Prevalence of peripheral neuropathy associated with chemotherapy in four oncology centers of Colombia.

Abstract

Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy is a common adverse reaction in a variety of medications frequently used for a great number of cancer treatments. This condition consists of mainly sensory-type symptoms, motor components and autonomic changes. Reported prevalence ranges from 30-68%, after the completion of chemotherapy in non-Latin American people with different populations and socioeconomic levels. To determine the prevalence of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy in a Colombian population. A real-world evidence cross-sectional retrospective study was performed in all patients from oncological clinical centers in Colombia, which received pharmacological therapy for any cancer between January 2015 and December 2016, with taxanes (paclitaxel, docetaxel), alkylators (oxaliplatin), proteasome inhibitors (bortezomib), and epothilone B analogs (ixabepilone). A total of 1,551 patients in four cities were included, and 11,280 doses were applied; predominantly females (n = 1,094; 70.5%), with a mean age of 57 ± 13 years old. Paclitaxel was the most commonly prescribed drug (n = 788; 50.8%). Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy was developed in 48.9% of paclitaxel, 58.5% of oxaliplatin, 50.5% of docetaxel, 43.7% of bortezomib and 95.2% of ixabepilone patients. Thirty-three patients were treated with two of these medications simultaneously. Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy is a frequent adverse reaction to daily cancer therapy in Colombian patients managed with taxanes, alkylators, proteasome inhibitors, and epothilone B analogs. Hence, it is necessary to establish more successful diagnostic methods and incorporate validated scales in the routine evaluation of all patients receiving these medications in our environment.