A Phase II Study About Efficacy and Safety of the Continuous IntraVenous Infusion of Ketamine as Adjuvant to Opioids in Terminally Ill Cancer Patients With Refractory Cancer Pain (CIVIK Trial).
The American journal of hospice & palliative care March 1, 2025 Kwonoh Park, Jae-Joon Kim, Sang-Bo Oh et al. 4 citations
In a phase II trial of terminally ill cancer patients with pain that did not respond to high-dose opioids, a 5-day continuous intravenous infusion of ketamine was gradually increased. Among 20 analyzed participants, 50% achieved a pain response: 40% had a complete response (fewer than three rescue opioids per day and pain at or below their personal goal) and 10% had a partial response (fewer than three rescue opioids). Most patients had mixed-type pain with a neuropathic component. The findings suggest that a slowly escalating ketamine infusion can be an effective option for refractory cancer pain when other treatments are limited.