The present study was conducted to evaluate the
pain development and bone destruction during
bone cancer growth in a murine model of
bone cancer pain and to evaluate the
analgesic efficacy of
fentanyl,
sufentanil, and
morphine in this model. C3H/HeNCrl mice were inoculated into the intramedullary space of the femur with osteolytic NCTC 2472
fibrosarcoma cells, and followed during a 3-week period to assess
pain behaviors (spontaneous lifting and limb-use during forced ambulation on rotarod) and bone destruction (parameters indicative of bone lesions determined by microCT-scans of the
tumor-bearing bones) during
bone cancer growth. The results showed that in this murine model of
cancer-induced bone
pain, behavioural manifestations of
pain emerge in parallel with the progression of bone destruction. The subcutaneous administration of
fentanyl (0.025-0.64 mg/kg),
sufentanil (0.005-0.04 mg/kg), and
morphine (2.5-40 mg/kg) on the test days 15 and 22 post-inoculation reduced
pain-related behaviors in a dose dependent manner. A complete relief from
pain-related behaviors was achieved with the following doses: > or =0.16 mg/kg
fentanyl, 0.02 mg/kg
sufentanil, and 20 mg/kg
morphine. In conclusion, the results showed a clear link between
tumor growth-induced bone destruction and behavioral
pain manifestations, the latter was effectively controlled by the
opioids fentanyl,
sufentanil, and
morphine.