thesis
Characteristics of Chemotherapy-induced Neuropathy: Clinical Studies on Cisplatin and Docetaxel
- Publication date
- 17 June 1998
- Publisher
- Peripheral neurotoxicity is an important side-effect of several
chemotherapeutic agents. These agents may cause a usually axonal
neuropathy, which may ultimately lead to severe and disabling symptoms
and signs. Besides describing in this review the pathogenesis, the clinical
presentation, the neurophysiological findings and the nerve biopsies, we also
recount the relation between cumulative dosage/dosage per cycle and
neuropathy for the cytostatic drugs for which neurotoxicity is an important
side-effect: cisplatin, vincristine, paclitaxel, docetaxel and suramin. With the
development of strategies to circumvent toxicities of other organs and \\vith
the use of combinations of neurotoxic agents such as cisplatinlpaclitaxel,
neurotoxicity is an important and dose limiting side-effect of many treatment
regimens. Detailed knowledge of the neurologic side-effects of these drugs is
essential for the management of their neurotoxicity. The review concludes
with a short discussion of neuro-protective agents. Although several nerve
growth factors, gluthation and ethiofos hold promise as possible
neuroprotective factors, the clinical data on these drugs are still limited. New
trials are needed to confirm the value of these drugs. If neurotoxicity can
indeed be prevented or delayed, this may lead to more effective treatment
regimens.