Phase III randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study of intravenous calcium and magnesium to prevent oxaliplatin-induced sensory neurotoxicity (N08CB/Alliance)

Risk factors for taxane-induced peripheral neuropathy in patients with breast cancer

PURPOSE

This study investigated the clinical risk factors for peripheral neuropathy induced by docetaxel and albumin-bound paclitaxel (AP) in patients with breast cancer.

METHODS

This prospective observational study recruited 268 patients between March 2019 and December 2020. Patient information was obtained through the query system for laboratory test results, patient consultations, and scale evaluations. Neuropathic symptoms were followed up throughout and until 3 months after taxane chemotherapy. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to find the risk factors for overall and moderate-severe taxane-induced peripheral neuropathy (TIPN).

RESULTS

Cumulative dose (odds ratio [OR] = 3.533, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.797-6.944, p < 0.001), body mass index (BMI) (OR = 2.926, 95% CI: 1.621-5.281, p < 0.001), body surface area (BSA) (OR = 1.724, 95% CI: 1.011-2.941, p = 0.045), and hypocalcemia (OR = 4.899, 95% CI: 1.518-15.811, p = 0.008) all increased the risk of TIPN. Only cumulative dose (OR = 2.577, 95% CI: 1.161-5.719, p = 0.020) and BSA (OR = 2.040, 95% CI: 1.073-3.877, p = 0.030) were independent risk factors for moderate-severe TIPN.

CONCLUSION

Cumulative dose, BMI, BSA, and hypocalcemia are all risk factors for overall TIPN, whereas cumulative dose and BSA are risk factors for moderate-severe TIPN. Patients with breast cancer who have high BMI, large BSA, hypocalcemia, and large cumulative dose may be at risk of TIPN, and intervention measures must be actively carried out for them.

Nonlinear relationship between dietary calcium and magnesium intake and peripheral neuropathy in the general population of the United States

Background

Calcium and magnesium are essential minerals that have significant roles in nerve function and regulation. There may be a correlation between dietary calcium and magnesium intake and peripheral neuropathy. However, this relationship remains unclear and requires further study.

Methods

Data from 7,726 participants in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 1999 to 2004 were analyzed in this study. The relationship between total dietary calcium and magnesium intake, as well as each quantile, and peripheral neuropathy was analyzed using a multifactor logistic regression model. To illustrate the dose-response relationship between calcium and magnesium intake and peripheral neuropathy, we utilized a restricted cubic spline (RCS) plot.

Results

Our analysis found a positive correlation between dietary intake of calcium and magnesium and peripheral neuropathy (calcium: OR 1.000, 95% CI 1.000-1.000; magnesium: OR 1.001, 95% CI 1.00-1.002). Participants in the first and third quantiles of dietary calcium intake had a significantly higher incidence of peripheral neuropathy than those in the second quantile (OR 1.333, 95% CI 1.034-1.719, OR 1.497, 95% CI 1.155-1.941). Those in the first and third quantiles of dietary magnesium intake also had a significantly higher incidence of peripheral neuropathy than those in the second quantile (OR 1.275, 95% CI 1.064-1.528, OR 1.525, 95% CI 1.231-1.890). The restricted cubic spline analysis revealed a U-shaped nonlinear relationship between dietary intake of calcium and magnesium and peripheral neuropathy.

Conclusion

The study found a U-shaped non-linear relationship between dietary calcium and magnesium intake levels and peripheral neuropathy, indicating that both excessive and insufficient intake of calcium and magnesium can increase the incidence of peripheral neuropathy.

Use of acupuncture with acupressure in addition to standard-of-care cryotherapy to decrease chemotherapy-associated neuropathy in patients with gastrointestinal malignancies receiving oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy: Study protocol for a randomized, controlled pilot and feasibility study

BACKGROUND

Oxaliplatin is a key chemotherapeutic agent in the treatment of local and metastatic gastrointestinal (GI) malignancies. Dose density and treatment adherence can be limited by chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN). Early research suggests CIPN incidence and severity may be mitigated by acupuncture, but rigorous data in GI oncology patients is limited. Here, we describe the protocol of a randomized, waitlist-controlled pilot study testing the use of preemptive of acupuncture plus acupressure to decrease CIPN and chemotherapy-related toxicities.

METHODS

Patients with a GI malignancy (n = 56) with planned 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and oxaliplatin IV (FOLFOX, FOLFIRINOX) every 2 weeks are being recruited. Additional concurrent anti-neoplastic agents may be used. Enrolled patients are randomized 1:1 to a 3-month intervention of Arm A: acupuncture with acupressure and standard-of-care treatment, or Arm B: standard-of-care alone. In Arm A, on days 1 and 3 of each chemotherapy cycle a standardized acupuncture protocol is administered and patients are taught self-acupressure to perform daily between chemotherapy treatments. Patients in both arms are given standard-of-care oral and peripheral (hands/feet) ice chip cryotherapy during oxaliplatin administration. CIPN and other symptoms are assessed at baseline, 6 weeks, and 3 months from registration. The primary endpoint is CIPN severity at 3 months (EORTC-CIPN 20). Additional endpoints evaluate CIPN incidence (CTCAE, Neuropen, tuning fork); incidence of pain, fatigue, nausea, oral dysesthesia, and anxiety; and feasibility (recruitment, retention, adherence, acceptability). If warranted, trial results will inform the design of a multi-center trial to expand testing of the intervention to a larger patient cohort.

Measuring symptoms and toxicities: a 35-year experience

PURPOSE

When conducting trials aimed at the improvement of cancer-related and/or cancer treatment-related toxicities, it is important to determine the best means of measuring patients' symptoms.

METHODS

The authors of this current manuscript have an extensive experience with the conduct of symptom-control clinical trials. This experience is utilized to provide insight into the best means of measuring symptoms caused by cancer and/or cancer therapy.

RESULTS

Patient-reported outcome data are preferable for measuring bothersome symptoms, for determining toxicities caused by treatment approaches, and offer more accurate and detailed information compared with health care practitioners recording their impressions of patient experiences. Well-validated patient friendly measures are recommended when they are available. When such are not readily available, face-valid, single-item numerical rating scales are effective instruments to document both treatment trial outcomes and cancer treatment side effects/toxicities.

CONCLUSION

The use of numerical rating scales are effective means of measuring symptoms caused by cancer, by cancer treatments, and/or alleviated by symptom control treatment approaches.

Duloxetine for the Prevention of Oxaliplatin Induced Peripheral Neuropathy: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Double-blind Clinical Trial

PURPOSE

Peripheral neuropathy is a dose-limiting adverse effect of oxaliplatin. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of duloxetine in the prevention of oxaliplatin-induced peripheral neuropathy (OIPN).

METHOD

Cancer patients receiving oxaliplatin based chemotherapy were randomized into two arms. Duloxetine 60 mg capsule was given in the first 14 days of each chemotherapy cycle to one arm and placebo was similarly given to another. We compared the two arms based on the incidence of neuropathy and the results of the nerve conduction study (NCS). Grade of complained neuropathy was recorded according to Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE).

RESULTS

Thirty-two patients mostly rectal cancer (90.6%) were randomized to duloxetine and placebo arms. Highest grade of neuropathy in each cycle was not significantly different between the two groups. Six weeks after treatment incidence of neuropathy of any grade was 52.9 in duloxetine arm compared to 76.9% in placebo arm (P: 0.26). Patients in the duloxetine arm had a lower percentage of chemotherapy cycles (mean) in which they reported distal paresthesia (51% vs. 84%, P = 0.01) and throat discomfort (37% vs. 69%, P = 0.01). Results of NCS were mostly comparable between the two arms except for the velocity in two of the examined nerve which was significantly higher in duloxetine group. Duloxetine was safe and well-tolerated.

CONCLUSION

Although a definite conclusion might be difficult to draw but administering duloxetine for 14 days in each chemotherapy cycle could not decrease the incidence of acute OIPN based on CTCAE grading system.

The Therapeutic Potential of Antioxidants in Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy: Evidence from Preclinical and Clinical Studies

As cancer therapies advance and patient survival improves, there has been growing concern about the long-term adverse effects that patients may experience following treatment, and concerns have been raised about such persistent, progressive, and often irreversible adverse effects. Chemotherapy is a potentially life-extending treatment, and chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is one of its most common long-term toxicities. At present, strategies for the prevention and treatment of CIPN are still an open problem faced by medicine, and there has been a large amount of previous evidence that oxidative damage is involved in the process of CIPN. In this review, we focus on the lines of defense involving antioxidants that exert the effect of inhibiting CIPN. We also provide an update on the targets and clinical prospects of different antioxidants (melatonin, N-acetylcysteine, vitamins, α-lipoic acid, mineral elements, phytochemicals, nutritional antioxidants, cytoprotectants and synthetic compounds) in the treatment of CIPN with the help of preclinical and clinical studies, emphasizing the great potential of antioxidants as adjuvant strategies to mitigate CIPN.

Serum sodium ions and chloride ions associated with taxane-induced peripheral neuropathy in Chinese patients with early-stage breast cancer: A nation-wide multicenter study

BACKGROUND

Taxane-induced peripheral neuropathy (TIPN) is a debilitating adverse effect of cancer treatments with taxanes which may require a reduction or discontinuation chemotherapy and affect clinical and survival outcomes. A number of factors have contributed to the increasing prevalence of TIPN. Nonetheless, limited knowledge exists of potential prechemotherapy blood-based biochemical factors associated with TIPN development.

