Carprofen

In canine chondrocyte microcarrier cultures, IL‑1β stimulation increased PGE₂, IL‑6, IL‑8, and MCP‑1. Carprofen (NSAID) and a combination of avocado/soybean unsaponifiables, glucosamine, and chondroitin sulfate (ASU+GLU+CS) each suppressed these increases. The combination of carprofen with ASU+GLU+CS reduced PGE₂ more than either alone, though ASU+GLU+CS alone was more effective than carprofen against IL‑6, IL‑8, and MCP‑1. The findings suggest that adding ASU+GLU+CS to low‑dose carprofen could provide safe, effective joint pain management.

Fig. 1 Morphological analyses of chondrocyte-seeded microcarrier 7 day cultures. (Grzanna MW, et al., 2020)

In oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) patients, plasma CGRP levels correlated positively with pain severity and reduced overall survival. Increased CGRP in tumor-infiltrating nerves was linked to greater pain and lymph node metastasis. In an OSCC mouse model, both systemic and local administration of the CGRP receptor antagonist rimegepant attenuated facial mechanical hypersensitivity. Transcriptomic analysis revealed suppression of innate immune and neuroinflammatory pathways. CGRP receptor antagonism warrants further evaluation as an analgesic strategy in cancer pain.

Fig. 2 Elevated plasma calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) levels were correlated with severe pain levels and poor prognosis in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). (Chen M, et al., 2026)