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Efficacy of Wen-Luo-Tong on Peripheral Neuropathy Induced by Chemotherapy or Target Therapy: A Randomized, Double-Blinded, Placebo-Controlled Trial

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Abstract

Objective

To evaluate the efficacy of Wen-Luo-Tong Granules (WLT) local administration in the treatment of patients with peripheral neuropathy (PN) induced by chemotherapy or target therapy.

Methods

This study is a randomized, double-blinded, and placebo-controlled trial. Seventy-eight patients with PN induced by chemotherapy or target therapy were enrolled from China-Japan Friendship Hospital between July 2019 and January 2020. They were randomly assigned to WLT (39 cases) and control groups (39 cases) using a block randomization method. The WLT group received WLT (hand and foot bath) plus oral Mecobalamin for 1 week, while the control group received placebo plus oral Mecobalamin. The primary endpoint was PN grade evaluated by the National Cancer Institute-Common Toxicity Criteria for Adverse Events (NCI-CTCAE). The secondary endpoints included quantitative touch-detection threshold, neuropathy symptoms, Quality of Life Questionnaire-Chemotherapy Induced Peripheral Neuropathy (QLQ-CIPN20), and Quality of Life Questionnaire-Core30 (QLQ-C30).

Results

After treatment, the PN grade in the WLT group was significantly lower than that in the control group (1.00 ± 0.29 vs. 1.75 ± 0.68, P<0.01). The total effective rate in the WLT group was significantly higher than that in the control group (82.05% vs. 51.28%, P<0.01). Compared with the control group, the touch-detection thresholds at fingertips, neuropathy symptom score, QLQ-CIPN 20 (sensory scale, motor scale, autonomic scale, and sum score), and QLQ-C30 (physical functioning, role functioning, emotional functioning, and global health) in the WLT group significantly improved after treatment (P<0.01 or P<0.05).

Conclusion

WLT local administration was significantly effective in the treatment of patients with PN induced by chemotherapy or target therapy. (Trial registration No. ChiCTR1900023862)

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center of Science and Technology, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, 100029, China

    Bo Deng

  2. Integrative Oncology Department of Chinese Medicine and Western Medicine, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, 100029, China

    Li-qun Jia, Dong-gui Wan, Bao-yi Wang, Zhi-qiang Cheng & Chao Deng

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  1. Bo Deng
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  2. Li-qun Jia
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  3. Dong-gui Wan
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  4. Bao-yi Wang
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  5. Zhi-qiang Cheng
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  6. Chao Deng
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Contributions

Deng B completed clinical research and reported the research. Jia LQ improved the research approach. Wan DG and Cheng ZQ included cases, Wang BY performed clinical observation. Deng C modified the paper.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Li-qun Jia.

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The authors declared no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Supported by Capital’s Funds for Health Improvement and Research (No. 2018-2-40610)

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Deng, B., Jia, Lq., Wan, Dg. et al. Efficacy of Wen-Luo-Tong on Peripheral Neuropathy Induced by Chemotherapy or Target Therapy: A Randomized, Double-Blinded, Placebo-Controlled Trial. Chin. J. Integr. Med. 28, 579–585 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11655-022-3575-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11655-022-3575-y

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