METHODS

We recruited breast cancer patients at seven cancer institutions in China. Participants aged 18 years or older with stage I to III breast cancer who scheduled to undergo primary neoadjuvant and adjuvant chemotherapy with taxanes were eligible. Eligible patients underwent patient-reported neuropathy assessments using the EORTC-CIPN20 questionnaire. Patients completed the questionnaire before commencing treatment and after every cycle. For every patient, we selected the highest TIPN toxicity score for analysis since the first cycle. The posttreatment TIPN severity was compared with blood-based biochemical factors within 30 days before commencing treatment. Independent samples t tests, Mann-Whitney U tests and linear regression were used to identify blood-based and clinical associations with TIPN development.

RESULTS

The study included 873 breast cancer participants who received paclitaxel, docetaxel or nanoparticle albumin-bound (nab)-paclitaxel. In the whole cohort, factors associated with higher TIPN toxicity scores were higher cumulative chemotherapy dose (β = 0.005; 95% CI, 0.004 to 0.006; P < .001), lower sodium ions (β = -0.24; 95% CI, -0.39 to -0.09; P = .002) and higher chloride ions (β = 0.30; 95% CI, 0.16 to 0.44; P < .001).

CONCLUSIONS

The findings suggest that breast cancer patients with a higher cumulative chemotherapy dose, lower pretreatment sodium ions, and higher pretreatment chloride ions receiving taxanes should receive closer monitoring to mitigate the development of short-term and long-term TIPN.

Assessing chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy with patient reported outcome measures: a systematic review of measurement properties and considerations for future use

PURPOSE

Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a common toxicity of cancer treatment, with potential to significantly impact cancer survivors' long-term quality of life. Patient reported outcome measures (PROMs) are increasingly utilised to evaluate CIPN. However, guidance remains lacking on how to identify fit for purpose PROMs with considerations necessarily differing when used in various research and in-clinic contexts. This study aimed to evaluate evidence about CIPN PROMs measurement properties and propose considerations to optimize CIPN PROM selection for each purpose.

METHODS

A systematic review was conducted to identify literature assessing measurement properties of CIPN PROMs. These were evaluated against Consensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement Instruments (COSMIN) criteria and International Society for Quality of Life minimum standards. Risk of Bias (RoB) was assessed using the COSMIN RoB checklist.

RESULTS

Thirty-nine papers evaluating measurement properties of 13 PROMs were included. The European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy Questionnaire (QLQ-CIPN20) and Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy/Gynecologic Oncology Group-Neurotoxicity (FACT/GOG-Ntx) were the most commonly investigated PROMs and had the most measurement properties meeting established criteria.

CONCLUSION

The use of the QLQ-CIPN20 and FACT/GOG-Ntx to assess CIPN in research settings has the most supporting evidence. However other considerations including study aims, endpoints and target population also factor into PROM selection and need to be considered more often when determining the most suitable outcome measure. Evidence of CIPN PROMs use in clinical practice is limited and their adoption to individual-patient level management requires more evaluation.

Emerging Approaches for the Management of Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy (CIPN): Therapeutic Potential of the C5a/C5aR Axis

Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is the most common neurologic complication of chemotherapy, resulting in symptoms like pain, sensory loss, and numbness in the hands and feet that cause lots of uneasiness in patients with cancer. They often suffer from pain so severe that it interrupts the treatment, thus invalidating the entire chemotherapy-based healing process, and significantly reducing their quality of life. In this paper, we underline the role of the complement system in CIPN, highlighting the relevance of the C5a fragment and its receptor C5aR1, whose activation is thought to be involved in triggering a cascade of events that can lead to CIPN onset. Recent experimental data showed the ability of docetaxel and paclitaxel to specifically bind and activate C5aR1, thus shining light on one of the molecular mechanisms by which taxanes may activate a cascade of events leading to neuropathy. According to these new evidence, it was possible to suggest new mechanisms underlying the pathophysiology of CIPN. Hence, the C5a/C5aR1 axis may represent a new target for CIPN treatment, and the use of C5aR1 inhibitors can be proposed as a potential new therapeutic option to manage this high unmet medical need.

Oral cannabidiol for prevention of acute and transient chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy

PURPOSE

To assess the safety, dosing, and preventive effects of cannabidiol (CBD) on chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) in patients receiving oxaliplatin- or paclitaxel-based chemotherapy.

METHODS

Patients with cancer scheduled to undergo treatment with carboplatin and paclitaxel (Carbo-Tax) or capecitabine and oxaliplatin (CAPOX) received 150 mg CBD oil twice daily (300 mg/daily) for 8 days beginning 1 day before initiation of chemotherapy. Ten CIPN-specific patient-reported outcome (PRO) measures were captured at baseline and each day after the first cycle of chemotherapy for 8 days. Multi-frequency vibrometry (MF-V) was captured at baseline and day 4 ± 1 after initiation of chemotherapy. Controls were obtained from a similar patient cohort that did not receive CBD. Adverse events were captured using the CTCAE ver. 4.03.

RESULTS

From March to December 2021, 54 patients were recruited. CBD-treated patients were significantly older (p = 0.013/0.037, CAPOX/Carbo-Tax) compared to controls. Patients receiving CBD and CAPOX or Carbo-Tax showed significantly lower (better) change in Z-scores in high-frequency MF-V (125 and 250 Hz) compared to controls. This difference was most pronounced for patients receiving Carbo-Tax (- 1.76, CI-95 = [- 2.52; - 1.02] at 250 Hz). CAPOX patients treated with CBD had significantly lower peak baseline-adjusted difference in three PRO items on cold sensitivity to touch, discomfort swallowing cold liquids, and throat discomfort (- 2.08, - 2.06, and - 1.81, CI-95 = [- 3.89; - 0.12], NRS 0-10). No significant differences in PRO items were found for patients receiving Carbo-Tax. Possible side effects included stomach pain (grades 1-2) for patients receiving CAPOX.

CONCLUSION

CBD attenuated early symptoms of CIPN with no major safety concerns. Long-term follow-up is ongoing. Results should be confirmed in a larger, randomized study.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

NCT 04,167,319 (U.S National Library of Medicine; ClinicalTrials.gov). Date of registration: November 18, 2019.

Efficacy of Traditional Chinese Medicine Injection in Preventing Oxaliplatin-Induced Peripheral Neurotoxicity: An Analysis of Evidence from 3598 Patients

Background

Oxaliplatin is an effective chemotherapeutic agent for the treatment of malignant tumors. However, severe oxaliplatin-induced peripheral neurotoxicity (OIPN) has been well documented. Traditional Chinese medicine injections (TCMIs) have shown significant efficacy in preventing OIPN. However, it is difficult for clinicians to determine the differences in the efficacy of various TCMIs in preventing OIPN. The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of various TCMIs in preventing OIPN through a network meta-analysis (NMA) to further inform clinical decision-making.

Methods

The Chinese Journal Full Text Database, Chinese Biomedical Literature Database, Wanfang Data Knowledge Service Platform, Chinese Science and Technology Journal Full Text Database, the Cochrane Library, Web of Science, PubMed, and Embase databases were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of TCMIs for OIPN prevention. The retrieval time was from the establishment of the database to April 12, 2021. NMA was performed using Stata 14.0 software after 2 evaluators independently screened the literature, extracted information, and evaluated the risk of bias of the included studies.

Results

A total of 45 eligible RCTs involving 3598 cancer patients and 13 TCMIs were included. The 13 TCMIs included Xiaoaiping injection (XAPI), compound kushen injection (CKSI), Aidi injection (ADI), Brucea javanica oil emulsion injection (BJOEI), Shenmai injection (SMI), Kangai injection (KAI), Astragalus injection (AI), elemene emulsion injection (EEI), Shenfu injection (SFI), Shenqi Fuzheng injection (SIFZI), Kanglaite injection (KLEI), Huachansu injection (HCSI), and lentinan injection (LI). NMA results showed that AI was superior to AD and SIFZI was superior to ADI in reducing the incidence of grade I neurotoxicity. SIFZI was superior to EEI and ADI, and BJOEI was superior to chemotherapy alone in reducing the incidence of grade II neurotoxicity. SMI was superior to LI and CKSI in reducing the incidence of grade III neurotoxicity. SIFZI was superior to LI, BJOEI, XAPI, EEI, SMI, chemotherapy alone, HCSI, KLEI, and ADI in reducing the total incidence of grade I–IV neurotoxicity. SFI was superior to ADI. Based on the SUCRA values, AI was the most likely intervention to reduce the incidence of grade I neurotoxicity, SIFZI was the most likely intervention to reduce the total incidence of grade II and I–IV neurotoxicity, and SMI was the most likely intervention to reduce the incidence of grade III and IV neurotoxicity.

Conclusion

TCMIs can prevent OIPN to some extent, among which SIFZI, SMI, and AI may be the most promising TCMIs. However, given the limitations of current studies, more well-designed, high-quality clinical trials will be needed in the future to validate the benefits of TCMIs.

