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Use of a lidocaine patch in the management of postsurgical neuropathic pain in patients with cancer: a phase III double-blind crossover study (N01CB)

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Abstract

Objective

Current therapies often have limited efficacy and untenable side effects when used to treat persistent incisional pain following cancer-related surgery. Lidocaine patches reduce neuropathic pain from herpes zoster but their benefits for persistent cancer-related postsurgical incisional pain remain unclear.

Study design

Multicenter, double-blind, randomized, two-period crossover trial.

Materials and methods

Twenty-eight cancer patients with postsurgical incisional pain were randomly assigned to receive either lidocaine patches followed by placebo patches or the reverse. Each study period lasted 4 weeks. Patches were applied daily upon waking and left in place for a maximum of 18 h. The primary outcome measure, an 11-point pain intensity rating scale, was administered weekly. Secondary outcomes were administered weekly (Brief Pain Inventory-Short Form(BPI-SF), Subject Global Impression of Change) and at the end of each study period (Short Form-Magill Pain Questionnaire, Linear Analogue Self Assessment Scale, Neuropathy Pain Scale, Pain Catastrophizing Scale, Profile of Mood States Short Form).

Results

Twenty-one patients completed the first period and 18 completed their crossover second phase. No significant intergroup differences were detected in pain intensity ratings. Few secondary end points were significantly different when subjects used the lidocaine versus placebo patches. BPI-SF interference scores were lower in patients using the lidocaine patch during the first study period, including several scores that achieved statistical significance, general activity (p = 0.02), work (p = 0.04), and relations with others (p = 0.02).

Conclusion

Lidocaine patch use did not significantly reduce pain intensity ratings or the majority of related secondary end points in cancer patients with persistent incisional pain.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Mayo Clinic and Mayo Foundation, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA

    Andrea L. Cheville, Jeff A. Sloan, Gilbert Y. Wong, Heshan Liu, Bradley J. Christensen & Charles L. Loprinzi

  2. Mayo Clinic Scottsdale, Scottsdale, AZ, 85259-5404, USA

    Donald W. Northfelt

  3. Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, GA, 30912, USA

    Anand P. Jillella

  4. Upstate Carolina CCOP, Spartanburg, SC, 29303, USA

    James D. Bearden III

  5. Toledo Community Hospital Oncology Program CCOP, Toledo, OH, 43623, USA

    Paul L. Schaefer

  6. Montana Cancer Consortium, Billings, MT, 59101, USA

    Benjamin T. Marchello

  7. Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street, SW Rochester, MN, 55905, USA

    Charles L. Loprinzi

Authors
  1. Andrea L. Cheville
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  2. Jeff A. Sloan
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  7. Heshan Liu
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  8. Paul L. Schaefer
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  9. Benjamin T. Marchello
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  11. Charles L. Loprinzi
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Charles L. Loprinzi.

Additional information

This study was conducted as a collaborative trial of the North Central Cancer Treatment Group and Mayo Clinic and was supported in part by Public Health Service grants CA-25224, CA-37404, CA-35103, CA-35119, CA-35415, and CA-35113.

Additional participating institutions include: Medcenter One Health Systems, Bismarck, ND 58501, USA (Edward J. Wos, M.D.); Illinois Oncology Research Assn. CCOP, Peoria, IL 61615-7828, USA (John W. Kugler, M.D.); Abbott Northwestern Hospital, Minneapolis, MN 55407, USA (Daniel M. Anderson, M.D.); Siouxland Hematology–Oncology Associates, Sioux City, IA 51105, USA (Donald B. Wender, M.D.)

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Cheville, A.L., Sloan, J.A., Northfelt, D.W. et al. Use of a lidocaine patch in the management of postsurgical neuropathic pain in patients with cancer: a phase III double-blind crossover study (N01CB). Support Care Cancer 17, 451–460 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-008-0542-x

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