Prediction of Oxaliplatin-induced neuropathy using pretreatment QST

Oxaliplatin is a chemotherapeutic agent widely used in cases of colorectal cancer. Together with its therapeutical effect there are various side effects oxaliplatine may cause, one of the most common of them is peripheral neuropathy. The aim of this study was to find a way to predict who will develop a chronic oxaliplatin-induced neuropathy, using simple and short measurement with a potential to be used in clinical routine in oncology clinic. QST is suggested to serve as such measurement, since this is a noninvasive testing which can assess the functionality of both small and large fibers.

In this study cutaneous sensation threshold, vibration perception threshold, heat and cold perception and pain thresholds were measured before, during and 1 year after the treatment with oxaliplatin. The results of the study demonstrated that some of pretreatment QST measurements can serve as early biomarkers for the development of chronic neuropathy – heat detection threshold at baseline and during the first oxaliplatin infusion, cold detection threshold and cutaneous detection threshold during the first infusion, etc.

In conclusion, this study suggest using noninvasive and feasible QST testing to identify patients in high risk to develop chronic oxaliplatin-induced neuropathy before the treatment. The identification will potentially allow treatment and dose adjustment to reduce this life-altering complication occurrence.