Studying Fentanyl in Patients With Cancer

Pharmacokinetics of Continuous Infusion Fentanyl in Cancer Patients

RATIONALE: Studying blood samples from cancer patients undergoing pain treatment in the laboratory may help doctors learn more about how pain drugs work in the body. It may also help doctors predict how patients will respond to treatment.

PURPOSE: This research study is looking at fentanyl in patients with cancer.

OBJECTIVES:

• To describe the pharmacokinetics of prolonged intravenous infusions of fentanyl citrate in adult patients with cancer.

OUTLINE: Patients undergo blood sample collection before and after discontinuation of fentanyl citrate therapy (10 days total). Pharmacokinetic analysis is performed on the samples.

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Diagnosis of cancer
• Inpatient at the Johns Hopkins Hospital Cancer Center undergoing pain treatment with continuous infusion fentanyl citrate for ≥ 5 days

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

• Willing to change to an alternative opioid

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

• See Disease Characteristics
• At least 72 hours since transdermal fentanyl citrate administration
• At least 12 hours since transmucosal fentanyl citrate administration
• No known requirement for continued opioid therapy with any fentanyl citrate products after discontinuation of fentanyl citrate therapy