Global BulletinAll NewsFDA Approval AlertWomen in Oncology
Expert InterviewsAround the PracticeBetween the LinesFace OffFrom All AnglesMeeting of the MindsOncViewPodcastsTraining AcademyTreatment Algorithms with the Oncology BrothersVideos
Conferences
All JournalsEditorial BoardFor AuthorsYear in Review
Frontline ForumSatellite Sessions
CME/CE
Awareness MonthInteractive ToolsNurse Practitioners/Physician's AssistantsPartnersSponsoredSponsored Media
Career CenterSubscribe
Adverse Effects
Brain Cancer
Breast CancerBreast CancerBreast Cancer
Gastrointestinal CancerGastrointestinal CancerGastrointestinal CancerGastrointestinal CancerGastrointestinal CancerGastrointestinal Cancer
Genitourinary CancersGenitourinary CancersGenitourinary CancersGenitourinary Cancers
Gynecologic CancersGynecologic CancersGynecologic CancersGynecologic Cancers
Head & Neck Cancer
Hematologic OncologyHematologic OncologyHematologic OncologyHematologic Oncology
InfectionInfection
Leukemia
Lung CancerLung CancerLung Cancer
Lymphoma
Neuroendocrine Tumors
Oncology
Pediatric Cancers
Radiation Oncology
Sarcoma
Screening
Skin Cancer & Melanoma
Surgery
Thyroid Cancer
Spotlight -
  • Radiation Oncology
  • Surgery
Adverse Effects
Brain Cancer
Breast CancerBreast CancerBreast Cancer
Gastrointestinal CancerGastrointestinal CancerGastrointestinal CancerGastrointestinal CancerGastrointestinal CancerGastrointestinal Cancer
Genitourinary CancersGenitourinary CancersGenitourinary CancersGenitourinary Cancers
Gynecologic CancersGynecologic CancersGynecologic CancersGynecologic Cancers
Head & Neck Cancer
Hematologic OncologyHematologic OncologyHematologic OncologyHematologic Oncology
InfectionInfection
Leukemia
Lung CancerLung CancerLung Cancer
Lymphoma
Neuroendocrine Tumors
Oncology
Pediatric Cancers
Radiation Oncology
Sarcoma
Screening
Skin Cancer & Melanoma
Surgery
Thyroid Cancer
    • Conferences
    • CME/CE
    • Career Center
    • Subscribe
Advertisement

Andrew Cook, MD, Discussed the Rational for Using Gabapentin to Prevent CRT-Related Pain in Oropharyngeal Cancer

November 3, 2021
By Andrew Cook, MD
Video
Conference|American Society for Radiation Oncology Annual Meeting (ASTRO)

CancerNetwork® sat down with Andrew Cook, MD, at the 2021 American Society for Radiation Oncology to talk about using prophylactic gabapentin for those receiving chemoradiotherapy for oropharyngeal cancer.

At the 2021 American Society for Radiation Oncology, CancerNetwork® spoke with Andrew Cook, MD, a resident at Henry Ford Health System, about the rationale behind utilizing prophylactic gabapentin (Neurontin) instead of traditional opioids to reduce therapy-induced pain in patients with oropharyngeal cancer. In a trial assessing the prophylactic treatment, Cook explained that their focus was to limit opioid use to try and provide benefit within a curative intent patient population.

Transcript:

In general treating patients with head and neck cancer, mucositis is a very common [adverse] effect. It’s very difficult to manage. We’re [fairly] limited in our techniques that we can use for that in terms of lifestyle modifications, oral anesthetic mouth rinses, and opioid medications. A vast majority of these patients are undergoing curative intent therapy, and looking at rates of opioid use, many studies quoted patients being on these opioid medications, with up to 40% of them buying [opioids] 3 months out and 20% 6 months out. Clearly, limiting opioid use in a curative intent population is something that is a priority and will be beneficial for these patients.

Gabapentin has been one strategy that a lot of practitioners have been using. It has been looked at before in some studies, although the outcomes of those overall have been mixed on whether it’s helpful. In addition to thinking specifically about the prospective studies that have looked at this, none of them had used a placebo comparator. They all use a broad range of patients. Some patients [who] underwent post-operative radiation therapy vs definitiveradiotherapy [received] different radiation doses and chemotherapy at different subsites. What we wanted to do was look at this question using a placebo comparator with a very select group of patients, namely locally advanced oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma [who were] undergoing definitive chemoradiotherapy.

Reference

Cook AE, Modh A, Ali H, et al. Randomized phase III, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of prophylactic gabapentin for the reduction of radiation therapy-induced pain during the treatment of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2021;111(suppl 3):S61-S62. doi:10.1016/j.ijrobp.2021.07.156

Recent Videos
Current findings from the phase 1/2 CaDAnCe-101 trial show no predictive factors of improved responses with BGB-16673 in patients with CLL or SLL.
The phase 3 NIVOSTOP trial evaluated an anti–PD-1 immunotherapy, nivolumab, in a patient population similar in the KEYNOTE-689 trial.
Opportunities to further reduce relapses include pembrolizumab-based combination therapy and evaluating the agent’s contribution before and after surgery.
For patients with locally advanced head and neck cancers, the current standard of care for curative therapy has a cure rate of less than 50%.
According to Maurie Markman, MD, patient-reported outcomes pertain to more relevant questions surrounding the impact of therapy for patients.
Related Content
Advertisement

225Ac-LNC1011 targeted α therapy elicited an ORR of 50.0% in patients with PSMA-positive prostate cancer in a phase 1 trial.