A prospective, multicenter, open-label study of the clinical efficacy of tapentadol extended-release in the treatment of cancer-related pain and improvement in the quality of life of opioid-naïve or opioid-resistant patients

Purpose

This study aimed to investigate the clinical efficacy of tapentadol extended-release (ER) on pain control and the quality of life (QoL) of patients with moderate to severe chronic cancer pain in clinical practice in Korea.

Methods

In this prospective, open-label, multicenter trial, patients with sustained cancer pain as well as chronic pain, who were or were not using other analgesics were enrolled. Thirteen centers recorded a total of 752 patients during the 6-month observation period, based on the tapentadol ER dose and tolerability, prior and concomitant analgesic treatment, pain intensity, type of pain, adverse effects, and clinical global impression change (CGI-C). Of those 752 patients, 688 were enrolled, and 650 completed the study for efficacy and adverse drug reactions; among them, 349 were cancer patients.

Results

Tapentadol ER significantly reduced the mean pain intensity including neuropathic pain during the observation period by 2.9 points (from a mean 7 ± 0.87 to 4.1 ± 2.02). Furthermore, QoL was observed to be significantly improved based on the CGI-C, an objective measure.

Conclusion

This study showed that tapentadol ER was effective for treating patients with moderate to severe cancer pain and neuropathic pain, and therefore it significantly improved the patients’ QoL.

Drug treatment for chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy in patients with pancreatic cancer

Pancreatic cancer (PC) is a lethal disease where most tumors are too advanced at diagnosis for resection, leaving chemotherapy as the mainstay of treatment. Although the prognosis of unresectable PC is poor, it has been dramatically improved by new chemotherapy treatments, such as the combination of 5-fluorouracil, oxaliplatin, irinotecan, and leucovorin (FOLFIRINOX) or gemcitabine plus nab-paclitaxel. However, as oxaliplatin and paclitaxel are common neurotoxic drugs, chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a common and severe adverse effect of both treatments. As there are no agents recommended in the ASCO guidelines, we review the methods used to treat CIPN caused by PC treatment. The efficacy of duloxetine was observed in a large randomized controlled trial (RCT). In addition, pregabalin was more effective than duloxetine for CIPN in two RCTs. Although duloxetine and pregabalin can be effective for CIPN, they have several side effects. Therefore, the choice between the two drugs should be determined according to effect and tolerability. Mirogabalin is also used in patients with PC and there is hope it will yield positive outcomes when treating CIPN in the future.

Treatment and diagnosis of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy: An update

When peripheral neuropathy occurs due to chemotherapy treatment, it is referred to as chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN). Typically, symptoms are sensory rather than motor and include reduced feeling and heightened sensitivity to pressure, pain, temperature, and touch. The pathophysiology of CIPN is very complex, and it involves multiple mechanisms leading to its development which will be described specifically for each chemotherapeutic class. There are currently no approved or effective agents for CIPN prevention, and Duloxetine is the only medication that is an effective treatment against CIPN. There is an unavoidable necessity to develop preventative and treatment approaches for CIPN due to its detrimental impact on patients' lives. The purpose of this review is to examine CIPN, innovative pharmacological and nonpharmacological therapy and preventive strategies for this illness, and future perspectives for this condition and its therapies.

Temporal, Location- and Symptom-Specific Likelihood of Patient-Reported Sensory Symptoms Related to Oxaliplatin-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy (OIPN) in Patients Receiving Oxaliplatin for Three Months

While oxaliplatin-induced peripheral neuropathy (OIPN) is more common and severe in patients who receive the previous standard, 6-month oxaliplatin-based treatment, we hypothesized that OIPN was still pervasive in patients who received shorter, 3-month-treatment regimens. Using six EORTC QLQ-CIPN20 questions that quantify numbness (N), tingling (T) and shooting/burning pain (P) in upper/lower distal extremities, our aim is to quantify patient-reported responses over 3 months (6 cycles) of oxaliplatin regarding symptom-specific timing, location and severity. For each question, patients were asked how each of the sensory symptoms had affected them during the preceding week, with 1 = “Not at all”, 2 = “A little”, 3 = “Quite a bit” and 4 = “Very much”. The proportional odds model for the cumulative log odds of response that allowed symptom-specific patient heterogeneity to be obtained was applied to a pooled dataset from the placebo arms of two multisite OIPN prevention trials and fit separately to the upper/lower distal extremities. For each symptom, we report the cycle-specific marginal probabilities for each response. In 141 patients, substantial patient heterogeneity in the likelihood, at a given cycle, of a more severe response for a symptom was present. Distinct patterns in the probabilities for each response over time for N and T were observed between the upper/lower distal extremities, while the probabilities of a response >1 for P was largely negligible in both locations. Despite the decrease in exposure to oxaliplatin from 6 to 3 months, OIPN was still pervasive with patients experiencing considerable N and T in the fingers (or hands) and toes (or feet).

Prevention of Oxaliplatin-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background

Oxaliplatin-induced peripheral neuropathy (OIPN) has significant clinical impact on the quality of life for cancer patients and is a dose limiting toxicity. Trials studying preventive measures have been inconclusive. A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted to evaluate the existing pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions to prevent chronic OIPN.

Methods

Literature databases PubMed-MEDLINE, Embase and Scopus, were searched from 1 Jan 2005 to 08 Aug 2020 and major conferences’ abstracts were reviewed for randomized controlled trials that examined the efficacy of any preventive measure for OIPN. The primary outcome measure was the incidence of chronic OIPN with a preventive intervention as compared to placebo or no intervention. The pooled risk ratio and its 95% confidence interval were calculated using a random effects model. A network meta-analysis was conducted to derive indirect evidence of any preventive effect of an intervention against placebo when original trials compared one intervention against another.

Results

Forty-four trials were analyzed describing 29 chemoprotective interventions, including combinations, and 1 non-pharmacological intervention. Ratings were assessed via a combination of outcomes with quality assessment using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations (GRADE) framework. Of the 30 interventions examined, there were six interventions supporting potential efficacy, 11 interventions with insufficient evidence and 13 interventions not recommended.

Conclusion

Currently, there is insufficient certainty to support any intervention as effective in preventing OIPN. Of note is that most of these studies have focused on pharmacological interventions; non-pharmacological interventions are underexplored. Further research on ways to limit OIPN is needed.

Systematic Review Registration

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=225095, Prospero Registration Number: CRD42021225095.

Mirogabalin vs pregabalin for chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy in pancreatic cancer patients

Background

The prognosis of pancreatic cancer (PC) has been improved by new chemotherapy regimens (combination of 5-fluorouracil, oxaliplatin, irinotecan, and leucovorin (FOLFIRINOX) or gemcitabine plus nab-paclitaxel (GnP)). Unfortunately, chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a common adverse event of these two regimens. The efficacy of pregabalin for CIPN has been reported in previous studies. However, the efficacy of mirogabalin for CIPN remains unknown. Thus, in this study, we aimed to clarify which drug (mirogabalin or pregabalin) was more valuable for improving CIPN.

Methods

A total of 163 PC patients who underwent FOLFIRINOX or GnP between May 2014 and January 2021 were enrolled. Among them, 34 patients were diagnosed with CIPN. Thirteen patients were treated with mirogabalin (mirogabalin group), and twenty-one patients were treated with pregabalin (pregabalin group). Treatment efficacy was compared between the two groups.

Results

In both the mirogabalin group and the pregabalin group, the grade of patients with CIPN at 2, 4, and 6 weeks after the initiation of treatment showed significant improvement compared to the pretreatment grade. Notably, the rate of CIPN improvement was higher in the mirogabalin group than in the pregabalin group (2 weeks: 84.6% (11/13) vs 33.3% (7/21), P value = 0.005; 4 weeks, 6 weeks: 92.3% (12/13) vs 33.3% (7/21), P value = 0.001).

Conclusions

Although both mirogabalin and pregabalin were effective at improving CIPN, mirogabalin might be a suitable first choice for CIPN in PC patients.

Trial registration

Not applicable

Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy: Epidemiology, Pathomechanisms and Treatment

PURPOSE

This review provides an update on the current clinical, epidemiological and pathophysiological evidence alongside the diagnostic, prevention and treatment approach to chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN).

FINDINGS

The incidence of cancer and long-term survival after treatment is increasing. CIPN affects sensory, motor and autonomic nerves and is one of the most common adverse events caused by chemotherapeutic agents, which in severe cases leads to dose reduction or treatment cessation, with increased mortality. The primary classes of chemotherapeutic agents associated with CIPN are platinum-based drugs, taxanes, vinca alkaloids, bortezomib and thalidomide. Platinum agents are the most neurotoxic, with oxaliplatin causing the highest prevalence of CIPN. CIPN can progress from acute to chronic, may deteriorate even after treatment cessation (a phenomenon known as coasting) or only partially attenuate. Different chemotherapeutic agents share both similarities and key differences in pathophysiology and clinical presentation. The diagnosis of CIPN relies heavily on identifying symptoms, with limited objective diagnostic approaches targeting the class of affected nerve fibres. Studies have consistently failed to identify at-risk cohorts, and there are no proven strategies or interventions to prevent or limit the development of CIPN. Furthermore, multiple treatments developed to relieve symptoms and to modify the underlying disease in CIPN have failed.

