Incidence and characteristics of peripheral neuropathy during oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy for metastatic colon cancer.
OBJECTIVE
The current prospective study sought to trace the incidence and severity of oxaliplatin-induced peripheral neuropathy (OXLIPN) and to determine its clinical and electrophysiological pattern.


METHODS
Twenty-five adult patients scheduled to be treated with 12 courses of the oxaliplatin-based regimen, FOLFOX-4, for metastatic colon cancer participated in this study. Patients were clinically and electrophysiologically monitored at baseline and followed-up during chemotherapy. The severity of OXLIPN was summarized by means of a modified Total Neuropathy Score (TNS).


RESULTS
Evidence of OXLIPN was disclosed in 16 of the 25 patients (64%). The mean TNS values for patients manifesting some grade of OXLIPN were 13.9 +/- 5.8 (range 7-28). All longitudinal comparisons concerning the motor conduction parameters failed to reach significance. By contrast, comparisons of the median changes at baseline and each of the follow-up studies revealed significant decrease in all sensory action potentials examined.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results indicate that the majority of patients treated with the FOLFOX-4 regimen would manifest an axonal, predominately sensory peripheral neuropathy, of mild to moderate severity.
Argyriou
Andreas A
AA
Department of Neurology-EMG Laboratory, University of Patras Medical School, Rion-Patras, Greece. andargyriou@yahoo.gr
Polychronopoulos
Panagiotis
P
Iconomou
Gregoris
G
Koutras
Angelos
A
Makatsoris
Thomas
T
Gerolymos
Miltiadis K
MK
Gourzis
Philippos
P
Assimakopoulos
Konstantinos
K
Kalofonos
Haralabos P
HP
Chroni
Elisabeth
E
D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology*; D004594:Electrophysiology; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D002955:Leucovorin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000187:drug effects; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009475:Neurons, Afferent / Q000187:drug effects; D009944:Organoplatinum Compounds / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000077150:Oxaliplatin; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
D009944:Organoplatinum Compounds; D000077150:Oxaliplatin; D002955:Leucovorin; D005472:Fluorouracil