Journal of Pain and Symptom Management
Volume 35, Issue 4 , Pages 420-429 , April 2008

Tetrodotoxin for Moderate to Severe Cancer Pain: A Randomized, Double Blind, Parallel Design Multicenter Study

  • Neil A. Hagen, MD, FRCPC

      Affiliations

    • Division of Palliative Medicine, Department of Oncology, University of Calgary and Alberta Cancer Board, Calgary, Alberta
    • Corresponding Author InformationAddress correspondence to: Neil A. Hagen, MD, FRCPC, Department of Oncology, University of Calgary, 1331-29 Street NW, Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2N 4N2.
    • ,
  • Patrick du Souich, MD, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Montréal, Montréal, Québec
    • ,
  • Bernard Lapointe, MD

      Affiliations

    • Palliative Care Program, Sir Mortimer B. Davis – Jewish General Hospital, Montréal, Québec
    • ,
  • May Ong-Lam, MD, FRCPC

      Affiliations

    • St. Paul's Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia
    • ,
  • Benoit Dubuc, MD

      Affiliations

    • Pain Clinic, CHUM – Hotel Dieu, Montréal, Québec
    • ,
  • David Walde, MD, FRCPC

      Affiliations

    • Algoma Regional Cancer Program/Sault Area Hospital, Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario
    • ,
  • Robin Love, MD, CCFP

      Affiliations

    • Nanaimo Regional General Hospital, Nanaimo, British Columbia
    • ,
  • Anh Ho Ngoc, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Wex Pharmaceuticals, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    • ,
  • on Behalf of the Canadian Tetrodotoxin Study Group

,Accepted 4 June 2007.

  • Image Result

    Study design.

    Study design.

  • Image Result

    Average change in pain intensity after the subcutaneous administration of 30μg bid of TTX or placebo for four days in 36 and 37 patients, respectively.

    Average change in pain intensity after the subcutaneous administration of 30μg bid of TTX or placebo for four days in 36 and 37 patients, respectively.

  • Image Result

    Duration of analgesic response in the 14 patients who reported a ≥30% decrease in BPI#3, BPI#5, or in any of the three most bothersome pains.

    Duration of analgesic response in the 14 patients who reported a ≥30% decrease in BPI#3, BPI#5, or in any of the three most bothersome pains.

  • Image Result

    Distribution according to the randomization to TTX or placebo, the type of pain (neuropathic and nonneuropathic) and the response to TTX and placebo. The percentages listed in the figure reflect the p

    Distribution according to the randomization to TTX or placebo, the type of pain (neuropathic and nonneuropathic) and the response to TTX and placebo. The percentages listed in the figure reflect the percentage of responders in the indicated treatment group. For example, 18% of patients with neuropathic pain who were administered placebo, responded to the treatment according to the predetermined primary endpoint.

 This study was funded by WEX Pharmaceuticals Inc.

PII: S0885-3924(07)00744-0

doi: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2007.05.011

Journal of Pain and Symptom Management
Volume 35, Issue 4 , Pages 420-429 , April 2008

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