IMPLICATIONS

The increasing prevalence of CIPN demands an objective approach to identify at-risk patients in order to prevent or limit progression and effectively alleviate the symptoms associated with CIPN. An evidence base for novel targets and both pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments is beginning to emerge and has been recognised recently in publications by the American Society of Clinical Oncology and analgesic trial design expert groups such as ACTTION.

Lithium and preventing chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy in breast cancer patients: a placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial

BACKGROUND

Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a common adverse effect of some chemotherapy regimens. Lithium has been suggested for CIPN in some animal studies. We aimed to study lithium's preventive effect on CIPN in breast cancer patients treated with taxanes and platinum-based medications.

METHOD

A double-blind placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial (RCT) was implemented on 36 breast cancer patients in two equal-size groups by block randomization. Participants in both groups consumed daily tablets, either placebo or lithium (300 mg), for 5 days in each course of chemotherapy. The tablets were prescribed 1 day before the start of chemotherapy. The electromyography (EMG) and nerve-conduction-velocity (NCV) tests were achieved before the first chemotherapy, 3 and 9 months after the treatment. The changes and signs or symptoms of CIPN, such as numbness, tingling, freezing, sensitivity to touch, muscle weakness, fibrillation, and knee and elbow reflex disorders, were recorded by examination. The trend of outcome changes was compared between two groups during the 9 months of study.

RESULTS

In both groups, neurologic signs and symptoms were exacerbated during the first 3 months and improved up to the ninth month of study. Results showed significant changes of all EMG-NCV variables during the 9 months of research in each group (P < 0.001), but the interaction of time and group effect was not significant in none of those indices. All symptoms changed significantly over the study time (P < 0.001) without significant statistical difference between the two groups (P=0.352). No side effect was found during the study.

CONCLUSION

The study showed that 300 mg lithium prescription once daily for 5 days might not effectively prevent CIPN in breast cancer patients. Evaluation of lithium effect on CIPN on different cancers in future studies is suggested.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials IRCT20160813029327N10 .  Registration date: May 16, 2018.

Renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitors prevent the onset of oxaliplatin-induced peripheral neuropathy: A retrospective multicenter study and in vitro evaluation

Oxaliplatin (OXA) is used in chemotherapy for various cancer types and is associated with acute and chronic neurotoxicity. However, a preventive strategy for OXA-induced peripheral neuropathy (OIPN) and its underlying mechanism remain unclear. We examined the effects of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitors (RAASIs) on OIPN by performing a retrospective multicenter study and an in vitro assay. We retrospectively evaluated electronic medical records of 976 patients who underwent one or more courses of OXA-containing regimens at Ehime, Okayama, and Tokushima University Hospitals. The primary endpoint was the incidence of OIPN during or after OXA administration. The effects of RAASIs and OXA on the neurite length in PC12 cells were determined. The combined administration of an OXA-containing regimen and RAASI significantly inhibited the cumulative incidence grade-2 or higher OIPN (log-rank test; P=0.0001). RAASIs markedly suppressed the development of both acute and chronic OIPN (multivariate analysis; P=0.017 and P=0.011). In an in vitro assay, 10 µM OXA suppressed the neurite length; treatment with 1 μM aliskiren, spironolactone, 10 μM candesartan, and enalapril significantly restored neurite length to the control level. Moreover, 1 μM SCH772984 (a selective inhibitor of extracellular signal-regulated kinase, ERK1/2) and 500 μM SQ22536 (a cell-permeable adenylate cyclase [AC] inhibitor) markedly abolished neuroprotective effects of candesartan and enalapril. These results indicate that RAASIs possess preventive or therapeutic effects in acute and chronic OIPN, candesartan and enalapril may directly increase in the activity of ERK1/2 and AC in PC12 cells.

Monosialotetrahexosylganglioside in the treatment of chronic oxaliplatin-induced peripheral neurotoxicity: TJMUCH-GI-001, a randomised controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Chronic oxaliplatin-induced peripheral neurotoxicity (OIPN) is the most troublesome and dose-limiting side effect of oxaliplatin. There is no effective treatment for chronic OIPN. We conducted a randomised controlled trial to investigate the efficacy of monosialotetrahexosylganglioside (GM1) in treating chronic OIPN.

METHODS

In this single-centre, double-blind, phase Ⅲ trial, gastrointestinal cancer patients with persistent chronic OIPN were randomised in 1:1 ratio to receive either GM1 or placebo at Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, China. GM1 was dosed at 60 mg daily for every 3 weeks or 40 mg daily for every 2 weeks. Seven- and fourteen- day infusions were administered to concurrent oxaliplatin users and oxaliplatin discontinuation patients, respectively. The primary endpoint was the relief of neurotoxicity (≥30% improvement), measured by a newly developed patient reported outcome measure (MCIPN) based on prior questionnaires including the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Chemotherapy Induced Peripheral Neuropathy Questionnaire twenty-item scale. Visual analogue score (VAS) was used as another instrument for patients to evaluate the total Chronic OIPN treatment effect. VAS responders (≥30% improvement), double responders (≥30% improvement in both MCIPN and VAS), and high responders (≥50% improvement in the MCIPN total score) were also calculated. The secondary endpoints were safety and quality of life. The additional endpoints are progression-free survival (PFS), disease-free survival (DFS), overall survival (OS), and tumour response. (Trial registration number: NCT02486198 at ClinicalTrials.gov).

FINDINGS

Between May 2015 to December 2017, 145 patients were randomly assigned to receive either GM1 (n=73) and placebo (n=72). Majority of the patients in both arms (90% in GM1 and 83% in placebo) continued receiving oxaliplatin on the trial. More patients responded in the GM1 group than in the placebo group (MCIPN responders: 53% vs 14%, VAS responders: 49% vs 22%, double responders: 41% vs 7%, and high responders: 32% vs 13%, all P < ·01). Analyses were also performed in concurrent oxaliplatin users. The results were consistent with those of the whole group. No deleterious effects of GM1 on survival or tumour response were found. There were no ≥G3 GM1-related adverse events.

INTERPRETATION

In patients with chronic OIPN, the use of GM1 reduces the severity of chronic OIPN compared with placebo.

FUNDING

This work was supported by clinical trial development fund of Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital (No.C1706).

Targeting strategies for oxaliplatin-induced peripheral neuropathy: clinical syndrome, molecular basis, and drug development

Oxaliplatin (OHP)-induced peripheral neurotoxicity (OIPN) is a severe clinical problem and potentially permanent side effect of cancer treatment. For the management of OIPN, accurate diagnosis and understanding of significant risk factors including genetic vulnerability are essential to improve knowledge regarding the prevalence and incidence of OIPN as well as enhance strategies for the prevention and treatment of OIPN. The molecular mechanisms underlying OIPN are complex, with multi-targets and various cells causing neuropathy. Furthermore, mechanisms of OIPN can reinforce each other, and combination therapies may be required for effective management. However, despite intense investigation in preclinical and clinical studies, no preventive therapies have shown significant clinical efficacy, and the established treatment for painful OIPN is limited. Duloxetine is the only agent currently recommended by the American Society of Clinical Oncology. The present article summarizes the most recent advances in the field of studies on OIPN, the overview of the clinical syndrome, molecular basis, therapy development, and outlook of future drug candidates. Importantly, closer links between clinical pain management teams and oncology will advance the effectiveness of OIPN treatment, and the continued close collaboration between preclinical and clinical research will facilitate the development of novel prevention and treatments for OIPN.

Preventive Efficacy and Safety of Yiqi-Wenjing-Fang Granules on Oxaliplatin-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy: A Protocol for a Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Multicenter Trial

Background. Oxaliplatin-induced peripheral neuropathy (OIPN) is one of the most common side effects of oxaliplatin, which can cause reduction and cessation of oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy and significantly affect patients' quality of life. However, no drug has got recognition to prevent or treat OIPN. Yiqi-Wenjing-Fang (YWF) is a joint name of Chinese medicine prescriptions with similar effects of tonifying qi and warming meridians, represented by Huangqi Guizhi Wuwu decoction (HGWD) and Danggui Sini decoction (DSD), both from "Treatise on Cold Pathogenic and Miscellaneous Diseases." YWF granules, including HGWD granules and DSD granules, have been, respectively, demonstrated to be effective in preventing OIPN in previous small-sample observations. The purpose of this study is to enlarge the sample size for further evaluation of the preventive efficacy and safety of YWF granules on OIPN. Methods and Analysis. This study is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, and multicenter clinical trial. 360 postoperative patients with stage IIa-IIIc colorectal cancer will be randomly assigned into placebo-control group, intervention group I, and intervention group II, taking the mimetic granules of YWF as placebo, HGWD granules and DSD granules, respectively. All subjects will receive oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy regimen at the same time. EORTC QLQ-CIPN20 will be used to assess the degree of OIPN as the primary outcome measure. The grades of OIPN, quality of life, chemotherapeutic efficacy, and the number of completed chemotherapy cycles are selected as the secondary outcome measures. Discussion. Based on the condition of no recognized effective drugs in preventing OIPN, evidence-based medical study will be conducted for seeking a breakthrough in the field of Chinese herb medicine. This protocol could provide reliable and systemic research basis about the efficacy of YWF granules and the differentiation of two classical prescriptions of YWF on preventing OIPN objectively. Trial Registration. This study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov on 26 December 2020 (ID: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04690283).

