Correlation between Oral Thiamine as an Opioid Adjuvant and Cathecol-O-Methyltransferase Enzyme Levels in Cervical Cancer Patients

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The high prevalence of cancer pain shows that a lot of the patients are undertreatment. Vitamin B is one of the additional alternative substances studied in cancer pain management. Thiamine is believed to modulate pain mechanisms in lowering the Cathecol-O-Methyltransferase (COMT) enzyme level. AIM: The aim of the study was to assess the correlation between Oral Thiamine as an Opioid Adjuvant and COMT Enzyme Levels in Cervical Cancer Patients METHODS: This research is a quasi-experimental study with a pre-test and post-test control group design. Patients in this study were 32 cervical cancer patients who experienced cancer pain, divided into two groups (treatment and control groups). The treatment group received morphine plus thiamine 500 mg/8 h/oral, and the control group received morphine alone. Measurement and evaluation of pain scores were carried out after 72 h of thiamine administration and blood collection was carried out again 4 h after the last thiamine administration to check thiamine levels and COMT. Then, data collection and analysis is being evaluated. RESULTS: From 32 cervical cancer patients studied, there were differences in changes in numeric rating scale (NRS) levels and COMT levels in the thiamine treatment group. CONCLUSIONS: The administration of thiamine can reduce COMT enzyme levels and clinically reduce NRS in cervical cancer patients. If it confirmed by other findings, thiamine might be considered for its use in the treatment of cancer pain.