Variability of Oxaliplatin-Induced Neuropathic Pain Symptoms in Each Cycle and Its Implications on the Management of Colorectal Cancer Patients: A Retrospective Study in South Western Sydney Local Health District Hospitals, Sydney, Australia

Clinical Characteristics of Neuropathic Pain and Its Relationship with Cancer in Different Corporal Areas-A Systematic Review

Background: Neuropathic pain (NP) and cancer are caused by nerve damage due to cancer or treatments such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgery, with a prevalence that can reach up to 40%. Causes of neuropathic cancer pain (NCP) include direct nerve invasion or compression by the tumor, as well as neural toxicity associated with treatments. This type of pain is classified into several categories, such as plexopathy, radiculopathy, and peripheral neuropathies. Methods: Medline, Web of Science, Google Scholar, CINAHL, and LILACS databases were searched until October 2024. Two authors independently performed the search, study selection, and data extraction. Methodological quality was analyzed using the Robins-I tool. Results: The main findings of this review indicate that, depending on the cancer type, neuropathic pain will exhibit different characteristics, as well as identifying which types of cancer have a higher probability of presenting neuropathic pain. Additionally, there is a direct relationship whereby the more advanced the cancer, the greater the likelihood of experiencing neuropathic pain. Finally, although chemotherapy is employed as a cancer treatment, this therapy is quite invasive, and one of its adverse effects is that treated patients have a higher probability of developing neuropathic pain. Conclusions: Neuropathic pain is a condition that adversely affects patients with cancer. A detailed understanding of the relationships and triggers that produce this condition is present in only a small percentage of patients with cancer and is necessary to provide better treatment and gain a more comprehensive understanding of the characteristics of neuropathic pain. The objective of this study is to describe the relationship between different types of cancer or various treatments and the presence of NP.

Analysis of in-hospital mortality among people with and without diabetes in South Western Sydney public hospitals (2014-2017)

BACKGROUND

Diabetes is a major public health problem affecting about 1.4 million Australians, especially in South Western Sydney, a hotspot of diabetes with higher than average rates for hospitalisations. The current understanding of the international burden of diabetes and related complications is poor and data on hospital outcomes and/or what common factors influence mortality rate in people with and without diabetes in Australia using a representative sample is lacking. This study determined in-hospital mortality rate and the factors associated among people with and without diabetes.

METHODS

Retrospective data for 554,421 adult inpatients was extracted from the population-based New South Wales (NSW) Admitted Patient Data over 3 financial years (from 1 July 2014-30 June 2015 to 1 July 2016-30 June 2017). The in-hospital mortality per 1000 admitted persons, standardised mortality ratios (SMR) were calculated. Binary logistic regression was performed, adjusting for potential covariates and co-morbidities for people with and without diabetes over three years.

RESULTS

Over three years, 8.7% (48,038 people) of admissions involved people with diabetes. This increased from 8.4% in 2014-15 to 8.9% in 2016-17 (p = 0.007). Across all age groups, in-hospital mortality rate was significantly greater in people with diabetes (20.6, 95% Confidence intervals CI 19.3-21.9 per 1000 persons) than those without diabetes (11.8, 95%CI 11.5-12.1) and more in men than women (23.1, 95%CI 21.2-25.0 vs 17.9, 95%CI 16.2-19.8) with diabetes. The SMR for those with and without diabetes were 3.13 (95%CI 1.78-4.48) and 1.79 (95%CI 0.77-2.82), respectively. There were similarities in the factors associated with in hospital mortality in both groups including: older age (> 54 years), male sex, marital status (divorced/widowed), length of stay in hospital (staying longer than 4 days), receiving intensive care in admission and being admitted due to primary respiratory and cardiovascular diagnoses. The odds of death in admission was increased in polymorbid patients without diabetes (28.68, 95%CI 23.49-35.02) but not in those with diabetes.

