A Prospective Study of Taxane-Induced Neuropathy with Breast Cancer: Proper Assessment Tool for Taxane-Induced Neuropathy

Efficacy of cryotherapy in the prevention of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy: A systematic review and meta-analysis

PURPOSE

The study investigates cryotherapy's efficacy in mitigating Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN), an adverse effect of chemotherapy that often leads to dosage reduction or treatment discontinuation.

METHOD

The study was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42023428936). A literature search was conducted using the PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases. Randomized and nonrandomized controlled trials that investigated the effects of cryotherapy on CIPN were included for systematic review and meta-analysis. The primary outcome for prevention was the incidence of CIPN.

RESULTS

We identified 17 trials involving 2,851 patients. In total, 11 trials compared the incidence of CIPN between cryotherapy and control groups. Significant differences in the incidence of CIPN at the midpoint and end of chemotherapy were observed, with risk ratios (RRs) of 0.23 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.13 to 0.43) and 0.54 (95% CI = 0.33 to 0.88), respectively. Cryotherapy also significantly reduced the incidence of sensory CIPN, with an RR of 0.67 (95% CI = 0.49 to 0.92). Additionally, cryotherapy demonstrated a significant reduction in the incidence of CIPN in patients with gynecological cancers (RR = 0.24, 95% CI = 0.14 to 0.41). Significantly favorable global quality of life scores following chemotherapy (standardized mean difference = 1.43; 95% CI = 0.50 to 2.36) and relieved neuropathic symptoms were found with cryotherapy.

CONCLUSIONS

Cryotherapy demonstrates a pronounced preventive effect against the development of CIPN, providing substantial symptomatic relief and quality of life improvements for patients undergoing chemotherapy. The administration of cryotherapy through the use of frozen gloves and socks, or continuous-flow cooling systems, optimally initiated 15 min prior to and concluded 15 min following chemotherapy, is recommended for achieving maximum therapeutic efficacy.

Assessing gait, balance, and muscle strength among breast cancer survivors with chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN): study protocol for a randomized controlled clinical trial

BACKGROUND

Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a common and understudied consequence of taxane chemotherapy for breast cancer treatment. CIPN symptoms include numbness combined with tingling sensations, persistent shooting, stabbing, or burning pain even in the absence of painful stimuli, lower extremity muscle weakness, and impaired balance. CIPN symptoms often persist for a long time after completion of chemotherapy, causing significant loss of functional abilities and increased risk of falls. Persistent CIPN caused by taxanes represents a therapeutic challenge due to the limited treatment options. Resistance exercise has shown promising results; however, the effect of exercise on CIPN remains understudied. This study aims to assess the effects of exercise on gait, balance, and lower extremity muscle strength after a 16-week home-based exercise program compared to an educational attention control condition.

METHODS

A sample of 312 women who completed taxane-based chemotherapy for breast cancer and have symptomatic neuropathy is recruited from a community-dwelling sample. Participants are randomized to either a 16-week Home-Based Physical Activity Intervention or an Educational Attention control group. The home-based intervention protocol consists of targeted lower extremity stretches, followed by 10 min each of gait/balance and 10 min of resistive training accessed by hyperlink or DVD. An Exercise Diary records quantitative exercise data. The gait assessment includes temporospatial parameters and lower extremity joint angles using APDM motion sensors. Participants' balance is assessed using the Sensory Organization Test (SOT) performed using a NeuroCom Balance Master. Isometric strength of hip, knee, and ankle flexor and extensor muscles is assessed using an isokinetic dynamometer, Biodex BX Advantage. In addition, we assess neuropathy symptoms using the FACT-Taxane Additional Concerns Subscale and nerve conduction velocity of the sural and peroneal nerve action potentials. Outcomes are assessed at baseline (prior to randomization) and 16 weeks.

DISCUSSION

There are currently no evidence-based interventions that address the functional declines associated with CIPN. If successful, this program is simple and easy to implement in the standard of care for individuals with CIPN. Gait and balance training have the potential to reduce physical dysfunction associated with CIPN and reduce the burden of disease in cancer survivors.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04621721 . Registered on August 3, 2020. ClincialTrials.gov is a primary registry of the World Health Organization International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (WHO ICTEP) network and includes all items from the WHO Trial Registration data set in Trial registration.