The frequency of medical reversals in a cross-sectional analysis of high-impact oncology journals, 2009-2018

Background

Identifying ineffective practices that have been used in oncology is important in reducing wasted resources and harm. We sought to examine the prevalence of practices that are being used but have been shown in RCTs to be ineffective (medical reversals) in published oncology studies.

Methods

We cross-sectionally analyzed studies published in three high-impact oncology medical journals (2009–2018). We abstracted data relating to the frequency and characterization of medical reversals.

Results

Of the 64 oncology reversals, medications (44%) represented the most common intervention type (39% were targeted). Fourteen (22%) were funded by pharmaceutical/industry only and 56% were funded by an organization other than pharmaceutical/industry. The median number of years that the practice had been in use prior to the reversal study was 9 years (range 1–50 years).

Conclusion

Here we show that oncology reversals most often involve the administration of medications, have been practiced for years, and are often identified through studies funded by non-industry organizations.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12885-021-08632-8.

L-tetrahydropalmatine reduces oxaliplatin accumulation in the dorsal root ganglion and mitochondria through selectively inhibiting the transporter-mediated uptake thereby attenuates peripheral neurotoxicity

Oxaliplatin (OXA) is a third-generation platinum drug; however, its application is greatly limited due to the severe peripheral neurotoxicity. This study aims to confirm the transport mechanism of OXA and to explore whether L-tetrahydropalmatine (L-THP) would alleviate OXA-induced peripheral neurotoxicity by selectively inhibiting these uptake transporters in vitro and in vivo. Our results revealed that organic cation transporter 2 (OCT2), organic cation/carnitine transporter 1 (OCTN1) and organic cation/carnitine transporter 2 (OCTN2) were involved in the uptake of OXA in dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons and mitochondria, respectively. L-THP (1-100 μM) reduced OXA (40 μM) induced cytotoxicity in MDCK-hOCT2 (Madin-Darby canine kidney, MDCK), MDCK-hOCTN1, MDCK-hOCTN2, and rat primary DRG cells, and decreased the accumulation of OXA in above cells and rat DRG mitochondria, but did not affect its efflux from MDCK-hMRP2 cells. Furthermore, Co-administration of L-THP (5-20 mg/kg for mice, 10-40 mg/kg for rats; twice a week, iv or ig) attenuated OXA (8 mg/kg for mice, 4 mg/kg for rats; twice a week, iv) induced peripheral neurotoxicity and reduced the platinum concentration in the DRG. Whereas, L-THP (1-100 μM for cells; 10-20 mg/kg for mice) did not impair the antitumour efficacy of OXA (40 μM for cells; 8 mg/kg for mice) in HT29 tumour-bearing nude mice nor in tumour cells (HT29 and SW620 cells). In conclusion, OCT2, OCTN1 and OCTN2 contribute to OXA uptake in the DRG and mitochondria. L-THP attenuates OXA-induced peripheral neurotoxicity via inhibiting OXA uptake but without impairing the antitumour efficacy of OXA. L-THP is a potential candidate drug to attenuate OXA-induced peripheral neurotoxicity.

Optimal Maintenance Strategy for First-Line Oxaliplatin-Containing Therapy with or without Bevacizumab in Patients with Metastatic Colorectal Cancer: A Meta-Analysis

PURPOSE

Maintenance therapy after oxaliplatin withdrawal is useful in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). This study aimed to investigate the timing of discontinuation or reintroduction of oxaliplatin and the optimal maintenance therapy regimen for survival.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

PubMed and conference abstracts were searched to select phase II and III trials of first-line oxaliplatin-containing therapy with or without bevacizumab using maintenance therapy for mCRC. Correlations of median overall survival (OS) with induction therapy regimens, induction therapy duration, maintenance therapy regimens (fluoropyrimidine plus bevacizumab [FP+Bev], FP/Bev alone, and no treatment), and oxaliplatin reintroduction were investigated using correlation and weighted multivariate regression analyses.

RESULTS

Twenty-two treatment arms were analyzed, including 2,581 patients. The maintenance therapy regimen FP+Bev showed the strongest correlation with a prolonged OS (Spearman's partial correlation coefficient=0.42), and the other three variables correlated weakly with the OS. The maintenance therapy regimen significantly interacted with the induction chemotherapy duration (p=0.019). The predicted OS for FP+Bev crossed the lines of FP/Bev alone at 18 weeks of induction therapy, and of no treatment at 23 weeks. The corresponding OS at 12 and 27 weeks of induction therapies were 28.6 and 24.2 months for FP+Bev, 25.9 and 28.8 months for FP/Bev alone, and 20.5 and 27.5 months for no treatment.

CONCLUSION

The optimal maintenance therapy regimen for the OS is a continuous induction therapy as long as possible followed by FP/Bev alone and switching to FP+Bev within approximately 4 months if induction therapy is discontinued.

Neuropathy severity at the time of oxaliplatin treatment alteration in patients with colon cancer (Alliance A151912)

BACKGROUND

Clinical guidelines recommend altering chemotherapy treatment by decreasing, delaying, or discontinuing dosing in patients who are experiencing chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy. There are few data available on the clinical use of treatment alteration including the severity of CIPN at the time of treatment alteration.

METHODS

This was a retrospective analysis of patients receiving oxaliplatin on the NCCTG N08CB trial. Neuropathy severity was assessed at each cycle by clinicians and patients. Patients were classified as (1) completed treatment without alteration, (2) dose reduction or delay due to neuropathy, (3) discontinuation due to neuropathy, (4) discontinuation for other toxicity, or (5) discontinuation for another reason (5). Comparisons focused primarily on patients with alteration due to neuropathy (groups 2 and/or 3) compared with patients who completed treatment without alteration (group 1).

RESULTS

In 350 participants, 135 (39%) completed treatment without alteration, 70 (20%) had a dose reduction or delay due to neuropathy, and 35 (10%) discontinued early due to neuropathy. Clinician-assessed neuropathy severity was greater in patients at the time of dose reduction or delay compared with severity at the end of treatment in patients without alteration (p < 0.0001). Patient-reported neuropathy severity at cycle 4 was worse in patients who eventually had a reduction or delay as compared with patients who completed treatment without alteration (p = 0.017).

CONCLUSIONS

Treatment alterations due to neuropathy are common in patients receiving oxaliplatin for colon cancer and are associated with clinician-assessed neuropathy severity. Rapid increases in patient-reported neuropathy severity indicate a potential need for monitoring and intervention.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT01099449 (NCCTG N08CB).

The Use of Heptamethine Cyanine Dyes as Drug-Conjugate Systems in the Treatment of Primary and Metastatic Brain Tumors

Effective cancer therapeutics for brain tumors must be able to cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB) to reach the tumor in adequate quantities and overcome the resistance conferred by the local tumor microenvironment. Clinically approved chemotherapeutic agents have been investigated for brain neoplasms, but despite their effectiveness in peripheral cancers, failed to show therapeutic success in brain tumors. This is largely due to their poor bioavailability and specificity towards brain tumors. A targeted delivery system might improve the efficacy of the candidate compounds by increasing the retention time in the tumor tissue, and minimizing the numerous side effects associated with the non-specific distribution of the chemotherapy agent. Heptamethine cyanine dyes (HMCDs) are a class of near-infrared fluorescence (NIRF) compounds that have recently emerged as promising agents for drug delivery. Initially explored for their use in imaging and monitoring neoplasms, their tumor-targeting properties have recently been investigated for their use as drug carrier systems. This review will explore the recent developments in the tumour-targeting properties of a specific group of NIRF cyanine dyes and the preclinical evidence for their potential as drug-delivery systems in the treatment of primary and metastatic brain tumors.

No need for H2-antagonists in premedication regimens for paclitaxel infusions: less is more

The theoretical basis for use of histamine 2 (H₂)-receptor inhibitors to prevent hypersensitivity reactions for paclitaxel infusions is weak. This Editorial discusses a clinical study showing that ranitidine is not indicated any more in this setting and puts this in the context of other valuable efforts leaving non-evidence-based interventions behind us.

Anticancer Drugs and the Nervous System

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

This article reviews the clinical features, prognosis, and treatment of neurotoxicity from anticancer drugs, including conventional cytotoxic chemotherapy, biologics, and targeted therapies, with a focus on the newer immunotherapies (immune checkpoint inhibitors and chimeric antigen receptor T cells).

RECENT FINDINGS

Whereas neurologic complications from traditional chemotherapy are widely recognized, newer cancer therapies, in particular immunotherapies, have unique and distinct patterns of neurologic adverse effects. Anticancer drugs may cause central or peripheral nervous system complications. Neurologic complications of therapy are being seen with increasing frequency as patients with cancer are living longer and receiving multiple courses of anticancer regimens, with novel agents, combinations, and longer duration. Neurologists must know how to recognize treatment-related neurologic toxicity since discontinuation of the offending agent or dose adjustment may prevent further or permanent neurologic injury. It is also imperative to differentiate neurologic complications of therapy from cancer progression into the nervous system and from comorbid neurologic disorders that do not require treatment dose reduction or discontinuation.

SUMMARY

Neurotoxicity from cancer therapy is common, with effects seen on both the central and peripheral nervous systems. Immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy and chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy are new cancer treatments with distinct patterns of neurologic complications. Early recognition and appropriate management are essential to help prevent further neurologic injury and optimize oncologic management.

