title: The effect of photobiomodulation on chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy: A randomized, sham-controlled clinical trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a common side effect of cancer therapy with few efficacious treatments.
  
  
  METHODS
  We enrolled 70 patients with CIPN in a randomized, double-blinded, sham-controlled, cross-over trial to determine if photobiomodulation (PBM)±physiotherapy reduced the symptoms of neuropathy compared to sham treatment. At the conclusion of follow-up, sham-arm patients could cross-over into a third arm combining PBM and physiotherapy to determine if multimodal treatment had additive effects. Treatment included 30minute sessions 3-times weekly for 6weeks using either PBM or sham therapy. Neuropathy was assessed using the modified total neuropathy score (mTNS) at initiation and 4, 8, and 16weeks after initiating treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sham-treated patients experienced no significant change in mTNS scores at any point during the primary analysis. PBM patients experienced significant reduction in mTNS scores at all time points. Mean changes in mTNS score (and corresponding percent drop from baseline) for sham and PBM-group patients respectively were -0.1 (-0.7%) and -4.2 (-32.4%) at 4weeks (p<0.001), 0.2 (0.0%) and -6.8 (-52.6%) at 8weeks (p<0.001), and 0.0 (0.1%) and -5.0 (-38.8%) at 16weeks (p<0.001). Patients who crossed over into the PBM/PT-group experienced similar results to those treated primarily; changes in mTNS score from baseline were -5.5 (-40.6%) 4weeks (p<0.001), -6.9 (-50.9%) at 8weeks (p<0.001), and -4.9 (-35.9%) at 16weeks (p<0.001). The addition of physiotherapy did not improve outcomes over PBM alone.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Among patients with CIPN, PBM produced significant reduction in neuropathy symptoms.
authors.affiliation: Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Women's Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States. Electronic address: argenta@umn.edu.
authors.forename: Peter A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Argenta
authors.affiliation: Division of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Department of Healthcare Policy and Research, Weill Cornell Medical School, New York, NY, United States.
authors.forename: Karla V
authors.initials: KV
authors.lastname: Ballman
authors.affiliation: Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Women's Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States.
authors.forename: Melissa A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Geller
authors.affiliation: Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Women's Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States.
authors.forename: Linda F
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Carson
authors.affiliation: Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Women's Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States.
authors.forename: Rahel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ghebre
authors.affiliation: Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Women's Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States.
authors.forename: Sally A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Mullany
authors.affiliation: Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Women's Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States.
authors.forename: Deanna G K
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Teoh
authors.affiliation: Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Women's Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States.
authors.forename: Boris J N
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Winterhoff
authors.affiliation: Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Women's Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States.
authors.forename: Colleen L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Rivard
authors.affiliation: Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Women's Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States.
authors.forename: Britt K
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Erickson
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D028022:Low-Level Light Therapy; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000628:therapy*; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents