earticle

영어

Oxaliplatin is a tolerable and effective drug of choice in the treatment of advanced or metastatic gastric cancer. However, it has many dose-limiting neurotoxicities. This study was performed to assess the incidence and types of oxaliplatin-related neurotoxicities. Sixty-four patients receiving oxaliplatin-involved regimen as salvage therapy on metastatic gastric cancer or as the first-line therapy on advanced gastric cancer were evaluated during the period between September 1, 2006 and February 29, 2008. The patients were treated with oxaliplatin 100 mg/m2 and leucovorin 100 mg/m2 simultaneously as 2-hour-lasting infusion on Day-1 followed by 5-FU 1200 mg/m2 as a 22-hour-lasting continuous infusion both on Day-1 and Day-2 by every other week. We developed questionnaires to evaluate patient-recognized neurotoxic symptoms rather than the observer-described events. Surveys were completed at bedside or via telephone interview. Acute and chronic neurotoxicities were graded according to the National Cancer Institute Common Toxicity Criteria (NCI-CTC, version 3) as well as the Oxaliplatin-specific Neurotoxicity Scale. The Grade-3 neuropathy was reported in 19% of the patients (n=12) and grade-1/2 neuropathy occurred in 70% (n=45). The most common symptom was cold-related dysesthesia (83%) regarded as nociperception by the patients. Some patients (19%) experienced functional impairment affecting activities of daily living such as writing, buttoning, and walking. Even though 74% of the patients (42/57) were prescribed with gabapentin to reduce these peripheral symptoms, it did not appear to derive any benefit from this medication. It is suggested that notify the patients about their oxaliplatin-associated, debilitating symptoms, and educate them any self-care strategy at the initiating phase of the chemotherapy. Moreover, it needs to design the intervention studies regarding the prevention and management of the peripheral neuropathy.