title: Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neurotoxicity in cancer survivors: an underdiagnosed clinical entity?
abstract: Systemic chemotherapy is a cornerstone of the modern medical management of cancer, although its use is limited by toxicity on normal tissues and organs, including the nervous system. Long-surviving or cured people strongly require a high level of wellness in addition to prolongation of life (the concept of the quality of survival), but neurologic dysfunction can severely affect daily life activities. Chemotherapy-related peripheral neurotoxicity is becoming one of the most worrisome long-term side effects in patients affected by a neoplasm. The central nervous system has a limited capacity to recover from injuries, and it is not surprising that severe damage can determine long-term or permanent neurologic dysfunction. However, the peripheral nervous system also can be permanently damaged by anticancer treatments despite its better regeneration capacities, and the effect on patients' daily life activities might be extremely severe. However, only recently, the paradigms of peripheral neurotoxicity reversibility have been scientifically challenged, and studies have been performed to capture the patients' perspectives on this issue and to measure the effect of peripheral neurotoxicity on their daily life activities. Despite these efforts, knowledge about this problem is still largely incomplete, and further studies are necessary to clarify the several still-unsettled aspects of long-term peripheral neurotoxicity of conventional and targeted anticancer chemotherapy.
authors.affiliation: From the Experimental Neurology Unit and Milan Center for Neuroscience, Department of Surgery and Translational Medicine, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy.
authors.forename: Guido
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cavaletti
authors.affiliation: From the Experimental Neurology Unit and Milan Center for Neuroscience, Department of Surgery and Translational Medicine, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy.
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Alberti
authors.affiliation: From the Experimental Neurology Unit and Milan Center for Neuroscience, Department of Surgery and Translational Medicine, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy.
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Marmiroli
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D020258:Neurotoxicity Syndromes / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis; D011788:Quality of Life; D017741:Survivors; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents