RESUMO
BACKGROUND: We investigated the possible use of clinical signs of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neurotoxicity (CIPN) or of nerve growth factor (NGF) circulating levels to predict the final outcome of CIPN. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Sixty-two women affected by locally advanced squamous cervical carcinoma treated with TP (paclitaxel 175 mg/m2 over a 3 h infusion plus cisplatin 75 mg/m2) or TIP (TP plus ifosphamide 5 mg/m2) were examined and scored according to the Total Neuropathy Score (TNS), before and during chemotherapy. RESULTS: A correlation with the final severity of CIPN was observed with vibration perception and deep tendon reflex evaluation, while pin sensibility, strength, and autonomic symptoms and signs were not informative. A highly significant correlation existed between the decrease in circulating levels of NGF and the severity of CIPN (r = -0.579; P < 0.001; 95% confidence limits -0.702 to -0.423). However, circulating levels of NGF were not effective as predictors of the final neurological outcome of each patient. CONCLUSION: Our study indicates that a precise clinical evaluation of the peripheral nervous system of patients treated with platinum and taxane combination polychemotherapy not only gives reliable information regarding the course of CIPN, but also can be used to predict the final neurological outcome of the treatment.
Assuntos
Protocolos de Quimioterapia Combinada Antineoplásica/uso terapêutico , Síndromes Neurotóxicas/etiologia , Protocolos de Quimioterapia Combinada Antineoplásica/efeitos adversos , Carcinoma de Células Escamosas/tratamento farmacológico , Cisplatino/administração & dosagem , Cisplatino/efeitos adversos , Feminino , Humanos , Fator de Crescimento Neural/sangue , Paclitaxel/administração & dosagem , Paclitaxel/efeitos adversos , Valor Preditivo dos Testes , Prognóstico , Transtornos de Sensação/induzido quimicamente , Resultado do Tratamento , Neoplasias do Colo do Útero/tratamento farmacológicoRESUMO
The authors compared clinically based neurotoxicity scales with the Total Neuropathy Scale, with the aim of improving the grading of the severity of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN). The severity of CIPN was evaluated in a series of 60 women treated with cisplatin- and paclitaxel-based chemotherapy. A reduced version of TNS (TNSr) was also compared. The authors concluded that the TNS and TNSr can be used to assess the severity of CIPN effectively, and the results of this evaluation can be reliably correlated with the oncologic grading of sensory peripheral neurotoxicity.