Flurbiprofen for the treatment of bone pain in patients with metastatic breast cancer.

Two investigators enrolled 26 women with metastatic breast carcinoma in a six-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study of flurbiprofen (Ansaid, Upjohn) and placebo. The study was designed to determine the efficacy of flurbiprofen in reducing bone pain due to metastatic breast cancer. Pain score, overall performance, and concomitant use of narcotics were evaluated. The overall mean differences in pain scores between flurbiprofen and placebo showed better control of pain during treatment with flurbiprofen. None of these differences approached statistical significance. Evaluation of overall performance status reached statistical significance in one investigator's group. Three out of four patients reported decreased consumption of acetaminophen/aspirin plus codeine combinations while receiving flurbiprofen.