Background & Aims
Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a well-known late effect among breast cancer survivors treated with taxanes. It is a chronic and often painful condition known to have a negative impact on quality of life (1, 2). When treating breast cancer, docetaxel and paclitaxel are considered equal in overall survival and recurrence free survival but differs in acute side effects in favor of weekly paclitaxel (3).
The aim of this study is to compare the prevalence and severity of CIPN and neuropathic pain and the effects on quality-of-life in patients treated with adjuvant paclitaxel or docetaxel. Furthermore, we want to analyze characteristics of chronic CIPN within the two groups.
Methods
Patients operated for high-risk breast cancer who received at least one cycle of either adjuvant docetaxel or adjuvant paclitaxel were invited to fill out the questionnaire electronically between two and three years after ended treatment.
The questionnaire comprised: European Organization for Research and Treatment for Cancer (EORTC) CIPN20 questionnaire, The Douleur Neuropathique 4 Questions (DN4), The Michigan Neuropathy Screening Instrument (MNSI), EORTC QLQ-C30, questions regarding the use of cooling gloves and general pain and localization. Data from the questionnaire was added to a REDcap database. Clinical characteristics including other treatment modalities were collected from the Danish Breast Cancer Group registry.
Results
A total of 463 women filled out the questionnaire of which 271 received docetaxel every third week and 192 received weekly paclitaxel for a total of 9 weeks.
Mean age was 55 years (SD 9.7). 34.5 % reported neuropathic pain symptoms in their feet with a score of 4 or more in the DN4 questionnaire. 34.96 % in the docetaxel group and 28.87 % in the paclitaxel group.
Conclusions
Data are currently being analyzed and results will be presented at the annual IASP meeting 2024.
References
1. Seretny M, Currie GL, Sena ES, Ramnarine S, Grant R, Macleod MR, Colvin L, Fallon M: Edinburgh
Research Explorer Incidence , Prevalence and Predictors of Chemotherapy Induced Peripheral
Neuropathy. PAIN 2014.
2.Mols F, Beijers T, Vreugdenhil G: Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy and its
association with quality of life : a systematic review. 2014:2261-2269.
3. Lai JI, Chao TC, Liu CY, Huang CC, Tseng LM: A systemic review of taxanes and their side effects in
metastatic breast cancer. Front Oncol 2022, 12:940239.
Presenting Author
Nina Lykkegaard Gehr
Poster Authors
Nina Lykkegaard Gehr
MD
Danish Pain Research Center, Department of clinical medicine, Aarhus University
Lead Author
Kristine Tang Bennedsgaard
MD
Department of Oncology, Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark
Lead Author
Anders Bonde Jensen
Professor
Department of Oncology, Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark
Lead Author
Kasper Grosen ,PhD
Danish Pain Research Center, Department of clinical Health, Aarhus University, Denmark
Lead Author
Nanna Finnerup
The Danish Pain Research Center - Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University
Lead Author
Lise Ventzel
MD
Department of Oncology, University Hospital of Southern Denmark, Vejle, Denmark
Lead Author
Topics
- Specific Pain Conditions/Pain in Specific Populations: Neuropathic Pain - Peripheral