Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neurotoxicity: single-centre prospective study

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Neuroscience
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neurotoxicity (CIPN) is a significant dose-limiting side effect of various anti-cancer treatments.
• CIPN can manifest as sensory, motor, or autonomic dysfunction, impacting patient quality of life and treatment adherence.
• Understanding the prevalence and risk factors associated with CIPN is essential for effective patient management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neurotoxicity (CIPN) in patients undergoing chemotherapy.
• To identify specific chemotherapeutic agents and protocols associated with a higher risk of developing CIPN.
• To investigate the cumulative neurotoxic doses of different drugs implicated in CIPN.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional prospective study was conducted in the medical oncology department.
• Seventy-three patients receiving potentially neurotoxic anti-cancer treatments were surveyed to detect and assess CIPN.
• Data on patient demographics, chemotherapy regimens, and neurotoxicity grading were collected and analyzed.

Main Results:

• The overall prevalence of CIPN was 52.1%, with most cases classified as grade I or II.
• Paclitaxel was identified as the drug with the highest incidence of CIPN (76.9%).
• Chemotherapy protocols based on taxanes (47.3%) and oxaliplatin (59%) showed the highest propensity for inducing CIPN, with cumulative doses over 300 mg/m² being significant.

Conclusions:

• The prevalence of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neurotoxicity (CIPN) in this patient series was 51.1%.
• Oxaliplatin and taxanes were identified as the primary contributors to CIPN.
• Managing CIPN requires careful monitoring of cumulative doses, particularly for oxaliplatin and taxanes, to mitigate neurotoxic effects.