Long-term chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy evaluated using patient-reported outcomes in gynecologic...

Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) poses a significant challenge for gynecological cancer survivors. However, information on its long-term outcomes remains limited. Recently, patient-reported outcomes (PROs), by which patients assess cancer treatment-related side effects, have been developed. This study aimed to evaluate the long-term outcomes of CIPN associated with paclitaxel and carboplatin (TC) therapy using PRO.

Patients with ovarian, corpus uteri, cervical, and other gynecological cancers who underwent surgery were included in the study, regardless of receiving postoperative chemotherapy. Patients with recurrent cancer were excluded. CIPN was assessed via PROs using the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy/Gynecologic Oncology Group-Neurotoxicity (FACT/GOG Ntx) subscale. The physicians assessed CIPN using the National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (NCI-CTCAE).

Of the 616 patients, 304 who received TC therapy (TC group) and 312 who were followed up without chemotherapy (NC group) were evaluated. Using the FACT/GOG Ntx subscale, the weighted mean of total score in the TC group was 8.2 in the first year, which significantly decreased over time (p<0.001). However, 5 years after initiating treatment, the scores in the TC group remained significantly higher than did those in the NC group (p=0.040). Similar trends were found using the NCI-CTCAE evaluations.

Following TC therapy, CIPN might improve over time. However, it might not resolve completely.