This study looked at whether using an implantable drug delivery system (IDDS) works better than regular pain medicine for people with cancer who are in serious pain. These patients were already taking high doses of painkillers like morphine but still had pain. The study found that IDDS helped reduce pain more effectively and caused fewer side effects than regular treatment.
By the fourth week, people using the IDDS saw a big improvement in pain, with a “60% reduction in pain, while the CMM group only experienced a 37% reduction (P = 0.002)” (Smith et al., 2005). This means the IDDS worked better at controlling pain.
The study also showed that IDDS helped lower the side effects of pain medications. At four weeks, “IDDS patients had a 55% reduction in toxicity compared to 20% in the CMM group (P = 0.0003)” (Smith et al., 2005). By 12 weeks, those using IDDS had a “66% reduction in toxicity,” while the CMM group only had a 37% reduction. This is important because “toxicities are one of the most important reasons for non-compliance with pain medicine regimens” (Smith et al., 2005), meaning fewer side effects made it easier for patients to stick with their treatment.
While the study wasn’t focused on survival, it found that more people using IDDS were still alive after six months (52-54%) compared to those using regular treatment (32%) (Smith et al., 2005).
Smith, T. J., Coyne, P. J., Staats, P. S., Deer, T., Stearns, L. J., Rauck, R. L., Boortz-Marx, R. L., Buchser, E., Català, E., Bryce, D. A., Cousins, M., & Pool, G. E. (2005). An implantable drug delivery system (idds) for refractory cancer pain provides sustained pain control, less drug-related toxicity, and possibly better survival compared with Comprehensive Medical Management (CMM). Annals of Oncology, 16(5), 825–833. https://doi.org/10.1093/annonc/mdi156
The Engineer Jobs. (2016). “Implantable drug delivery device fights cancer while maintaining patients’ health” [Image]. https://www.theengineer.co.uk/content/news/implantable-drug-delivery-device-fights-cancer-while-maintaining-patients-health/
