Role of p38 mitogen activated protein kinase in a model of osteosarcoma-induced pain.

The focus of this work was to examine the potential role of p38 mitogen activated protein kinase (p38) in a mouse model of bone cancer (osteosarcoma) pain. To generate osteosarcoma and sham animals, osteosarcoma cells or medium were injected into the medullary canal of the femur. Initially, ipsilateral tactile allodynia was observed in both groups, but by 12 days post-surgery, thresholds in the sham group returned towards baseline while hypersensitivity in the osteosarcoma group lasted throughout the study.