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Taxane-induced peripheral neuropathy has good long-term prognosis: a 1- to 13-year evaluation

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Abstract

Taxane-induced neuropathy is a frequent complication, in particular in women with breast cancer. The incidence can be variable and ranges from 11 to 87%, depending on the taxane used and identified risk factors, such as cumulative dose, additional neurotoxic chemotherapy agents and previous nerve fragility. However, little is known about long-term outcome and interference with daily life activities. The objective of this study was to assess clinical and electrophysiological neurological evaluation (ENMG) in a cohort of patients, 1–13 years (median 3 years) after the end of the last cure. Sixty-nine women were enrolled in the lymphology unit of Cognacq-Jay’s Hospital. They were 58 ± 9 years old (mean age ± SD) and had been treated by docetexel (n = 56), paclitaxel (n = 10) or both (n = 3), 1–13 years before. Sensory neuropathy occurred in 64% and totally disappeared within months for only 14% after cessation of treatment. However, if symptoms were still present at the time of examination, they were considered as minor by almost all patients, with no interference with daily life activities (grade 2 CTCAE v.3.0). ENMG was accepted by 14 patients; it was normal in 7, and showed sensory axonal neuropathy in 5 and sensory-motor neuropathy in 2. The incidence of taxane-induced neuropathy is high, more frequent with paclitaxel than docetaxel, and is characterized by minor or moderate axonal sensory polyneuropathy. When persistent, it is extremely well tolerated by the patient. When clinical motor signs occur, the patient should be referred to a neurologist.

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Conflicts of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. AP-HP, Service de Physiologie Clinique, Hôpital Lariboisière, 2 rue Ambroise Paré, 75010, Paris, France

    Karima Osmani, Mouna Aissi, Fatou Wade, Paolo Milani, Bernard I. Lévy & Nathalie Kubis

  2. Unité de Lymphologie, Hôpital Cognacq-Jay, Paris, France

    Stéphane Vignes

  3. Univ Paris Diderot Sorbonne Paris Cité, InsermU965, Paris, France

    Bernard I. Lévy & Nathalie Kubis

  4. Univ Paris Diderot Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France

    Paolo Milani

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  1. Karima Osmani
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  2. Stéphane Vignes
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  3. Mouna Aissi
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  4. Fatou Wade
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  5. Paolo Milani
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  6. Bernard I. Lévy
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  7. Nathalie Kubis
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Correspondence to Nathalie Kubis.

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Osmani, K., Vignes, S., Aissi, M. et al. Taxane-induced peripheral neuropathy has good long-term prognosis: a 1- to 13-year evaluation. J Neurol 259, 1936–1943 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00415-012-6442-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00415-012-6442-5

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