Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy as a predictor of neuropathic pain in breast cancer patients previously treated with paclitaxel

J Pain. 2009 Nov;10(11):1146-50. doi: 10.1016/j.jpain.2009.04.006.

Abstract

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.

Perspective: 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.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Analgesics / therapeutic use
  • Analysis of Variance
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / adverse effects*
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / therapeutic use
  • Breast Neoplasms / complications
  • Breast Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Breast Neoplasms / epidemiology
  • Comorbidity
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Logistic Models
  • Multivariate Analysis
  • Neuralgia / diagnosis
  • Neuralgia / drug therapy
  • Neuralgia / epidemiology
  • Neuralgia / etiology*
  • Odds Ratio
  • Paclitaxel / adverse effects*
  • Paclitaxel / therapeutic use
  • Patient Acceptance of Health Care
  • Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / chemically induced*
  • Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / epidemiology
  • Risk Factors

Substances

  • Analgesics
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic
  • Paclitaxel