Gabapentin Efficacy In Preventing Peripheral Neuropathy Following Taxane Administration In Breast Cancer

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Resident of Clinical Oncology, Faculty of Medicine - Zagazig University

2 Professor of Clinical Oncology,Faculty of Medicine - Zagazig University

3 Assistant Professor of Rheumatology and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Medicine - Zagazig University

4 Assistant Professor of Clinical Oncology,Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University

Abstract

Background: Adjuvant therapy decisions are made after carefully considering patient- and tumor-related factors. The relative risk of relapse was reduced by 17% and the relative incidence of mortality at 5 years was reduced by 18% when taxanes were added to regimens that contained anthracyclines. The purpose of this study is to estimate acute nerve toxicity after taxanes chemotherapy administration and to estimate treatment outcome after gabapentin administration.

Methods: This prospective randomized placebo-controlled study assessed gabapentin effectiveness in the prevention of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) due to taxanes therapy. 74 cases were allocated into 2 groups. Group A included 37 breast cancer (BC) cases treated with taxanes & gabapentin, Group B included 37 BC cases treated with taxanes & placebo.

Results: There was remarkable variation between groups concerning percent change in amplitude, latency, and velocity of ulnar, peroneal, median, and tibial nerves (p<0.001). There was a remarkable decline in SRAR value within each group after therapy. There was statistical significance within each group regarding F wave persistence and latency.

Conclusion: This randomized trial demonstrated gabapentin's therapeutic effectiveness in reducing the risk of CIPN owing to paclitaxel in non-metastatic BC cases. Despite these findings, due to the limited sample size, need further supporting prospective investigations, we believe that it may be a legitimate policy to emphasize both the prevention and management of CIPN.

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