Genetic Predictors of Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy from Paclitaxel, Carboplatin and Oxaliplatin: NCCTG/Alliance N08C1, N08CA and N08CB Study

Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a common and potentially permanent adverse effect of chemotherapeutic agents including taxanes such as paclitaxel and platinum-based compounds such as oxaliplatin and carboplatin. Previous studies have suggested that genetics may impact the risk of CIPN. We conducted genome-wide association studies (GWASs) for CIPN in two independent populations who had completed European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ)-CIPN20 assessments (a CIPN-specific 20-item questionnaire which includes three scales that evaluate sensory, autonomic, and motor symptoms). The study population N08Cx included 692 participants from three clinical trials (North Central Cancer Treatment Group (NCCTG) N08C1, N08CA, and N08CB) who had been treated with paclitaxel, paclitaxel plus carboplatin, or oxaliplatin. The primary endpoint for the GWAS was the change from pre-chemotherapy CIPN20 sensory score to the worse score over the following 18 weeks. Study population The Mayo Clinic Breast Disease Registry (MCBDR) consisted of 381 Mayo Clinic Breast Disease Registry enrollees who had been treated with taxane or platinum-based chemotherapy. The primary endpoint for the GWAS assessed was the earliest CIPN20 sensory score available after the completion of chemotherapy. In multivariate model analyses, chemotherapy regimen (p = 3.0 × 10-8) and genetic ancestry (p = 0.007) were significantly associated with CIPN in the N08Cx population. Only age (p = 0.0004) was significantly associated with CIPN in the MCBDR population. The SNP most associated with CIPN was rs56360211 near PDE6C (p =7.92 × 10-8) in N08Cx and rs113807868 near TMEM150C in the MCBDR (p = 1.27 × 10-8). Due to a lack of replication, we cannot conclude that we identified any genetic predictors of CIPN.

Colon Cancer, Version 2.2021, NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology

This selection from the NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines) for Colon Cancer focuses on systemic therapy options for the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC), because important updates have recently been made to this section. These updates include recommendations for first-line use of checkpoint inhibitors for mCRC, that is deficient mismatch repair/microsatellite instability-high, recommendations related to the use of biosimilars, and expanded recommendations for biomarker testing. The systemic therapy recommendations now include targeted therapy options for patients with mCRC that is HER2-amplified, or BRAF V600E mutation-positive. Treatment and management of nonmetastatic or resectable/ablatable metastatic disease are discussed in the complete version of the NCCN Guidelines for Colon Cancer available at NCCN.org. Additional topics covered in the complete version include risk assessment, staging, pathology, posttreatment surveillance, and survivorship.

[Rehabilitation methods for cancer patients with peripheral polyneuropathy induced by cytostatics]

An analytical review of the methods of cancer patients' rehabilitation with peripheral polyneuropathy induced by cytostatics (PNPIC) was carried out. Studies from electronic databases were investigated: Scopus, Web of Science, MedLine, World Health Organization, The Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, ScienceDirect, US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health, PubMed Cancer, eLIBRARY, CyberLeninka. Despite the improvement of anticancer therapy and an increase in patients' life expectancy, the emerging peripheral polyneuropathy remains an urgent problem, since it significantly affects both the patients' life quality and the selection of adequate therapy. The frequency of detection of PNPIC is 90%, after discontinuation of treatment; symptoms of damaged peripheral nerve fibers remain in 30% of patients. The clinical symptoms of PNPIC are varied and most often include numbness in the extremities and / or increased sensitivity to thermal or mechanical stimuli, neuropathic pain. Currently, to prevent PNPIC, treatment is being modified with a reduction in the duration of courses and doses of cytostatics, and interruption of treatment. Official guidelines do not recommend any prophylaxis other than the possible use of duloxetine or a topical gel containing baclofen, amitriptyline, and ketamine. Over the past few years, there has been no significant progress in the prevention and treatment of PNPIC. The most common drug treatment method in clinical practice is the prescription of vitamins B. Among the non-drug treatment methods of PNPIC, the authors used acupuncture, electro-acupuncture, manual therapy, massage, gymnastics, yoga, sensorimotor training, general vibration therapy, percutaneous electro-neuro-stimulation, electro-analgesia, local cryotherapy, hydrotherapy, low-intensity alternating magnetic radiation. The studies included in the review are heterogeneous in design and protocol, number of patients, and time points for assessing outcomes. In connection with the existing differences, it is not possible to carry out a comparative analysis of the results of these rehabilitation types and to give an unambiguous answer about their effectiveness. As the analysis has shown, peripheral PNPIC is well known all over the world, however, the search for methods of its treatment is far from complete.

Utilization of Magnesium for the Treatment of Chronic Pain

CONTEXT

The International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) defines chronic pain as pain that persists or recurs for longer than 3 months. Chronic pain has a significant global disease burden with profound effects on health, quality of life, and socioeconomic costs.

EVIDENCE ACQUISITION

Narrative review.

RESULTS

There are several treatment options, including pharmacological therapy, physical rehabilitation, psychological therapies, and surgical interventions, for chronic pain management. Magnesium has been FDA-approved for several indications including hypomagnesemia, arrhythmia, prevention of seizures in eclampsia/preeclampsia, and constipation. Magnesium has been used for numerous off-label uses, notably for acute and chronic pain management. The mechanism of magnesium in pain management is primarily through its action as a voltage-gated antagonist of NMDA receptors, which are involved in pain transduction.

CONCLUSIONS

This narrative review will focus on the current evidence and data surrounding the utilization of magnesium as a treatment option for chronic pain.

Therapeutic Agents for Oxaliplatin-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy; Experimental and Clinical Evidence

Oxaliplatin is an essential drug in the chemotherapy of colorectal, gastric, and pancreatic cancers, but it frequently causes peripheral neuropathy as a dose-limiting factor. So far, animal models of oxaliplatin-induced peripheral neuropathy have been established. The mechanisms of development of neuropathy induced by oxaliplatin have been elucidated, and many drugs and agents have been proven to have neuroprotective effects in basic studies. In addition, some of these drugs have been validated in clinical studies for their inhibitory effects on neuropathy. In this review, we summarize the basic and clinical evidence for the therapeutic effects of oxaliplatin. In basic research, there are many reports of neuropathy inhibitors that target oxidative stress, inflammatory response, sodium channel, transient receptor potential (TRP) channel, glutamate nervous system, and monoamine nervous system. Alternatively, very few drugs have clearly demonstrated the efficacy for oxaliplatin-induced peripheral neuropathy in clinical trials. It is important to activate translational research in order to translate basic research into clinical research.

Therapeutic Agents for Oxaliplatin-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy; Experimental and Clinical Evidence

Oxaliplatin is an essential drug in the chemotherapy of colorectal, gastric, and pancreatic cancers, but it frequently causes peripheral neuropathy as a dose-limiting factor. So far, animal models of oxaliplatin-induced peripheral neuropathy have been established. The mechanisms of development of neuropathy induced by oxaliplatin have been elucidated, and many drugs and agents have been proven to have neuroprotective effects in basic studies. In addition, some of these drugs have been validated in clinical studies for their inhibitory effects on neuropathy. In this review, we summarize the basic and clinical evidence for the therapeutic effects of oxaliplatin. In basic research, there are many reports of neuropathy inhibitors that target oxidative stress, inflammatory response, sodium channel, transient receptor potential (TRP) channel, glutamate nervous system, and monoamine nervous system. Alternatively, very few drugs have clearly demonstrated the efficacy for oxaliplatin-induced peripheral neuropathy in clinical trials. It is important to activate translational research in order to translate basic research into clinical research.

Therapeutic Agents for Oxaliplatin-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy; Experimental and Clinical Evidence

Oxaliplatin is an essential drug in the chemotherapy of colorectal, gastric, and pancreatic cancers, but it frequently causes peripheral neuropathy as a dose-limiting factor. So far, animal models of oxaliplatin-induced peripheral neuropathy have been established. The mechanisms of development of neuropathy induced by oxaliplatin have been elucidated, and many drugs and agents have been proven to have neuroprotective effects in basic studies. In addition, some of these drugs have been validated in clinical studies for their inhibitory effects on neuropathy. In this review, we summarize the basic and clinical evidence for the therapeutic effects of oxaliplatin. In basic research, there are many reports of neuropathy inhibitors that target oxidative stress, inflammatory response, sodium channel, transient receptor potential (TRP) channel, glutamate nervous system, and monoamine nervous system. Alternatively, very few drugs have clearly demonstrated the efficacy for oxaliplatin-induced peripheral neuropathy in clinical trials. It is important to activate translational research in order to translate basic research into clinical research.

