Neurotoxicity associated with cancer chemotherapy: the first study in the Palestinian healthcare system

Chemotherapy-induced neurotoxicity is a significant concern in cancer treatment as it adversely affects treatment outcomes. However, research on this subject within the Palestinian healthcare system is limited. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence, clinical manifestations, and associated factors of neurotoxicity in cancer patients receiving chemotherapy in Palestine.

This retrospective cohort study included 196 cancer patients who underwent chemotherapy at multiple hospitals across Palestine. Data on patient demographics, cancer characteristics, chemotherapy regimens, and neurotoxicity symptoms were extracted from electronic medical records. Neurotoxicity was evaluated using a comprehensive 65-item functional neurotoxicity scale.

A total of 196 cancer patients were included in the study. The median age was 56.9 years, with the majority being female (113 out of 196; 57.7%) and diagnosed with solid cancers (140 out of 196; 71.4%). The most common agents utilized were fluorouracil/5-FU (108 patients; 55.1%) and oxaliplatin (96 patients; 49.0%). Neurotoxicity symptoms were highly prevalent, with 119 patients (60.7%) experiencing moderate neurotoxicity and 47 patients (24.0%) experiencing severe neurotoxicity. The severity of neurotoxicity was significantly associated with female sex (p-value = 0.032) and a diagnosis of solid cancer (p-value = 0.015), while patients exhibiting neurotoxicity were also significantly older (p-value = 0.045) and received a larger number of chemotherapy cycles (p-value = 0.037).

This study highlights the significant prevalence of chemotherapy-induced neurotoxicity among cancer patients in Palestine and underscores the need for personalized treatment approaches and proactive symptom management strategies. Multidisciplinary collaboration among healthcare providers, researchers, and policymakers is essential to develop comprehensive guidelines and interventions aimed at optimizing patient outcomes. Furthermore, additional research is warranted to explore the long-term impact of neurotoxicity and to evaluate the effectiveness of supportive care interventions in this population.