Novel Targeted Therapy Shows Promise in PSMA-Positive Prostate Cancer

Tim Cortese
June 24th 2025
Article

225Ac-LNC1011 targeted α therapy elicited an ORR of 50.0% in patients with PSMA-positive prostate cancer in a phase 1 trial.


An expert panel highlights key presentations in multiple myeloma, lymphoma, and other hematologic malignancies at the 2025 ASCO Annual Meeting.

CAR T and Transplantation Advances Across Hematologic Cancers at ASCO 2025

Rahul Banerjee, MD, FACP;Taha Al-Juhaishi, MD;Muhammad Salman Faisal, MD
June 9th 2025
Podcast

An expert panel highlights key presentations in multiple myeloma, lymphoma, and other hematologic malignancies at the 2025 ASCO Annual Meeting.


Use of PET-guided radiotherapy may enable the opportunity to incorporate biological information into the planning and delivery of radiation.

PET-Guided Radiotherapy Successfully Manages Lung and Bone Tumors

Russ Conroy
June 23rd 2025
Article

Use of PET-guided radiotherapy may enable the opportunity to incorporate biological information into the planning and delivery of radiation.


Experts in gynecologic cancer, genitourinary malignancies, and other disciplines highlight noteworthy clinical data slated for presentation at ASCO 2025.

Spotlighting Key Upcoming Presentations Across Oncology at ASCO 2025

Rachel N. Grisham, MD;MinhTri Nguyen, MD;Eric Singhi, MD;Douglas Adkins, MD;Benjamin Garmezy, MD
May 26th 2025
Podcast

Experts in gynecologic cancer, genitourinary malignancies, and other disciplines highlight noteworthy clinical data slated for presentation at ASCO 2025.


A retrospective study shows that [177Lu]Lu-PSMA-617 retreatment led to a median OS of 14.5 months in castration-resistant prostate cancer.

Radioligand Therapy Retreatment Shows Promise in Metastatic CRPC

Tim Cortese
June 23rd 2025
Article

A retrospective study shows that [177Lu]Lu-PSMA-617 retreatment led to a median OS of 14.5 months in castration-resistant prostate cancer.


Efficacy with etentamig was comparable across prespecified subgroups with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma, suggesting broad therapeutic benefit.

Etentamig Displays Durable Responses, Tolerability in R/R Multiple Myeloma

Roman Fabbricatore
June 22nd 2025
Article

Efficacy with etentamig was comparable across prespecified subgroups with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma, suggesting broad therapeutic benefit.

Related Content
Advertisement

225Ac-LNC1011 targeted α therapy elicited an ORR of 50.0% in patients with PSMA-positive prostate cancer in a phase 1 trial.

Novel Targeted Therapy Shows Promise in PSMA-Positive Prostate Cancer

Tim Cortese
June 24th 2025
Article

225Ac-LNC1011 targeted α therapy elicited an ORR of 50.0% in patients with PSMA-positive prostate cancer in a phase 1 trial.


An expert panel highlights key presentations in multiple myeloma, lymphoma, and other hematologic malignancies at the 2025 ASCO Annual Meeting.

CAR T and Transplantation Advances Across Hematologic Cancers at ASCO 2025

Rahul Banerjee, MD, FACP;Taha Al-Juhaishi, MD;Muhammad Salman Faisal, MD
June 9th 2025
Podcast

An expert panel highlights key presentations in multiple myeloma, lymphoma, and other hematologic malignancies at the 2025 ASCO Annual Meeting.


Use of PET-guided radiotherapy may enable the opportunity to incorporate biological information into the planning and delivery of radiation.

PET-Guided Radiotherapy Successfully Manages Lung and Bone Tumors

Russ Conroy
June 23rd 2025
Article

Use of PET-guided radiotherapy may enable the opportunity to incorporate biological information into the planning and delivery of radiation.


Experts in gynecologic cancer, genitourinary malignancies, and other disciplines highlight noteworthy clinical data slated for presentation at ASCO 2025.

Spotlighting Key Upcoming Presentations Across Oncology at ASCO 2025

Rachel N. Grisham, MD;MinhTri Nguyen, MD;Eric Singhi, MD;Douglas Adkins, MD;Benjamin Garmezy, MD
May 26th 2025
Podcast

Experts in gynecologic cancer, genitourinary malignancies, and other disciplines highlight noteworthy clinical data slated for presentation at ASCO 2025.


A retrospective study shows that [177Lu]Lu-PSMA-617 retreatment led to a median OS of 14.5 months in castration-resistant prostate cancer.

Radioligand Therapy Retreatment Shows Promise in Metastatic CRPC

Tim Cortese
June 23rd 2025
Article

A retrospective study shows that [177Lu]Lu-PSMA-617 retreatment led to a median OS of 14.5 months in castration-resistant prostate cancer.


Efficacy with etentamig was comparable across prespecified subgroups with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma, suggesting broad therapeutic benefit.

Etentamig Displays Durable Responses, Tolerability in R/R Multiple Myeloma

Roman Fabbricatore
June 22nd 2025
Article

Efficacy with etentamig was comparable across prespecified subgroups with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma, suggesting broad therapeutic benefit.

Advertisement
About
Advertise
CureToday.com
OncLive.com
OncNursingNews.com
TargetedOnc.com
Editorial
Contact
Terms and Conditions
Privacy
Do Not Sell My Personal Information
Contact Info

2 Commerce Drive
Cranbury, NJ 08512

609-716-7777

© 2025 MJH Life Sciences

All rights reserved.