Sulfasalazine in Decreasing Opioid Requirements in Breast Cancer Patients with Cancer-Induced Bone Pain
This phase II trial tests the use of sulfasalazine in decreasing opioid pain medication requirements in patients with breast cancer who are experiencing cancer-induced bone pain. Patients with cancer-induced bone pain are taking ever-increasing doses of opioids to control their pain, which can come with significant side effects. These side effects limit the amount of opioids that can be safely administered. A better approach to control cancer-induced bone pain and lower the amount of opioids used would be to add a non-opioid medication that has a different mechanism of action(s). Sulfasalazine is an anti-inflammatory drug and can decrease production of glutamate, which activates pain receptors. In addition, it has been shown to accelerate tumor cell death. By different mechanisms of actions, sulfasalazine may lower the amount of opioids needed to treat cancer-induced bone pain while maintaining or improving pain control. Lowering of opioid dosing may also decrease the side effects associated with opioid use that in turn may improve quality of life.