{"title":"Integrating Palliative Care into Relapsed/Refractory Multiple Myeloma in the Immunotherapy Era: A Narrative Review.","authors":"Muhanad Alzahrani, Zaid Musaad Alsharif, Ziyad Alzahrani","doi":"10.1080/15360288.2026.2725826","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/15360288.2026.2725826","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM) has been transformed by T-cell-redirecting immunotherapies, including chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy and bispecific antibodies. Despite unprecedented response rates in heavily pretreated patients, these treatments impose complex and sustained toxicities, substantial logistical demands, and existential distress. Palliative care integration in this setting remains underexplored. We conducted a narrative synthesis using a systematic-style search of PubMed/MEDLINE and Web of Science, identifying 315 records. After deduplication and title and abstract screening, 51 reports underwent full-text review. Eighteen primary studies were included, and 12 supplementary references were added for contextual support, yielding 30 citations overall. Six thematic domains emerged: the relevance of palliative care in RRMM; quality of life and patient-reported outcomes; supportive and palliative care challenges during immunotherapy; communication and shared decision-making; caregiver burden; and practical models for integration. Early, concurrent palliative care integration in RRMM immunotherapy is warranted and feasible and should be evaluated prospectively.</p>","PeriodicalId":16645,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Pain & Palliative Care Pharmacotherapy","volume":" ","pages":"1-13"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2026-09-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148887769","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Daniela Dussan Garzon, Mariana Riascos Ramírez, David Ricardo Gonzalez Gonzalez, Laura Sophia Carrillo Montenegro, Santiago Nieto Muñoz, Fernando Gomez
{"title":"Available Evidence on Hydromorphone for Oncological Pain Management in Older Adults: A Systematic Review.","authors":"Daniela Dussan Garzon, Mariana Riascos Ramírez, David Ricardo Gonzalez Gonzalez, Laura Sophia Carrillo Montenegro, Santiago Nieto Muñoz, Fernando Gomez","doi":"10.1080/15360288.2026.2719867","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/15360288.2026.2719867","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The management of cancer pain in older adults with hydromorphone requires careful consideration. This systematic review evaluates the current evidence regarding the efficacy and safety of hydromorphone in this population. The review protocol follows the PRISMA 2020 guidelines and the PICO framework. The search strategy used terms including \"hydromorphone,\" \"cancer pain,\" and \"older adults\" across four databases. Primary studies published between 2014 and 2024 in English, Spanish, French, Italian, and Portuguese were included. Data extraction was limited to studies involving patients older than 60 years. Qualitative studies and those lacking methodological rigor were excluded. Standardized instruments were used to assess the risk of bias. Of the 332 records initially identified, seven observational studies (retrospective cohorts and cross-sectional analyses) met the inclusion criteria, for a total of 41,608 patients. According to the GRADE methodology, the certainty of evidence regarding efficacy and safety was rated as low to very low due to high risk of bias and methodological heterogeneity. Evidence regarding the efficacy and safety of hydromorphone for cancer pain in older adults shows very low certainty. Routine clinical use requires caution. High-quality, randomized controlled trials are needed to guide clinical decision-making.</p>","PeriodicalId":16645,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Pain & Palliative Care Pharmacotherapy","volume":" ","pages":"1-15"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2026-09-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148880825","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Bisphosphonate Pamidronate for Treatment of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome Type I: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.","authors":"Anas R Alashram","doi":"10.1080/15360288.2026.2659129","DOIUrl":"10.1080/15360288.2026.2659129","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This review aims to evaluate the evidence regarding effectiveness of intravenous pamidronate in individuals with complex regional pain syndrome type I (CRPS I), focusing on pain reduction, functional outcomes, and dosing strategies. \"PsycINFO, PubMed, EMBASE, SCOPUS, Web of Science, PEDro, and CINAHL\" were searched until October 2025. The quality of the studies was evaluated using the Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) scale for randomized controlled trials (RCTs), the ROBINS-I tool for non-randomized controlled trials (non-RCTs), and the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale for observational studies. Seven studies met the eligibility criteria. Two studies were of high quality, two had a high risk of bias, and three had a moderate risk of bias. The meta-analysis of three studies showed a non-significant effect size of 0.722 (Cohen's d, <i>p</i> = 0.381) with high heterogeneity (<i>Q</i> = 17.203, <i>p</i> < 0.001; I<sup>2</sup> = 88%) and a wide prediction interval (-19.257 to 20.701), highlighting high uncertainty and the need for cautious interpretation due to the limited studies. Intravenous pamidronate may offer symptom relief for individuals with CRPS I, particularly in reducing pain and edema and improving function. Given the heterogeneity of the studies and limited sample sizes, findings should be interpreted as preliminary and hypothesis-generating rather than definitive.