Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38535819›Full record

SynthesisToxins2024

Botulinum Toxin for Pain Relief in Cancer Patients: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Lorenzo Lippi, Alessandro de Sire, Alessio Turco, Martina Ferrillo, Serdar Kesikburun, Alessio Baricich, Stefano Carda, Marco Invernizzi

Open access · goldAbstract readSystematic Review
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Toxins, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
1.4field-weighted citation impact, top 17% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed, 5 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Investigating the dual nature ofLe infezioni in medicina · 2026
    Review
  2. Review
  3. Review
  4. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors at 5 institutions in 4 countries.

Lorenzo LippiPhysical and Rehabilitative Medicine, Department of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Piedmont "A. Avogadro", 28100 Novara, Italy.ORCID 0000-0001-9035-1485
Alessandro de SirePhysical Medicine and Rehabilitation Unit, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Catanzaro Magna Graecia, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-5541-8346
Alessio TurcoPhysical and Rehabilitative Medicine, Department of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Piedmont "A. Avogadro", 28100 Novara, Italy.ORCID 0000-0003-0510-0329
Martina FerrilloDepartment of Health Sciences, University of Catanzaro "Magna Graecia", 88100 Catanzaro, Italy.ORCID 0000-0003-1878-4694
Serdar KesikburunAnkara Gaziler Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Education and Research Hospital, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Gulhane Medical School, University of Health Sciences Turkey, 06800 Ankara, Turkey.
Alessio BaricichPhysical and Rehabilitative Medicine, Department of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Piedmont "A. Avogadro", 28100 Novara, Italy.ORCID 0000-0001-8440-6283
Stefano CardaNeuropsychology and Neurorehabilitation Service, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Lausanne University Hospital, 1004 Lausanne, Switzerland.
Marco InvernizziPhysical and Rehabilitative Medicine, Department of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Piedmont "A. Avogadro", 28100 Novara, Italy.ORCID 0000-0001-5141-0681
Università degli Studi del Piemonte Orientale “Amedeo Avogadro” · ITMagna Graecia University · ITSağlık Bilimleri Üniversitesi · TRSemmelweis University · HUUniversity of Lausanne · CH

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Cancer pain is one of the most disabling symptoms complained by cancer patients, with a crucial impact on physical and psychological well-being. Botulinum neurotoxins (BoNTs) type A and B have emerged as potential interventions for chronic pain; however, their role in these patients is still debated. Thus, this systematic review of randomized controlled trials aimed at assessing the effects of BoNT treatment for cancer pain to guide physicians in an evidence-based approach integrating BoNT in cancer care. Out of 5824 records, 10 RCTs satisfied our eligibility criteria and were included in the present work for a total of 413 subjects with several cancer types (breast, head and neck, esophageal, and thoracic/gastric cancers). While some studies demonstrated significant pain reduction and improved quality of life post-BoNT-A injections, outcomes across different cancer types were inconclusive. Additionally, several effects were observed in functioning, dysphagia, salivary outcomes, esophageal strictures, gastric emptying, and expansions. This review emphasizes the need for further standardized research to conclusively establish the efficacy of BoNT in comprehensive cancer pain management.

Indexed as

Cancer PainRandomized Controlled Trials as TopicBotulinum ToxinsBotulinum Toxins, Type AHumansNeoplasmsPain ManagementQuality of LifeBotulinum ToxinsBotulinum Toxins, Type Abotulinum toxin (BoNT)cancerpain managementquality of liferehabilitation

Identifiers

PMID38535819
PMCPMC10974124
OpenAlexW4392926039

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.