title: Morphine versus methylprednisolone or aminophylline for relieving dyspnea in patients with advanced cancer in China: a retrospective study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Dyspnea is one of the most common and distressing symptoms that occurs in terminal cancer patients. However, there are no existing treatment guidelines for this condition in China.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This single-center, retrospective, observational study aimed to compare the efficacy of using morphine, methylprednisolone, or aminophylline to relieve the symptom of breathlessness in patients with advanced malignant tumors and to investigate the safety of these regimens during the treatment of dyspnea.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between August 2011 and January 2015 we retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 343 terminally ill cancer patients with dyspnea who received morphine, methylprednisolone, or aminophylline. The therapeutic effect of each treatment by means of visual analogue scale (VAS) scores was assessed and compared. Statistical methods included Chi square and analysis of variance tests. Differences were considered significant whenP< 0.05.
  
  
  RESULTS
  VAS scores after treatment were (16.82 ± 10.89), (25.72 ± 15.03), and (31.95 ± 16.00) points in the morphine, methylprednisolone, and aminophylline group, respectively. These differences were found to be significantly different (P< 0.05). The effectiveness ratings were 86.44, 62.16, and 49.12%, respectively (P< 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We found that morphine subcutaneous injection for advanced cancer patients with dyspnea was safe and typically more effective than methylprednisolone or aminophylline. Therefore, morphine treatment could significantly improve the quality of life in terminal cancer patients with short life expectancies who are experiencing shortness of breath.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University of Medicine, Shanghai, 201900 China.
authors.forename: Cong
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tian
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University of Medicine, Shanghai, 201900 China.
authors.forename: Jiong-Yi
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University of Medicine, Shanghai, 201900 China.
authors.forename: Mei-Ling
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University of Medicine, Shanghai, 201900 China.
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University of Medicine, Shanghai, 201900 China.
authors.forename: Lu-Lu
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University of Medicine, Shanghai, 201900 China.
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Liu
keywords: Advanced cancer; Aminophylline; China; Dyspnea; Methylprednisolone; Morphine