Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy in Patients With Gastroesophageal Cancer

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Clinical Pharmacology
• Patient-Reported Outcomes

Background:

• Gastroesophageal cancer (GEC) treatments, including chemotherapy, frequently cause neurotoxicity.
• Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a significant adverse effect that diminishes health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in GEC patients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the incidence and severity of CIPN in patients undergoing treatment for GEC.
• To analyze the association between CIPN and HRQoL in this patient population.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 2,135 GEC patients receiving chemoradiotherapy or chemotherapy was identified from the Netherlands Cancer Registry.
• Patient-reported outcomes, including CIPN (EORTC QLQ-CIPN20) and HRQoL (EORTC QLQ-C30), were collected prospectively over 24 months.
• Linear mixed effects models and Spearman's correlation were used to assess CIPN development and its relationship with HRQoL.

Main Results:

• CIPN incidence and severity increased significantly during treatment across all GEC treatment groups (chemoradiotherapy, curative chemotherapy, palliative chemotherapy).
• CIPN scores in chemoradiotherapy patients continued to rise post-treatment, while scores in chemotherapy groups decreased but remained above baseline.
• A significant negative correlation was observed between CIPN and HRQoL in all treatment groups, with varying strength and significance over time.

Conclusions:

• Given the poor prognosis of GEC, managing treatment-related toxicities like CIPN is essential.
• The high prevalence and detrimental impact of CIPN on HRQoL underscore the importance of its early detection and management in GEC patients.