A paclitaxel-containing chemotherapy does not cause central nervous adverse effects: a prospective study in patients with ovarian cancer.
BACKGROUND
The objective of this study was to evaluate the possible effects of a paclitaxel containing chemotherapy on different neuropsychological parameters in women with ovarian cancer.


METHODS
Twenty-eight women with histologically documented epithelial ovarian carcinoma and treated with a combination chemotherapy consisting of paclitaxel and carboplatin entered the study. The patients were tested with a battery of different neuropsychological tests before, after 3 cycles and at the end of the chemotherapy.


RESULTS
Twenty of the 28 patients responded to the chemotherapy (71%). Eleven patients (39%) developed peripheral neurotoxicity. The median values of 6 tests performed before the first chemotherapy cycle scored out of the normal range. These patients with deviant test results at the beginning of the paclitaxel/carboplatin infusions did not deteriorate during chemotherapy. We found a statistically significant improvement of the alphabetical cross out test from the first to the third measurement (mean increase = 4.07; 95% confidence interval = [0.99; 7.15]) (p < 0.05), indicating an improvement of the short-term attention, the concentration and the constancy of working during chemotherapy. The other tests failed to show statistically significant changes during chemotherapy (p > 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
According to our results, a chemotherapy consisting of paclitaxel/carboplatin caused no signs of acute central nervous toxicity or neuropsychological deterioration.
Department of Gynecology & Obstetrics, University of Vienna Medical School, A-1090 Vienna, Wahringer Gurtel 18-20, Austria. klaus.mayerhofer@akh-wien.ac.at
K
K
Mayerhofer
B
B
Bodner-Adler
K
K
Bodner
B
B
Saletu
M
M
Schindl
A
A
Kaider
L
L
Hefler
S
S
Leodolter
C
C
Kainz
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001288:Attention; D016190:Carboplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008570:Memory, Short-Term; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced; D011597:Psychomotor Performance
D016190:Carboplatin; D017239:Paclitaxel