CONCLUSIONS

In-patients with diabetes continue to have higher mortality rates than those without diabetes and the Australian population. Overall, similar factors influenced mortality rate in people with and without diabetes, but significantly more people with diabetes had two or more co-morbidities, suggesting that hospital mortality may be driven by those with pre-existing health/comorbidities. Urgent measures in primary care to prevent admissions among people with multiple co-morbidities are needed.

Peripheral Neuropathy: Comparison of Symptoms and Severity Between Colorectal Cancer Survivors and Patients With Diabetes

BACKGROUND

Peripheral neuropathy (PN) is a common symptom in colorectal cancer (CRC) survivors and patients with diabetes. However, the differences in PN symptoms between CRC survivors and patients with diabetes are not clear.

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this study was to examine the differences in PN between CRC survivors and patients with diabetes.

METHODS

Secondary data were analyzed from two cross-sectional studies consisting of 81 CRC survivors and 86 patients with diabetes from two hospitals in northern and central Taiwan. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, analysis of covariance, and multiple logistic regression.

FINDINGS

Significant differences in severity and prevalence of PN and neuropathic pain between CRC survivors and patients with diabetes were found. Patients with diabetes had significantly more severe PN and sensory PN compared to CRC survivors. In addition, the prevalence of PN and neuropathic pain was significantly higher in CRC survivors compared to patients with diabetes after control of covariates.

Predictive Biomarkers of Oxaliplatin-Induced Peripheral Neurotoxicity

Oxaliplatin (OXA) is a platinum compound primarily used in the treatment of gastrointestinal cancer. OXA-induced peripheral neurotoxicity (OXAIPN) is the major non-hematological dose-limiting toxicity of OXA-based chemotherapy and includes acute transient neurotoxic effects that appear soon after OXA infusion, and chronic non-length dependent sensory neuronopathy symmetrically affecting both upper and lower limbs in a stocking-and-glove distribution. No effective strategy has been established to reverse or treat OXAIPN. Thus, it is necessary to early predict the occurrence of OXAIPN during treatment and possibly modify the OXA-based regimen in patients at high risk as an early diagnosis and intervention may slow down neuropathy progression. However, identifying which patients are more likely to develop OXAIPN is clinically challenging. Several objective and measurable early biomarkers for OXAIPN prediction have been described in recent years, becoming useful for informing clinical decisions about treatment. The purpose of this review is to critically review data on currently available or promising predictors of OXAIPN. Neurological monitoring, according to predictive factors for increased risk of OXAIPN, would allow clinicians to personalize treatment, by monitoring at-risk patients more closely and guide clinicians towards better counseling of patients about neurotoxicity effects of OXA.

Protective effect of the oral administration of cystine and theanine on oxaliplatin-induced peripheral neuropathy: a pilot randomized trial

BACKGROUND

Oxaliplatin, one of the key cytotoxic drugs for colorectal cancer, frequently causes peripheral neuropathy which leads to dose modification and decreased patients' quality of life. However, prophylactic or therapeutic measures have not yet been established. Orally administered amino acids, cystine and theanine, promoted the synthesis of glutathione which was one of the potential candidates for preventing the neuropathy. The aim of this study was to determine whether daily oral administration of cystine and theanine attenuated oxaliplatin-induced peripheral neuropathy (OXLIPN).

METHODS

Twenty-eight colorectal cancer patients who received infusional 5-fluorouracil, leucovorin, and oxaliplatin (mFOLFOX6) therapy were randomly and evenly assigned to the cystine and theanine group and the control group. OXLIPN was assessed up to the sixth course using original 7-item questionnaire as well as Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) grading scale.

RESULTS

Neuropathy scores according to our original questionnaire were significantly smaller in the cystine and theanine group at the fourth (p = 0.026), fifth (p = 0.029), and sixth course (p = 0.038). Furthermore, significant differences were also observed in CTCAE neuropathy grades at the fourth (p = 0.037) and the sixth course (p = 0.017). There was one patient in each group who required dose reduction due to OXLIPN. Except for neurotoxicity, no significant differences were noted in the incidence of adverse events, and the total amount of administered oxaliplatin.

CONCLUSION

The results demonstrated the daily oral administration of cystine and theanine attenuated OXLIPN.