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Nerve Excitability Assessment in Chemotherapy-induced Neurotoxicity
07:42

Nerve Excitability Assessment in Chemotherapy-induced Neurotoxicity

Published on: April 26, 2012

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Systemic anti-cancer therapy associated with the occurrence of peripheral neurotoxicity and, specifically, peripheral

Cassie Higgins1, Lynn R Gauthier2, Blair H Smith1

  • 1Division of Population Health and Genomics, School of Medicine, University of Dundee, Mailbox 1, Level 7, Corridor L, Ninewells Hospital, Dundee, UK.

International Journal of Cancer
|March 5, 2026
PubMed

Insights

This study identified 144 systemic anticancer therapy (SACT) agents linked to peripheral neurotoxicity, including 77 causing peripheral neuropathy. This comprehensive inventory aids in understanding SACT-induced neurotoxicity and developing protective strategies.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Neuroscience
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Peripheral neurotoxicity is a common side effect of systemic anticancer therapy (SACT).
  • Previous investigations often focused narrowly on chemotherapy agents, neglecting other SACT classes.
  • A comprehensive understanding of all SACT agents causing neurotoxicity is crucial for patient safety and treatment optimization.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify all SACT agents associated with peripheral neurotoxicity and peripheral neuropathy.
  • To estimate the incidence of neurotoxicity for each identified agent.
  • To create an exhaustive inventory of neurotoxic SACT agents.

Main Methods:

  • Systematic review of global drug product databases to identify antineoplastic agents.
  • Classification of agents by drug class using DrugBank Online.
  • Extraction of peripheral neurotoxicity and peripheral neuropathy data from Micromedex and clinical trial registries.

Main Results:

  • A total of 467 antineoplastic agents were identified.
  • Peripheral neurotoxicity was associated with 144 (31%) agents, including classical chemotherapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy, and hormone therapy.
  • Peripheral neuropathy was specifically associated with 77 (16%) agents across these classes, with no association found for hormone therapies.

Conclusions:

  • This study provides a comprehensive inventory of neurotoxic SACT agents, including those causing peripheral neuropathy.
  • The findings are pivotal for informing drug design, optimizing drug selection, and investigating neuroprotective strategies.
  • An exhaustive understanding of SACT-induced neurotoxicity is essential for improving patient outcomes.
Keywords:
cancerchemotherapyperipheral neuropathyperipheral neurotoxicitysystemic anti‐cancer therapy

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