How to Prevent Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy

Two low-cost interventions — hand cryotherapy and compression — reduced the incidence of neuropathy in patients treated with taxanes for early-stage breast cancer.

Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is common with taxanes, platinums, vinca alkaloids, and eribulin and leads to long-term disability in up to 30% of patients. Evaluation of strategies to prevent or mitigate peripheral neuropathy has been challenging due to different methods for assessing CIPN and other conditions that can also cause peripheral neuropathy (e.g., diabetes, alcohol).

Now, investigators in Germany assessed the effect of hand cryotherapy and hand compression on taxane-induced peripheral neuropathy in 101 patients with early-stage breast cancer who received weekly paclitaxel or nab-paclitaxel as a component of adjuvant therapy. Patients were randomized to wear a frozen glove or two tight-fitting surgical gloves on …

Reviewing Author

William J. Gradishar, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardLilly; AstraZeneca; Gilead

Grant/Research SupportBreast Cancer Research Foundation

Editorial BoardsClinical Breast Cancer; Oncology; Annals of Surgery; Breast Cancer Research and Treatment

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesNational Comprehensive Cancer Network (Chair, Breast Cancer Panel); American Board of Internal Medicine (Medical Oncology Board)