Pilot Study of Pregabalin for Neuropathic Pain Associated with Bone Metastases in Cancer Patients

• Project/Area Number: 17K15908
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: General internal medicine(including psychosomatic medicine)
• Research Institution: Kindai University
• Principal Investigator: SAKAI Kiyohiro 近畿大学, 医学部, 講師 (70580794)
• Project Period (FY): 2017-04-01 – 2021-03-31
• Project Status: Completed (Fiscal Year 2020)
• Budget Amount: ¥4,030,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,100,000、Indirect Cost: ¥930,000); Fiscal Year 2019: ¥1,430,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,100,000、Indirect Cost: ¥330,000); Fiscal Year 2018: ¥1,300,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,000,000、Indirect Cost: ¥300,000); Fiscal Year 2017: ¥1,300,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,000,000、Indirect Cost: ¥300,000)
• Keywords: 神経障害性疼痛 / 骨転移 / プレガバリン / がん患者 / 転移性骨腫瘍 / 緩和医療

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Neuropathic pain in cancer patients with bone metastasis is often intractable, and this study was conducted to investigate the effect of pregabalin administration on pain relief as a method of alleviating the symptoms. The research protocol has been completed and research permission has been approved by the Ethics Committee. Currently, we are analyzing the data of 301 cases to be studied and plan to present the results at conferences and in papers.

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

がん患者で生じるがん関連神経障害性疼痛は難治性で、医療用麻薬などのオピオイド製剤にも抵抗性であることが多い。ある臨床研究によれば、中枢神経系への障害を伴わないがんの骨転移痛患者では、17％の患者が神経障害性疼痛様の痛みを有し、神経障害性疼痛症状を持たない患者群よりも痛みが強いとの報告がある。がんの骨転移に伴う神経障害性疼痛への有効な治療方法の検討は臨床上意義のあることと考えられる。本研究の目的は、がんの骨転移に伴う神経障害性疼痛の通常行われてきた治療への、プレガバリンの上乗せ効果を検討することである。