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A randomized controlled trial evaluating the efficacy and safety of vitamin E supplementation for protection against cisplatin-induced peripheral neuropathy: final results

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Abstract

Aim

A randomized, open label with blind assessment, controlled trial was performed to assess efficacy and adverse-event profile of vitamin E, given as supplementation for prophylaxis against cisplatin-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN).

Patients and methods

A total of 30 patients scheduled to receive six courses of cumulative cisplatin-based regimens were randomly allocated to treatment and control groups and were then studied by means of neurological examination and electrophysiological study. Patients assigned to group I (n=14) orally received vitamin E at a daily dose of 600 mg/day during chemotherapy and 3 months after its cessation were compared to patients of group II (n=16), who received no vitamin E supplementation and served as controls. The severity of neurotoxicity was summarized by means of a modified Peripheral Neuropathy (PNP) score.

Results

The incidence of neurotoxicity differed significantly between groups, occurring in 3/14 (21.4%) of patients assigned to the vitamin E supplementation group and in 11/16 (68.5%) of controls (p=0.026). The relative risk (RR) of developing neurotoxicity was significantly higher in case of controls, RR=2.51, 95% C.I.=1.16–5.47. Mean PNP scores were 4.99±1.33 for patients of group I and 10.47±10.62 for controls, (p=0.023). None of the adverse events or deaths occurred, were judged as likely to be related to the vitamin E supplementation.

Conclusion

Vitamin E effectively and safely protects patients with cancer from occurrence of cisplatin neurotoxicity.

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Conflict of interest

We have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. EMG/ENG Laboratory, Department of Neurology, University of Patras Medical School, Rion-Patras, Greece

    Andreas A. Argyriou, Elisabeth Chroni, Spiridon Papapetropoulos & Panagiotis Polychronopoulos

  2. Division of Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Patras Medical School, Rion-Patras, Greece

    Angelos Koutras, Gregoris Iconomou & Haralabos P. Kalofonos

  3. Neurology Department, University of Patras Medical School, P.O. Box 1045, Rion-Patras, Greece

    Elisabeth Chroni

Authors
  1. Andreas A. Argyriou
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  2. Elisabeth Chroni
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  3. Angelos Koutras
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  4. Gregoris Iconomou
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  5. Spiridon Papapetropoulos
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  6. Panagiotis Polychronopoulos
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  7. Haralabos P. Kalofonos
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Elisabeth Chroni.

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Authors’ disclosure

: Part of the material reported herein has been previously published under the bibliographic reference, Argyriou AA et al., Neurology 2005; 64(1): 26–31.

Role of the funding source

: No funding source had a role in the preparation of this paper or in the decision to submit it for publication.

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Argyriou, A.A., Chroni, E., Koutras, A. et al. A randomized controlled trial evaluating the efficacy and safety of vitamin E supplementation for protection against cisplatin-induced peripheral neuropathy: final results. Support Care Cancer 14, 1134–1140 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-006-0072-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-006-0072-3

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