Duloxetine Fails To Prevent Nerve Damage Caused By Chemotherapy

A randomized proceedings conducted by nan Alliance for Clinical Trials successful Oncology pinch support from nan National Cancer Institute has recovered that duloxetine, a medicine commonly utilized to dainty chronic symptom and psychiatric conditions, does not forestall nervus harm caused by chemotherapy successful patients pinch colorectal cancer. The superior study of Alliance A221805 was published in JCO Oncology Advances.

Oxaliplatin is simply a modular chemotherapy supplier utilized to dainty colorectal cancer, but it tin often lead to peripheral neuropathy, a sometimes imperishable broadside effect that causes numbness, tingling, and symptom successful nan hands and feet. Duloxetine, often prescribed for chronically achy conditions specified arsenic osteoarthritis and diabetic neuropathy, and galore psychological conditions (e.g., anxiety, depression), is already recommended for nan curen of established achy chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy.

Since we cognize duloxetine is effective astatine treating achy neuropathy caused by neurotoxic chemotherapy drugs, we wanted to spot if nan medicine could besides forestall nan broadside effect from processing successful nan first place. The results show that duloxetine is not much effective than a placebo astatine preventing neuropathy caused by chemotherapy successful patients pinch colorectal cancer."

Ellen M. Lavoie Smith, PhD, MSN, Interim Associate Dean of Research and Scholarship astatine nan University of Alabama astatine Birmingham School of Nursing and study chair for Alliance A221805

Led by Dr. Smith, this is nan largest randomized proceedings to day specifically designed to measure whether duloxetine tin forestall oxaliplatin‑induced peripheral neuropathy.

In nan double‑blind, placebo‑controlled trial, 199 adults pinch shape II aliases III colorectal crab were enrolled astatine 73 crab centers passim the United States. Participants had nary pre‑existing neuropathy and were randomly assigned to receive:

• Duloxetine 30 mg daily
• Duloxetine 60 mg daily
• Placebo

Treatment began connected nan first time of oxaliplatin‑based chemotherapy and continued for 17 weeks. The superior endpoint was a patient‑reported composite measurement of neuropathy severity and onset, assessed respective weeks aft completion of chemotherapy. Results showed nary statistically aliases clinically meaningful quality betwixt either duloxetine dose aliases placebo.

"While duloxetine remains an important action for managing achy chemotherapy‑induced neuropathy erstwhile it develops, this proceedings confirms that it should not beryllium utilized for prevention," Dr. Smith said.

The findings item nan ongoing unmet request for effective strategies to forestall chemotherapy‑induced nervus damage, which tin importantly impact long‑term quality-of-life for crab survivors.

This proceedings was supported by nan National Cancer Institute of nan National Institutes of Health nether nan awards UG1CA189823, UG1CA189972, R01CA235726, and U10CA180868.