Standard Clinical Characteristics Fail to Predict Mild Chemotherapy-induced Peripheral Neuropathy in Breast Cancer Patients.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Patients with breast cancer and risk factors are often treated with taxane-based chemotherapy potentially leading to peripheral neuropathy (CIPN). Considering the limited treatment options for CIPN, early diagnosis is desirable. This study aimed to contribute to the knowledge of risk factors that may help achieving this goal.

PATIENTS AND

METHODS

Ninety-six patients, 48 patients without and 48 patients with mild CIPN following paclitaxel- or docetaxel-based chemotherapy, were included in this retrospective study. Fourteen chemotherapy- or patient-related characteristics including type and time (prior to or following surgery) of chemotherapy, demographic factors, and co-morbidities were evaluated for associations with mild CIPN.

RESULTS

No chemotherapy- or patient-related characteristic was significantly associated with development of mild CIPN. p-Values ranged between 0.40 and 1.00.

CONCLUSION

Significant clinical risk factors for mild CIPN were not identified among the fourteen evaluated breast cancer patients and chemotherapy characteristics. Because standard clinical profiling appears insufficient for risk stratification, vigilant clinical monitoring during and following taxane-based therapy remains essential. Future research should focus on identifying novel molecular or genetic biomarkers rather than relying on standard clinical scoring tools.