Research design considerations for chronic pain prevention clinical trials: IMMPACT recommendations

Although certain risk factors can identify individuals who are most likely to develop chronic pain, few interventions to prevent chronic pain have been identified. To facilitate the identification of preventive interventions, an IMMPACT meeting was convened to discuss research design considerations for clinical trials investigating the prevention of chronic pain. We present general design considerations for prevention trials in populations that are at relatively high risk for developing chronic pain. Specific design considerations included subject identification, timing and duration of treatment, outcomes, timing of assessment, and adjusting for risk factors in the analyses. We provide a detailed examination of 4 models of chronic pain prevention (ie, chronic postsurgical pain, postherpetic neuralgia, chronic low back pain, and painful chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy). The issues discussed can, in many instances, be extrapolated to other chronic pain conditions. These examples were selected because they are representative models of primary and secondary prevention, reflect persistent pain resulting from multiple insults (ie, surgery, viral infection, injury, and toxic or noxious element exposure), and are chronically painful conditions that are treated with a range of interventions. Improvements in the design of chronic pain prevention trials could improve assay sensitivity and thus accelerate the identification of efficacious interventions. Such interventions would have the potential to reduce the prevalence of chronic pain in the population. Additionally, standardization of outcomes in prevention clinical trials will facilitate meta-analyses and systematic reviews and improve detection of preventive strategies emerging from clinical trials.

Effect of pyridoxine plus pyridostigmine treatment on vincristine-induced peripheral neuropathy in pediatric patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia: a single-center experience

BACKGROUND

Vincristine (VCR), which is a key component of chemotherapy, is important for survival. VCR is associated with a well-known side effect, including neurotoxicity.

AIMS

The aim of this study was to evaluate the features of vincristine-induced peripheral neuropathy (VIPN) and the effectiveness of pyridoxine plus pyridostigmine therapy in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

METHODS

The WHO and NCI CTCAE neurotoxicity scorings were used to evaluate VIPN at diagnosis, in the first month, and after the third month of the treatment. The clinical features of 23 patients having acute lymphoblastic leukemia with VIPN during the period of July 2013-February 2016 were prospectively evaluated.

RESULTS

The mean age was 72.8 ± 51.6 months, and 26.1%, 56.5%, and 17.4% were in standard, moderate, and high-risk groups, respectively. Neuropathy frequently occurred at induction (82.6%) and reinduction (17.4%) of the protocol. Drop foot (82.6%), leg pain (82.6%), and difficulty in walking (82.6%) were observed. The mean total cumulative dose of neuropathy occurrence was 5.6 ± 2.03 mg/m². Our study showed that both the WHO and NCI CTCAE scorings were significantly improved via pyridoxine plus pyridostigmine therapy.

CONCLUSION

The WHO and NCI CTCAE scorings may be used for evaluating neuropathy at diagnosis and follow-up of neurotoxicity with treatment. Pyridoxine plus pyridostigmine therapy may be an effective option in the treatment of VIPN.

Antioxidant Supplementation in the Treatment of Neurotoxicity Induced by Platinum-Based Chemotherapeutics-A Review

Cancer represents one of the most pernicious public health problems with a high mortality rate among patients worldwide. Chemotherapy is one of the major therapeutic approaches for the treatment of various malignancies. Platinum-based drugs (cisplatin, oxaliplatin, carboplatin, etc.) are highly effective chemotherapeutic drugs used for the treatment of several types of malignancies, but their application and dosage are limited by their toxic effects on various systems, including neurotoxicity. Simultaneously, researchers have tried to improve the survival rate and quality of life of cancer patients and decrease the toxicity of platinum-containing drugs by combining them with non-chemotherapy-based drugs, dietary supplements and/or antioxidants. Additionally, recent studies have shown that the root cause for the many side effects of platinum chemotherapeutics involves the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in naive cells. Therefore, suppression of ROS generation and their inactivation with antioxidants represents an appropriate approach for platinum drug-induced toxicities. The aim of this paper is to present an updated review of the protective effects of different antioxidant agents (vitamins, dietary antioxidants and supplements, medicaments, medicinal plants and their bioactive compounds) against the neurotoxicity induced by platinum-based chemotherapeutics. This review highlights the high potential of plant antioxidants as adjuvant strategies in chemotherapy with platinum drugs.

Acute Peripheral Motor Neuropathy Induced by Oxaliplatin-Correlated Hypokalaemia

Neurotoxicity is one of the most common side effects of oxaliplatin-based therapy. Most patients who receive at least 3–4 months of treatment suffer from peripheral sensory neurotoxicity (PSN), characterised by the loss or impairment of tactile and proprioceptive sensory function. Motor impairment, such as muscle weakness or palsy, has been rarely described, and the physiopathology of PSN, as well as the motor symptoms due to oxaliplatin-based treatment, are not adequately understood. Here we report the case of a patient who experienced severe acute peripheral motor neuropathy as a side effect of oxaliplatin-based treatment. We also review other cases of PSN published in the literature and suggest a novel hypothesis on the physiopathology of this particular event. Take-away lessons: Not all of the neurological symptoms observed during oxaliplatin-based treatment can be traced back directly to the oxaliplatin itself, and other factors, such as electrolyte imbalances, may contribute to the symptoms. Patients with gastro-intestinal malignancies are the patients most affected by neurotoxicity due to the side effects of chemotherapy and the disease itself.

Protocol of the QUATTRO-II study: a multicenter randomized phase II study comparing CAPOXIRI plus bevacizumab with FOLFOXIRI plus bevacizumab as a first-line treatment in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer

BACKGROUND

First-line treatment with FOLFOXIRI plus bevacizumab (BEV) is highly effective and regarded as one of the standards-of-care for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC), despite the high incidence of neutropenia and diarrhea as side effects. AXEPT, an Asian phase III study, showed that modified CAPIRI+BEV [capecitabine (CAP: 1600 mg/m2), irinotecan (IRI: 200 mg/m2), and BEV (7.5 mg/m2)] was non-inferior to FOLFIRI+BEV as a second-line therapy for mCRC patients and was associated with a lower incidence of hematologic toxicities. Thus, a reduced dose of the CAP and IRI regimen in combination with oxaliplatin (OX) and BEV (CAPOXIRI+BEV) may be more feasible than FOLFOXIRI+BEV, without compromising efficacy.

METHODS

QUATTRO-II is an open-label, multicenter, randomized phase II study. In Step 1, the recommended doses of OX and IRI will be investigated as a safety lead-in. In Step 2, patients will be randomized to the recommended dose of either CAPOXIRI+BEV or FOLFOXIRI+BEV. Induction triplet chemotherapy plus BEV treatments will be administered for up to 4 months followed by fluoropyrimidine plus BEV maintenance. The primary endpoint is progression-free survival (PFS). The similarity in PFS between the two arms will be evaluated by observing whether the point estimate of hazard ratio (HR) for PFS falls between 0.80 and 1.25. Ensuring a 70% probability that the observed HR will be "0.8 < HR < 1.25" under the assumption of the true HR of 1.0, and 100 patients will be evaluated during the 3-year study period. Secondary endpoints include overall survival, overall response rate, safety, and patient reported outcome (PRO) (FACT/GOG-Ntx4).

DISCUSSION

Considering the lower incidence of hematologic toxicities with modified CAPIRI+BEV than with FOLFIRI+BEV, CAPOXIRI+BEV may be a promising treatment option if sufficient efficacy and lower hematologic toxicities are indicated in this study. Additionally, a lower incidence of peripheral sensory neuropathy (PSN) reported following CAPEOX treatment compared to that after FOLFOX in ACHIEVE, an adjuvant phase III trial, suggest that CAPOXIRI+BEV can mitigate OX-induced PSN.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Clinicaltrials.gov NCT04097444 . Registered September 20, 2019, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/study/NCT04097444 / Japan Registry of Clinical Trials jRCTs041190072. Registered October 9, 2019.

Oxaliplatin-induced peripheral neuropathy risk factors and management in Tunisian population

The most important limits of oxaliplatin treatment is its peripheral neurotoxicity. The aim of our study was to evaluate the oxaliplatin-induced peripheral neuropathy, its impact on treatment and its management. One hundred chemo-naive patients treated with oxaliplatin-based regimen in the medical oncology department of the military hospital of Tunis between 2012 and 2017 were recruited retrospectively. Evaluation of neuropathy was done according to the National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (NCI-CTCAE V4). Fifty-six patients were aged more than 60 years. The sex-ratio was 1.56. Twenty-seven patients were overweight, 17 were obese and 56 had a BMI inferior to 25 kg/m². Two patients were consuming alcohol. Twenty-three patients had diabetes. Sixty-four patients developed chronic peripheral neuropathy because of oxaliplatin (grade 1-2 in 58 cases and grade 3 in 6 cases). Sex, BMI, diabetes and alcohol consumption were not associated with the development of peripheral neuropathy. No association was found between grades of neuropathy and sex, alcohol consumption and diabetes. The median cumulative dose of oxaliplatin that induced neuropathy was 432.4 mg/m². The most prescribed treatment was gabapentin (81%) and carbamazepine (16.8%). The treatment was not sufficient to stop neuropathy in 82.6% of cases. Dose reduction was done in 64.2% of cases, treatment delay in 10.7% of cases and treatment interruption in 10.7% of cases. We didn't find any association between known risk factors and peripheral neuropathy. The cumulative dose is interesting to define or to predict the timing of neurotoxicity.

Cisplatin-associated neuropathy characteristics compared with those associated with other neurotoxic chemotherapy agents (Alliance A151724)

PURPOSE

The current project was developed to obtain natural history information regarding cisplatin-induced peripheral neuropathy in males with testicular/germ cell cancers and to compare such neuropathy data with similarly obtained data in patients receiving other chemotherapy drugs in similarly conducted clinical trials.

