Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy as a predictor of neuropathic pain in breast cancer patients previously treated with paclitaxel.
Neuropathic pain (NP) remains difficult to control for a significant number of patients with cancer. Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) has been postulated as an initial stage in the development of NP. To assess whether CIPN (defined as National Cancer Institute Common Toxicity Criteria grade 2 or higher) was associated with NP, we conducted a survey of breast cancer patients who had participated in clinical trials of paclitaxel. Of the 430 potential respondents, 240 responded to the survey. Results showed that 64% experienced CIPN during paclitaxel treatment. Follow-up survey data revealed that 27% of those with CIPN were subsequently diagnosed with NP. Logistic regression analyses showed that those who had experienced CIPN were 3 times more likely to develop NP (95% confidence interval = 1.2-7.2; P < .001), which persisted in the multivariate logistic model. In addition, NP patients reported twice as many visits to their health care provider (P = .02) and had taken more prescription (50% vs 19%; P = .001) and over-the-counter medications (62.5% versus 45%; P = .08) for pain than those without NP. The results of this study confirm that CIPN is a predictor of NP, suggesting that survivors treated with paclitaxel should be regularly monitored for NP beyond treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
The survival rates of breast cancer patients have steadily improved over recent years; thus, research into symptoms that persist after treatment is important. We found CIPN as a predictor of NP. Understanding the epidemiology of NP in breast cancer patients has high clinical and public health significance.
Reyes-Gibby
Cielito C
CC
Department of Epidemiology, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, 77030, USA. creyes@mdanderson.org
Morrow
Phuong Khang
PK
Buzdar
Aman
A
Shete
Sanjay
S
D000700:Analgesics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009437:Neuralgia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors
D000700:Analgesics; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D017239:Paclitaxel