Korean J Med.  2015 Jan;88(1):35-37. 10.3904/kjm.2015.88.1.35.

Recent Updates on Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy

• Woo IS

• KMID: 2269167
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3904/kjm.2015.88.1.35

Abstract

Chemotherapy induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) could debilitate the quality of life in the patients with cancer. According to the severity of CIPN, the modification of dosage of chemotherapeutic agents and switch to other drugs can be unavoidable. Platinum such as cisplatin and oxalipatin, vinka alkaloids, bortezomib, and taxane can cause CIPN. The characteristics and severity of CIPN depends on the dosages, duration of exposure of chemotherapeutic agents, comcomittant illness or other drugs affecting on peripheral nervous system and the methods of assessment for CIPN. The symptoms may last for several months or permanently even after quitting chemotherapy. Typically it distributed bilaterally and starts from the distal part of extremities and is presented progressively in stocking and glove pattern. Sensory nerve is more involved rather than motor nerve and amplitude of sensory nerve conduction is observed in CIPN. Prevention for CIPN is not effective at present. Tricyclic antidepressant including amitriptyline or nortriptyline and gabapentine have been tried in the practice for the management of CIPN despite of the lack of significant evidence through clinical trials. Recently duloxetine has been reported to decrease pain in the patients with CIPN compared with the patients with placebo (p = 0.03).

Keyword

Chemotherapy; Peripheral neuropathy; Duloxetine

MeSH Terms

Alkaloids
Amitriptyline
Cisplatin
Drug Therapy
Extremities
Humans
Neural Conduction
Nortriptyline
Peripheral Nervous System
Peripheral Nervous System Diseases*
Platinum
Quality of Life
Bortezomib
Duloxetine Hydrochloride
Alkaloids
Amitriptyline
Cisplatin
Nortriptyline
Platinum