[Jackie07]

Hi,

Below are two abstracts on the subject of neuropathy:

Int J Clin Oncol. 2011 Nov 22. [Epub ahead of print]
Paclitaxel-induced peripheral neuropathy in patients receiving adjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer.
Tanabe Y, Hashimoto K, Shimizu C, Hirakawa A, Harano K, Yunokawa M, Yonemori K, Katsumata N, Tamura K, Ando M, Kinoshita T, Fujiwara Y.
Source
Department of Breast Oncology and Medical Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital, 5-1-1 Tsukiji, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, 104-0045, Japan.
Abstract
BACKGROUND:
The long-term outcomes and risk factors of paclitaxel-induced peripheral neuropathy (PIPN) have not yet been fully elucidated.
METHODS:
We identified 219 breast cancer patients who received paclitaxel as adjuvant chemotherapy between 2002 and 2009. We retrospectively analyzed the incidence, time to onset, duration, and risk factors for PIPN by chart review.
RESULTS:
Of the 219 patients, 212 developed PIPN (97%) during a median follow-up time of 57 months (range 5.3-95.5). Median time to PIPN onset was 21 days (range 11-101) for the entire patient population: 35 days (range 14-77) for weekly administration and 21 days (range 11-101) for tri-weekly administration. PIPN caused termination of paclitaxel treatment in 7 patients (4%). Median duration of PIPN was 727 days (range 14-2621 days). PIPN persisted in 64 and 41% of patients at 1 and 3 years after initiating paclitaxel, respectively. Age ≥60 years and severity of PIPN were significantly associated with PIPN duration.
CONCLUSIONS:
PIPN persists longer in older patients and in those who experience severe neuropathy. Further studies to identify the risk factors for PIPN are warranted.


Gan To Kagaku Ryoho. 2011 Nov;38(11):1773-6.

[Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy].
[Article in Japanese]
Noguchi E, Maeda Y.
Source
Dept. of Chemotherapy, Tokyo Metropolitan Cancer and Infectious Diseases Center, Tokyo, Japan.
Abstract
Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy(CIPN)is one of chemotherapy's common and disabling adverse effects. It may be caused by many chemotherapeutic agents including the taxanes(paclitaxel, docetaxel), the vinca alkaloids(vincristine, vinorelbine, vinblastine), the platinum analogues(cisplatin, carboplatin, oxaliplatin), bortezomib and thalidomide, among others. Once the symptoms have developed, they may lead to compromising patients' quality of life(QOL). For medical oncologists, the management of CIPN remains an important challenge. At the present time, no agent has shown enough solid beneficial evidence to be recommended for the treatment or/prophylaxis of CIPN. The standard of care for CIPN includes awareness and early detection of neuropathy, and dose reduction and/or discontinuation of the problematic agents.