</p>","PeriodicalId":16645,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Pain & Palliative Care Pharmacotherapy","volume":" ","pages":"445-457"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2026-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147717181","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The Use of Ketamine for Depression in Cancer Patients: A Systematic Review of Efficacy, Safety, and Clinical Applications.","authors":"Yogendra Singhal, Pavan Gaurav R, Sreeharsh Saji, Surendra Kumar Pingoliya, Deepinder Kaur Ghera","doi":"10.1080/15360288.2026.2679720","DOIUrl":"10.1080/15360288.2026.2679720","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Depression is a common and serious concern in cancer patients, significantly impacting quality of life, treatment adherence, and overall prognosis. While traditional antidepressants often take weeks to exert therapeutic effects, ketamine has emerged as a potential alternative due to its rapid antidepressant action. This systematic review explores the efficacy, safety, and clinical role of ketamine in managing depression among adult cancer patients. Following PRISMA guidelines and PROSPERO registration (CRD42024603120), a comprehensive literature search was conducted across PubMed, MEDLINE, Cochrane CENTRAL, Embase, Web of Science, and PsycINFO. Of 4,256 identified citations, 3,036 unique records remained after removing duplicates. Fourteen studies met the inclusion criteria, comprising randomized controlled trials, cohort studies, and case-control designs. These studies demonstrated that ketamine provides rapid relief from depressive symptoms, often within hours to days, with additional benefits in anxiety, pain, and quality of life. Reported short-term side effects included fatigue, dizziness, and dissociation, while data on long-term safety were limited. Overall, ketamine appears to be a promising short-term treatment option for depression in cancer patients, particularly those with treatment-resistant depression. However, further research is necessary to establish long-term outcomes, optimal dosing strategies, and broader clinical applicability.</p>","PeriodicalId":16645,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Pain & Palliative Care Pharmacotherapy","volume":" ","pages":"489-502"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2026-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148055140","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Ketamine for Cancer-Related Pain in Palliative Care: A Systematic Review of Clinical Use and Safety.","authors":"Catarina Vitorino-Afonso, Paulo Reis-Pina","doi":"10.1080/15360288.2026.2700291","DOIUrl":"10.1080/15360288.2026.2700291","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Ketamine has emerged as an adjuvant for opioid-refractory cancer-related pain in palliative care, but evidence remains limited. This systematic review examined ketamine use for cancer-related pain in palliative and end-of-life care. MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and Scopus were searched for English-language studies (publication 2017-2025). Participants were adults with advanced/metastatic cancer and cancer-related pain receiving ketamine in palliative or end-of-life care. Outcomes included pain relief, opioid consumption, dosing regimens and routes, incidental/breakthrough pain, feasibility, acceptability, and adverse effects. Twelve studies were included: nine case reports, one cohort study, one pilot feasibility study, and one prospective phase II study. Ketamine was used mainly as an adjuvant. Many reports described reduced pain and/or lower opioid use, although certainty was very low and attribution was limited by polypharmacy and regimen changes. Intravenous infusions were most common, but subcutaneous, oral, and intranasal routes were also used. Intranasal ketamine showed pragmatic utility for breakthrough pain, while oral ketamine was described in ambulatory palliative care settings. Adverse-effect reporting was heterogeneous; when reported, events were usually mild to moderate and often psychotomimetic. Subanesthetic ketamine may be a useful adjuvant in selected palliative care patients, but higher-quality studies are needed to clarify dosing, durability, and safety.