Cancer pain management: Safety and efficacy of transdermal fentanyl (TDF)

8234 Background: Cancer patients with moderate-severe pain often require opioid analgesics. Methods: From October 2002 to November 2003, 62 outpatients underwent transdermal treatment with Fentanyl (TDF). All pts had been previously treated with other drugs according to the WHO analgesic scale. Pts characteristics: median age 64 years (range 44–84), M/F 29/33, median ECOG PS 0 (range 0–2). Primary tumors: 24 breast, 8 lung, 9 colorectal, 7 pancreas, 7 prostate, 7 others. Somatic pain was reported in 35/62 pts (56%), visceral pain in 12/62 pts (19%), 15/62 pts (24%) showed both types, with neuropatic features in 10%. Breakthrough pain was present in 24/62 pts (38%) requiring rescue medication. 47/62 pts (75%) received palliative chemo-radiotherapy. All pts were evaluated weekly with VAS (Visual Analogic Scale) and TIQ (Therapy Impact Questionnaire). A Geriatric Assessment with CIRS (Comorbility Index), ADL and IADL was performed for pts aged over 65 years (23/62; 37%) at the beginning of treatment and afte...