METHODS

Patients without baseline neuropathy symptoms, who were initiating cisplatin-based chemotherapy, completed the EORTC CIPN 20 patient-reported instrument to evaluate chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN). Results were compared with EORTC CIPN 20 data obtained from independent study sets regarding patients receiving (1) paclitaxel, (2) combined paclitaxel and carboplatin, (3) oxaliplatin, or (4) a combination of doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide (AC). The last study set of patients on AC was selected to evaluate the use of EORTC CIPN 20 data in patients receiving chemotherapy not known to cause CIPN.

RESULTS

Cisplatin-induced neuropathy was more similar to neuropathy in patients receiving oxaliplatin than in those receiving paclitaxel. The cisplatin and oxaliplatin groups exhibited the coasting phenomenon and more prominent upper extremity symptoms than lower extremity symptoms during chemotherapy administration weeks. In contrast, paclitaxel-treated patients did not, on average, exhibit the coasting phenomenon; additionally, lower extremity symptoms were more prominent during the weeks when paclitaxel was administered. Cisplatin-induced neuropathy was less severe than was seen in patients in the other two groups, potentially because the cisplatin-receiving patients were younger. Patients receiving AC did not report substantial EORTC CIPN 20 changes.

CONCLUSION

Understanding neuropathy similarities and differences with various chemotherapy agents may help elucidate CIPN processes and facilitate means to prevent and/or treat established CIPN.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

NCT02677727.

Nano Codelivery of Oxaliplatin and Folinic Acid Achieves Synergistic Chemo-Immunotherapy with 5-Fluorouracil for Colorectal Cancer and Liver Metastasis

FOLFOX, the combinational strategy of folinic acid (FnA), 5-fluorouracil (5-Fu), and oxaliplatin (OxP), has been used as standard treatment of colorectal cancer (CRC) for decades. Despite the improved survival, patients still suffer from drawbacks such as low efficacy, high toxicity, and long course of treatment. New strategies to address these issues are needed to further clinical benefits. In this study, a nanoprecipitate (C₂₆H₃₅N₉O₇Pt) was formed by the active form of OxP ([Pt(DACH)(H₂O)₂]²⁺) and FnA, which was formulated into an aminoethyl anisamide targeted PEGylated lipid nanoparticle within microemulsions using nanoprecipitation technique. The resultant formulation (namely Nano-Folox) significantly promoted the blood circulation and tumor accumulation of platinum drug and FnA in an orthotopic CRC mouse model. Emerging evidence indicates that OxP can not only provide anticancer cytotoxic effects but also induce immunogenic cell death (a type of apoptosis that primes anticancer immune responses). Consequently, Nano-Folox demonstrated favorable chemo-immunotherapeutic activities in orthotopic CRC mice. In addition, when compared to FOLFOX the significantly stronger chemo-immunotherapeutic responses were achieved by the combination of Nano-Folox and 5-Fu without showing toxicity. Moreover, the anti-PD-L1 monoclonal antibody enhanced Nano-Folox/5-Fu for decreased liver metastases in mice. These results indicate the potential of Nano-Folox-based combination strategy for the treatment of CRC.

Platinum-induced peripheral neurotoxicity: From pathogenesis to treatment

Platinum-induced peripheral neurotoxicity (PIPN) is a common side effect of platinum-based chemotherapy that may cause dose reduction and discontinuation, with oxaliplatin being more neurotoxic. PIPN includes acute neurotoxicity restricted to oxaliplatin, and chronic non-length-dependent sensory neuronopathy with positive and negative sensory symptoms and neuropathic pain in both upper and lower limbs. Chronic sensory axonal neuropathy manifesting as stocking-and-glove distribution is also frequent. Worsening of neuropathic symptoms after completing the last chemotherapy course may occur. Motor and autonomic involvement is uncommon. Ototoxicity is frequent in children and more commonly to cisplatin. Platinum-based compounds result in more prolonged neuropathic symptoms in comparison to other chemotherapy agents. Patient reported outcomes questionnaires, clinical evaluation and instrumental tools offer complementary information in PIPN. Electrodiagnostic features include diffusely reduced/abolished sensory action potentials, in keeping with a sensory neuronopathy. PIPN is dependent on cumulative dose but there is a large variability in its occurrence. The search for additional risk factors for PIPN has thus far yielded no consistent findings. There are currently no neuroprotective strategies to reduce the risk of PIPN, and symptomatic treatment is limited to duloxetine that was found effective in a single phase III intervention study. This review critically examines the pathogenesis, incidence, risk factors (both clinical and pharmacogenetic), clinical phenotype and management of PIPN.

Impact of peripheral neuropathy induced by platinum in first-line chemotherapy on second-line chemotherapy with paclitaxel for advanced gastric cancer

BACKGROUND

Fluoropyrimidine plus platinum, followed by paclitaxel (PTX) plus ramucirumab is a recommended treatment strategy for advanced gastric cancer (AGC). We investigated how peripheral neuropathy (PN), induced by platinum in first-line chemotherapy, affected the tolerability of second-line chemotherapy with PTX (2nd-PTX).

METHODS

The subjects were AGC patients who received second-line chemotherapy with PTX (2nd-PTX) after the failure of platinum-based chemotherapy between March 2015 and June 2018. We retrospectively reviewed PN severity, and dose reduction and/or discontinuation due to PN during 2nd-PTX, and compared the cumulative incidence of grade 2 PN between the two groups according to first-line chemotherapy containing oxaliplatin (L-OHP) or cisplatin (CDDP).

RESULTS

The L-OHP and CDDP groups consisted of 50 patients each. PN severity before 2nd-PTX was grade 1/2 in 46/12% of patients in the L-OHP group, and 100/0% in the CDDP group. The worst grades of chemotherapy-induced PN during 2nd-PTX were grades 1/2/3 in 40/34/14% of patients in the L-OHP group, and 36/18/0% in the CDDP group. Median time to grade 2 PN after starting second-PTX was 2.5 months in the L-OHP group and 8.6 months in the CDDP group (hazard ratio 3.34, p = 0.002). The frequencies of a PN-related dose reduction and/or discontinuation of PTX were 18% in the L-OHP group and 8% in the CDDP group (p = 0.234).

CONCLUSIONS

The severity of PN and tolerability of 2nd-PTX may be affected by first-line chemotherapy with L-OHP or CDDP for AGC.

Psychometric Testing of the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire-Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy 20-Item Scale Using Pooled Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy Outcome Measures Standardization and Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology A151408 Study Data

BACKGROUND

No criterion-standard patient-reported outcome measure of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) exists.

OBJECTIVES

The aims of this study were to reevaluate the sensitivity, reliability, and validity of the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire-CIPN (QLQ-CIPN20) measure and suggest possible revisions that could strengthen it.

METHODS

Cross-sectional QLQ-CIPN20 data from 8 European countries (n = 271) were pooled with data from 4 North American multisite CIPN intervention trials (n = 884). The combined sample (N = 1155) included patients with varied cancer diagnoses who had received neurotoxic chemotherapy. Item score ranges, Cronbach's α, and exploratory factor analysis were used to evaluate sensitivity, internal consistency, and structural validity.

RESULTS

Individual item mean scores ranged from 1.21 to 2.34 (SD range, 0.55-1.17). All item scores encompassed the entire 1 to 4 range. We recommend that 4 items be removed because of low item-item score correlations (r < 0.30). On the basis of the remaining 16 items, 88% of the variance was explained by 2 factors whose Cronbach's α coefficients were .90 and .85. However, items lacked conceptual alignment with previously published factor structures.

CONCLUSION

Using a large, diverse sample of European and North American participants, the reduced 16-item QLQ-CIPN20 is sensitive and internally consistent. However, factor analysis results revealed an unstable factor structure.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

The use of a reliable, valid, and sensitive criterion-standard QLQ-CIPN20 variant in clinical practice settings could improve function, quality of life, and CIPN symptom control by facilitating patient reporting and thereby clinician awareness of this underrecognized consequence of cancer therapy.

Long-term efficacy of capecitabine plus oxaliplatin chemotherapy on stage III colon cancer: A meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Many clinical studies for the long-term survival or efficacy of capecitabine plus oxaliplatin (XELOX) in colon cancer have already been studied, but its clinical benefit is controversial.

AIM

To evaluate the long-term efficacy of XELOX regimen in comparison with other adjuvant chemotherapy protocols in colon cancer.

METHODS

By searching the PubMed, EMBASE and Cochrane databases, a total of 12 randomized controlled trials involving 6698 stage III colon cancer cases (XELOX protocol: n = 3298 cases; other adjuvant chemotherapy protocol: n = 3268 cases) were included. The parameter outcomes included the overall survival and the disease-free survival. The quality control of selected literature was based on the Jadad scale and the GRADE system.

RESULTS

In comparison to other adjuvant chemotherapy regimen, XELOX regimen showed a better overall survival (odds ratio = 1.29, 95% confidence interval: 1.15-1.44, P < 0.0001) and a better disease-free survival (odds ratio = 1.32, 95% confidence interval: 1.18-1.46, P < 0.0001) for colon cancer patients, suggesting the XELOX regimen can be a good option for postoperative treatment of stage III colon cancer.

CONCLUSION

The XELOX regimen can be a preferred option for adjuvant treatment of stage III colon cancer after surgery.