Efficacy and safety of oral tapentadol for cancer-related pain: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis
Abstract
BACKGROUND
This systematic review aims to evaluate the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of oral tapentadol in the management of cancer-related pain in adults. It updates the 2015 Cochrane review on the same topic by including newer trials up to March 2024.
METHODS
A systematic search of Medline (via PubMed), the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and references from the previous review was conducted. Randomized controlled trials comparing oral tapentadol with placebo or other opioids (e.g., morphine, oxycodone, tramadol/paracetamol) in adults with chronic cancer pain were included. The main outcomes assessed were pain reduction, need and dose of rescue medication, adverse events, treatment discontinuation, and patient-reported global impression of change. Risk of bias was evaluated using the Cochrane tool. Meta-analyses were performed using a random-effects model.
RESULTS
Five randomized controlled trials comprising 1152 patients were included. Across all outcomes evaluated, there was no significant difference between tapentadol and comparator opioids. Pain reduction was comparable (MD=-0.06; 95% CI: [-0.44, 0.31]), as were adverse effects (RR=0.98; 95% CI: [0.90, 1.08]), need for rescue medication (RR=1.07; 95% CI: [0.93, 1.22]), and dropout rates (RR=1.10; 95% CI: [0.87, 1.40]). All outcomes were rated as inconclusive due to overlapping confidence intervals with the null effect. The overall risk of bias was high in three studies and unclear in two.…
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence Hub reads this as a meta-analysis, done in people. Its evidence level is 1 of 5 (Highest · pooled evidence). Pooled evidence from several studies sits at the top of the evidence pyramid. Reported size: 1,152 participants or records.
Read the paper
Related studies
- Effect of dexamethasone as an analgesic adjuvant to multimodal pain treatment after total knee arthroplasty: randomised clinical trial
- Effect of a Postoperative Multimodal Opioid-Sparing Protocol vs Standard Opioid Prescribing on Postoperative Opioid Consumption After Knee or Shoulder Arthroscopy: A Randomized Clinical Trial
- Comparison of the Post-Caesarean Analgesic Effect of Adding Dexmedetomidine to Paracetamol and Ketorolac: A Randomized Clinical Trial
- A triple-blind randomized clinical trial of different associations between dexamethasone and non-steroids anti-inflammatories for preemptive action in third molar extractions
- An open label randomized clinical trial of Indomethacin for mild and moderate hospitalised Covid-19 patients
- Oral paracetamol and/or ibuprofen for treating pain after soft tissue injuries: Single centre double-blind, randomised controlled clinical trial
Go deeper in Evidence Hub
Evidence Hub adds a study data sheet (design, sample size, evidence level, key numbers), an AI summary and a chat grounded in the paper's text.