Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 17, 2026

Development of Recombinant Proteins to Treat Chronic Pain
10:37

Development of Recombinant Proteins to Treat Chronic Pain

Published on: April 11, 2018

Pain management, including intrathecal pumps

Thomas J Smith1, Craig Swainey, Patrick J Coyne

  • 1Division of Hematology/Oncology and Palliative Care, Massey Cancer Center of Virginia Commonwealth University, MCV Box 980230, Richmond, VA 23298-0230, USA. tsmith@hsc.vcu.edu

Current Pain and Headache Reports
|July 12, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Implantable drug delivery systems (IDDS) offer superior pain relief and reduced side effects for cancer patients compared to standard care. This approach significantly improves outcomes for even the most challenging pain cases.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Pain Management
  • Neurology

Background:

  • Despite current guidelines, 14% of cancer patients experience unrelieved pain or side effects.
  • Optimal pain management therapy remains a challenge in oncology care.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the efficacy of implantable drug delivery systems (IDDS) for managing refractory cancer pain.
  • To compare IDDS with comprehensive medical management in a large randomized trial.

Main Methods:

  • A randomized trial involving 202 cancer patients with high pain scores (≥7.5) and significant narcotic use.
  • Patients received either IDDS or comprehensive medical management.

Main Results:

  • IDDS achieved higher clinical success rates (84.5% vs. 70.8%, P=0.05) compared to medical management.
  • IDDS significantly reduced pain scores (52% vs. 39%) and drug toxicity (50% vs. 17%).
  • IDDS demonstrated improved survival and reduced side effects, even in refractory pain patients.

Conclusions:

  • Implantable drug delivery systems represent a superior treatment option for cancer patients with refractory pain.
  • IDDS offer better pain control, reduced toxicity, and improved quality of life.
  • Evidence from randomized trials supports IDDS as a best treatment for this patient population.

More Related Videos

Intracranial Pharmacotherapy and Pain Assays in Rodents02:26

Intracranial Pharmacotherapy and Pain Assays in Rodents

Published on: April 9, 2019

A Modified Method for Intrathecal Catheterization in Rats11:15

A Modified Method for Intrathecal Catheterization in Rats

Published on: February 14, 2025

Related Concept Videos

Drug Delivery: Parenteral Route01:29

Drug Delivery: Parenteral Route

The parenteral route is a critical method of drug administration. It delivers compounds directly into the systemic circulation and bypasses the gastrointestinal tract. This approach is particularly advantageous for drugs that exhibit poor absorption or instability when administered orally.
There are three primary parenteral routes: intravenous (IV), intramuscular (IM), and subcutaneous (SC). The IV route introduces the drug directly into the bloodstream, ensuring immediate action. The IM route...
Analgesia and Pain Management01:25

Analgesia and Pain Management

Pain is critical to various clinical pathologies, provoking an urgent need for effective management. Pain, whether acute or chronic, is a complex neurochemical process. Its alleviation depends on the type, with nonopioid analgesics effective for mild to moderate pain, such as musculoskeletal or inflammatory pain, while neuropathic pain responds best to anticonvulsants, tricyclic antidepressants, or serotonin/norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors. For severe acute or chronic pain, opioids may be...
Local Anesthetics: Clinical Application as Epidural Anesthesia01:29

Local Anesthetics: Clinical Application as Epidural Anesthesia

Epidural anesthetics are administered in the fat-filled epidural space, the outermost part of the spinal canal. This technique is commonly employed for pain management and anesthesia during lower abdomen and pelvis surgeries or labor and delivery.
Since epidural anesthetics can be infused through an epidural catheter, all types of drugs, including short-acting ones, can be administered. Chloroprocaine and lidocaine are examples of short and long-duration anesthetics, respectively. Bupivacaine...
Local Anesthetics: Clinical Application as Spinal Anesthesia01:11

Local Anesthetics: Clinical Application as Spinal Anesthesia

Spinal anesthetics are given during lower abdomen and limb surgeries to block sensory and motor neurons. They are administered in the mid to low lumbar regions, primarily acting on the cauda equina's nerve roots. The blockade level depends on the local anesthetic (LA) concentration. Usually, low LA concentrations are sufficient to block sensory fibers, while only high LA concentrations block motor fibers. Other factors like injection volume and speed, the patient's posture, and the drug...
Drug Delivery: Miscellaneous Routes01:22

Drug Delivery: Miscellaneous Routes

Drug delivery methods like oral inhalation, nasal sprays, transdermal patches, eye drops, intravitreal injection,  and rectal administration provide localized effects with reduced toxicity.
Oral inhalation and nasal sprays swiftly transfer drugs across the respiratory epithelium's mucosal layer. Inhaled glucocorticoids and bronchodilators directly target lung conditions such as asthma, while fluticasone nasal spray mitigates allergic rhinitis.
Transdermal patches transport drugs through the...
Peripheral Artery Disease V: Postoperative Nursing Management01:23

Peripheral Artery Disease V: Postoperative Nursing Management

During the postoperative period, it is crucial to focus on maintaining circulation, identifying and managing potential complications, and planning for discharge.Nursing AssessmentVital signs monitoring: Regularly monitor vital signs, including blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, and temperature, to detect early signs of complications such as bleeding and infection.Circulation assessment: Monitor pulses, perform Doppler assessments, and check capillary refill, color, temperature, and...