Observational Study
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2025. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Clin Oncol. Apr 24, 2025; 16(4): 104827
Published online Apr 24, 2025. doi: 10.5306/wjco.v16.i4.104827
Evaluating pregabalin in cancer patients with chronic neuropathic pain and depression: an observational case series
Pinaki Chakraborty, Mrinal Borgohain
Pinaki Chakraborty, Department of Oncology, Gauhati Medical College and Hospital, Guwahati 781007, Assam, India
Mrinal Borgohain, Medical Affairs, MSN Laboratories, Hyderabad 500084, Telangāna, India
Author contributions: Chakraborty P, in his capacity as the principal investigator, assumed a pivotal role in orchestrating the entire research endeavor, providing strategic guidance, conceptualizing the study framework, and ensuring the alignment of research objectives with methodological rigor. His leadership was instrumental in steering the project through its various phases, from the initial design to the formulation of hypotheses, and overseeing the execution and interpretation of results, thereby shaping the study's overall direction and integrity; Borgohain M, as the co-investigator, played an equally indispensable role in the study’s success. His responsibilities extended to the meticulous crafting of the manuscript, where his expertise in scholarly writing was evident in the precise articulation of the research findings and their theoretical implications. Moreover, his analytical prowess was central to the data analysis process, where he deployed advanced statistical methodologies to extract meaningful insights from complex datasets. Through his contributions, Dr. Borgohain ensured that the study adhered to the highest standards of scientific rigor, both in terms of its analytical robustness and its intellectual presentation.
Institutional review board statement: The aforementioned project has been reviewed and approved by the Committee on Human Rights Related to Research Involving Human Subjects, based on the Declaration of Helsinki.
Informed consent statement: I have read and understood the information presented in this informed consent form. I have been given the opportunity to ask questions and have received answers to my satisfaction. I understand that my participation is voluntary and that I may withdraw at any time without consequence. By signing this form, I give my consent to participate in the observational case series study.
Conflict-of-interest statement: On behalf of all authors, the corresponding author states that there is no conflict of interest.
STROBE statement: The authors have read the STROBE Statement-checklist of items, and the manuscript was prepared and revised according to the STROBE Statement-checklist of items.
Data sharing statement: sharing statement: Data will be shared as and when required.
Open Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Mrinal Borgohain, MD, Medical Affairs, MSN Laboratories, H. No. 2-91/10 & 11/MSN, Whitefields, Kondapur, Hyderabad 500084, Telangāna, India. mrinal.borgohain@msnlabs.com
Received: January 8, 2025
Revised: February 17, 2025
Accepted: March 4, 2025
Published online: April 24, 2025
Processing time: 78 Days and 5.5 Hours
Abstract
BACKGROUND

Chronic neuropathic pain and depression are common and debilitating conditions in cancer patients, significantly impacting their quality of life. Pregabalin, an anticonvulsant medication, is used for neuropathic pain and may also influence depressive symptoms. This study evaluates the efficacy and safety of pregabalin on pain intensity, depression severity, and side effects in cancer patients with chronic neuropathic pain and depression.

AIM

To evaluate the impact of pregabalin on pain intensity, depression severity, and the safety profile in cancer patients with chronic neuropathic pain and depression.

METHODS

This observational case series included 10 cancer patients experiencing chronic neuropathic pain and depression. Pregabalin was administered at a starting dose of 150 mg twice daily, with adjustments based on patient tolerance and pain response up to 300 mg twice daily. Pain intensity and depression severity were assessed using the brief pain inventory (BPI) and the Hamilton depression rating scale (HDRS) at baseline, 4 weeks, and 8 weeks. Side effects were monitored using a self-reported side effect questionnaire.

RESULTS

Pregabalin led to a significant reduction in pain intensity and depression severity. The mean BPI score decreased from 7.8 (SD = 1.2) at baseline to 5.2 (SD = 1.4) at 4 weeks and 4.1 (SD = 1.5) at 8 weeks, representing reductions of 33.3% and 47.4%, respectively. The mean HDRS score decreased from 18.5 (SD = 4.0) at baseline to 13.2 (SD = 4.1) at 4 weeks and 9.8 (SD = 3.6) at 8 weeks, showing reductions of 28.4% and 47.0%, respectively. Side effects included dizziness (50%), drowsiness (40%), weight gain (30%), and dry mouth (20%). No severe adverse effects were reported. All patients completed the study, with 30% requiring dose adjustments.

CONCLUSION

Pregabalin significantly alleviates both chronic neuropathic pain and depression in cancer patients with a manageable safety profile. These findings support the use of pregabalin in this patient population, though further research with larger samples and controlled designs is warranted.

Keywords: Pregabalin; Cancer; Neuropathic pain; Depression

Core Tip: The study found that pregabalin significantly reduced both pain intensity and depression severity in terminal cancer patients. Pain levels, as measured by the brief pain inventory, saw a 47.4% reduction, while depressive symptoms, assessed using the Hamilton depression rating scale, experienced a similar reduction of 47.0%. Side effects were manageable, with no severe adverse effects reported. These findings indicate that pregabalin holds promise as a treatment option to improve the quality of life in terminal cancer patients, though further research is needed to substantiate these results.