title: Effects of analgecine on oxaliplatin-induced neurotoxicity in patients with gastrointestinal cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  As the third generation of platinum-based antineoplastic agent aginst gastrointestinal cancer, oxaliplatin is considered to be associated with severe sensory neurotoxicity. Acorrding to previous studies, vitaminE, intravenous Ca/Mg and glutamine may partly reduce the incidence and severity of oxaliplatin-induced neurotoxicity. The aim of this study was to investigate the safety and efficacy of analgecine for preventing oxaliplatin-induced neurotoxicity in the patients with gastrointestinal tumors.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this study, patients undergoing oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy were assigned to analgecine (experimental) group or control group. Analgecine 6ml was administered once a day for seven days from the day of oxaliplatin treatment. The National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (NCI CTCAE; version 3) was used to evaluate oxaliplatin-induced neurotoxicity. The incidence rates and grade of neurotoxicity of patients were assessed before and during (after four and eight cycles) treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Totally, 82 patients were enrolled in this study, 42 in experimental group and 40 in control group. The occurrence of each grade neurotoxicity in the experimental group was significantly lower than that in control group. The overall occurrence rate was 31% vs 55% (P=0.043) after 4 cycles and 52% vs 75% (P=0.050) after 8 cycles.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Analgecine appears could be effective in reducing oxaliplatin-induced neurotoxicity and be applicated for patients with gastrointestinal tumors who would be treated with oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemotherapy, the Affiliated Jiangsu Cancer Hospital of Nanjing Medical University and Jiangsu Institute of Cancer Research, Nanjing, China E-mail : huangxinen06@163.com.
authors.forename: Meng-Yan
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Xin-En
authors.initials: XE
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001688:Biological Products / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020258:Neurotoxicity Syndromes / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D009944:Organoplatinum Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000077150:Oxaliplatin; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D014020:Tissue Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D001688:Biological Products; D009944:Organoplatinum Compounds; D014020:Tissue Extracts; D000077150:Oxaliplatin