Prevention Of Oxaliplatin-induced Neurotoxicity Research Articles

Phase III randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study of monosialotetrahexosylganglioside in prevention of oxaliplatin-induced neurotoxicity in stage II/III colorectal cancer patients.

674 Background: Monosialotetrahexosylganglioside (GM1) is a glycosphingolipid, which has antioxidant and neuroprotective properties. Cumulative neurotoxicity is a prominent toxicity of oxaliplatin-based therapy. This study was designed to assess the efficacy of GM1 for preventing oxaliplatin-induced neurotoxicity in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients. Methods: A total of 186 patients with stage II/III CRC undergoing adjuvant chemotherapy with modified FOLFOX6 (fluorouracil, leucovorin, and oxaliplatin) were randomly assigned to intravenous GM1 80mg per day or placebo from day 0 to day 4 during chemotherapy. The primary end point was the rate of grade 2 or worse cumulative neurotoxicity, measured by investigator using the National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (NCI-CTCAE) version 4.0. The secondary end point were the chronic cumulative neurotoxicity measured by the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire-Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy 20 (EORTC QLQ-CIPN20), time to grade 2 neurotoxicity by using the NCI-CTCAE or the oxaliplatin-specific neuropathy scale, the rates of acute neurotoxicity measured by a numerical analog scale ranging from 0 to 10, and the rates of dose reduction or withdrawal of both arms. Results: There were no statistically significant differences in the rate of NCI-CTCAE grade 2 or worse neurotoxicity between the study arms (GM1: 33.7% vs. placebo: 31.6%; P= 0.76). Similarly, there were no significant differences measured by EORTC QLQ-CIPN20 neuropathy scale ( P= 0.89) or additional measures of neuropathy, including measurement of the time to grade 2 neurotoxicity by using the NCI-CTCAE ( P= 0.99) or an oxaliplatin-specific neuropathy scale ( P= 0.98). In addition, GM1 did not substantially decrease oxaliplatin-induced acute neuropathy. The rates of dose reduction or withdrawal of both arms were not significantly different (GM1: 64.6% vs. placebo: 54.6%, P= 0.15). Conclusions: This study does not support using GM1 to prevent oxaliplatin-induced neurotoxicity. (NCT02251977) Clinical trial information: NCT02251977.

Systematic review and meta-analysis of intravenous Ca/Mg mixtures for the prevention of oxaliplatin-induced neurotoxicity

Systematic review and meta-analysis of intravenous Ca/Mg mixtures for the prevention of oxaliplatin-induced neurotoxicity

Prophylaxe der Oxaliplatin-induzierten Neuropathie mit Carbamazepin¹ - Eine Pilotstudie -

Oxaliplatin has been proven antitumoral activity in numerous clinical trials. Peripheral sensory neuropathy with predominantly hyperpathic symptoms induced by cold is the most severe and dose-limiting toxicity resulting from oxaliplatin therapy. We demonstrated that oxaliplatin alters sodium channel kinetics on sensory neurons. This effect could be antagonized in vitro by the sodium channel blocker carbamazepine. Therefore a pilot study was initiated to investigate if carbamazepine prevents oxaliplatin-induced neuropathy in patients with colorectal cancer.Ten patients (six males, four females, mean age 56 +/- 12 years) refractory to 5-fluorouracil were treated with oxaliplatin, 5-fluorouracil, and folinic acid. The patients additionally received carbamazepine. Doses were adapted to a serum level of 3 - 6 mg/l. Patients were questioned about side-effects weekly and treatment-related toxicities were documented using the modified WHO scale. Results were compared with 30 historic controls treated with the same chemotherapy without carbamazepine.The cumulative oxaliplatin dose was higher in the carbamazepine group (median 722 mg/m(2) and 510 mg/m(2), respectively, p = 0.020). Carbamazepine levels were 4.5 +/- 1.5 mg/l. In contrast to the control group no neuropathy higher than grade 1 occurred in the carbamazepine group. Rate of carbamazepine-induced side effects was low.These observations demonstrate that oxaliplatin-induced sensory neuropathy more than grade 1 may be prevented by carbamazepine. Prevention of oxaliplatin-induced neurotoxicity by carbamazepine would possibly enable chemotherapy with considerable higher doses of oxapliplatin and thus enhance activity. A multicenter trial will elucidate if more serious distal neurotoxicities, which occur after application of higher cumulative doses of oxaliplatin, can also be prevented by carbamazepine.