Observational study to analyse the opioid titration process in the treatment of breakthrough pain of cancer patients in clinical practice

Background: During the oncological disease, patients may suffer a special type of pain called breakthrough pain (BTP), defined as a transient exacerbation of pain that occurs either spontaneously, or in relation to a specific predictable or unpredictable trigger, despite relatively stable and adequately controlled background pain. Opioids are an essential part of BTP treatment, and its dosing adjustment should be performed irrespective of the basal dose of analgesia. However, in clinical practice it is unknown how opioids titration is completed.