and Anesthesiology Department, Tor Vergata Polyclinic, University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Simona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Finocchi
authors.affiliation: Emergency Care, Critical Care Medicine, Pain Medicine and Anesthesiology Department, Tor Vergata Polyclinic, University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Clarissa
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Caldarulo
authors.affiliation: Oncology Department, Pain and Palliative Care Research Unit, Mario Negri IRCCS, Italy.
authors.forename: Oscar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Corli
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D059350:Chronic Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D003248:Constipation / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D003672:Defecation / Q000187:drug effects; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D054368:Laxatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009270:Naloxone / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology; D010098:Oxycodone / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D010147:Pain Measurement; D057216:Propensity Score; D011788:Quality of Life; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012384:Rome; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D004338:Drug Combinations; D054368:Laxatives; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists; C557247:oxycodone naloxone combination; D009270:Naloxone; D010098:Oxycodone
keywords: analgesia; cancer pain; naloxone; oxycodone; propensity analysis