</p>","PeriodicalId":16645,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Pain & Palliative Care Pharmacotherapy","volume":" ","pages":"503-523"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2026-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148421845","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Before the Numbers Rise.","authors":"Pramana","doi":"10.1080/15360288.2026.2673913","DOIUrl":"10.1080/15360288.2026.2673913","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":16645,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Pain & Palliative Care Pharmacotherapy","volume":" ","pages":"400-402"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2026-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147982042","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"What the Body Cannot Say: A Reflection on Pain, Relief, and the Practice of Palliative Pharmacotherapy in Indonesia.","authors":"Rony Kurniawan Pratama","doi":"10.1080/15360288.2026.2673910","DOIUrl":"10.1080/15360288.2026.2673910","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":16645,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Pain & Palliative Care Pharmacotherapy","volume":" ","pages":"395-397"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2026-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147948629","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"High-Dose Monotherapy or Combination Therapy in Neuropathic Pain: A Necessary Reflection.","authors":"A Alcántara Montero","doi":"10.1080/15360288.2026.2673914","DOIUrl":"10.1080/15360288.2026.2673914","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":16645,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Pain & Palliative Care Pharmacotherapy","volume":" ","pages":"403-405"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2026-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148143658","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Sydney Taylor Israel, Caroline Baldwin, Jenica Burns, Takeshi Uemura
{"title":"Clinicians' Perspectives on Low-Dose Methadone for Chronic Pain in Nursing Homes: A Post-Lecture Survey.","authors":"Sydney Taylor Israel, Caroline Baldwin, Jenica Burns, Takeshi Uemura","doi":"10.1080/15360288.2026.2676627","DOIUrl":"10.1080/15360288.2026.2676627","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>A cross-sectional post-lecture survey was conducted among healthcare professionals attending an educational session on low-dose methadone (LDM). This study assessed participants' familiarity with and attitudes toward LDM, perceived barriers to use, and implications for future educational and implementation strategies to support safe and appropriate adoption of LDM in nursing homes (NHs). Eighty-nine attendees completed the survey. A majority of respondents reported working in long-term care (78.7%), post- acute care (61.8%), and assisted living facilities (42.7%). Approximately 42% had 20 or more years of experience. Forty-six percent reported limited experience with LDM. Only 12% reported being very familiar with regular utilization. Commonly cited concerns included lack of familiarity (57.3%) and difficulty with dosing and titration (55.1%). Additional concerns included regulatory barriers (32.6%) and risk of QTc prolongation (30.3%). After hearing the session, participants agreed with advantages of LDM including its utility in various types of pain (89.9%), safety in renal impairment (82%), ability to administer to patients with dysphagia (71.9%), and ability to provide long- acting analgesia (70.8%). Ninety-two percent of respondents reported being more likely to consider using LDM. Addressing remaining barriers through educational interventions, guidelines updates, standardized protocols, and more studies examining the use of LDM will help promote its use.</p>","PeriodicalId":16645,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Pain & Palliative Care Pharmacotherapy","volume":" ","pages":"438-444"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2026-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148005618","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Shakaib Khan, Rebecca Andrews, Kevin W Chamberlin, Megan Mitchell, Cutter A Lindbergh, Jennifer Ozimek
{"title":"Multidisciplinary eConsults to Optimize Safe Opioid Prescribing: A Pilot Program.","authors":"Shakaib Khan, Rebecca Andrews, Kevin W Chamberlin, Megan Mitchell, Cutter A Lindbergh, Jennifer Ozimek","doi":"10.1080/15360288.2026.2663400","DOIUrl":"10.1080/15360288.2026.2663400","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Managing chronic pain is challenging for primary care physicians (PCPs). Sixty percent do not feel confident in pain management skills, which negatively impacts patients. We developed a multidisciplinary electronic consult (eConsult) program that integrates primary care, psychiatry, and pharmacy to guide safe, evidence-based long-term opioid therapy (LTOT). Patients were referred by their care team or identified via chart review as being on LTOT. The E-consult team was comprised of two PCPs, one consult-liaison psychiatrist, and three pharmacists, as well as rotating trainees in the three specialties (internal medicine, psychiatry, and pharmacy). eConsults reviewed medical and psychiatric histories and treatments to recommend additional testing and evidence-based management. Follow-up chart reviews at 3, 6, and 12 months evaluated changes in oral morphine equivalents (OME) and follow-through on recommendations. There was a statistically significant reduction in OME for all populations at 12 months compared to baseline, as well as when psychiatric recommendations were followed versus not followed. eConsults are a unique approach to a growing population of patients with complex chronic pain that allow PCPs access to a multidisciplinary team with expertise.</p>","PeriodicalId":16645,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Pain & Palliative Care Pharmacotherapy","volume":" ","pages":"410-415"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2026-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147839396","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}