Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42050177›Full record

ArticleThe oncologist2026

Evaluation of dronabinol to decrease opioid use for cancer-induced bone pain.

Jennifer Segar, Kiah Farr, Mary Junak, Denise Roe, Sima Ehsani, Mohab Ibrahim, Todd W Vanderah, Pavani Chalasani

Registry-linked trialAbstract readClinical Trial, Phase I
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in The oncologist, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT03661892 (Title A Pilot Trial to Evaluate Syndros in Decreasing Opioid Requirement in Patients With Bone Metastases From Breast Cancer), which is not on this map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

NCT03661892 early_phase1completednot on this map

Title A Pilot Trial to Evaluate Syndros in Decreasing Opioid Requirement in Patients With Bone Metastases From Breast Cancer

TypeinterventionalSponsorUniversity of ArizonaRan2018 to 2021Enrolled14ConditionsBone Metastases, Breast Cancer, PainArmsSyndros
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Jennifer SegarNext Oncology, Houston, TX, United States.
Kiah FarrDepartment of Psychiatry, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States.
Mary JunakDepartment of Surgery, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, United States.ORCID 0009-0006-3761-3814
Denise RoeMel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States.
Sima EhsaniDepartment of Biostatistics, University of Arizona Cancer Center, Tucson, AZ, United States.
Mohab IbrahimDepartment of Anesthesiology, College of Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States.
Todd W VanderahDepartment of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States.
Pavani ChalasaniDivision of Hematology Oncology, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, United States.ORCID 0000-0002-7953-2979

Funding

VITAMIN AP30CA023074 · NCI · UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA · PI Teri L Bankhead · 1985 to 2026
$110.2M
Cannabinoid CB2 Agonists for Treatment of Breast Cancer-Induced Bone PainR01CA142115 · NCI · UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA · PI VANDERAH, TODD W · 2010 to 2021
$3.3M
Comprehensive Pain and Addiction Center (CPAC), University of Arizona Health Sciences, University of Arizona Cancer Center 5P30CA023074-40National Institutes of Health National Cancer Institute R01CA142115-02NCI NIH HHS P30 CA023074NCI NIH HHS R01 CA142115
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundBone metastases (BM) from breast cancer cause significant cancer-induced bone pain (CIBP). Management of CIBP is primarily with opioids, which have notable side effects. In preclinical models, cannabinoid receptor (CB)2 and CB1 agonists were shown to decrease CIBP and bone degradation. We hypothesized that the addition of CB2/CB1 agonists would decrease opioid requirements in patients with BM.

methodsWe conducted a single-arm study among breast cancer patients with BM on opioid therapy. Patients were treated with 10 mg dronabinol BID for 8 weeks. Our primary objective was to determine the proportion who decreased their opioid use by ≥ 20%. Participants completed the Brief Pain Inventory and the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer quality of life questionnaires before and after treatment. Pre- and post-treatment blood and urine were collected for analysis of biomarkers of bone remodeling.

resultsWe enrolled 14 evaluable patients, and 4 decreased opioid use by ≥ 20%, meeting the primary endpoint. Patients reported significant improvements in pain severity, interference scores, quality of life, and insomnia. There was one grade 3 adverse event (dizziness) related to the study drug. A significant decrease was noted in serum C-terminal telopeptide levels with therapy.

conclusionOur pilot study shows that the addition of dronabinol resulted in decreased opioid requirements for CIBP. Patient-reported outcomes also demonstrated improved pain and QOL with addition of dronabinol. Our results are promising and warrant further investigation into novel analgesics for CIBP to decrease opioid use.ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03661892.

Indexed as

Analgesics, OpioidBone NeoplasmsBreast NeoplasmsCancer PainAdultAgedDronabinolFemaleHumansMiddle AgedQuality of LifeAnalgesics, OpioidDronabinolbiomarkersbone metastasescancer-induced bone painCB2 agonistsdronabinolmetastatic breast canceropiates

Identifiers

PMID42050177
PMCPMC13375633

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Registered trials

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.